ALCAN and AGC Develop Transparent Antenna For mmWave 5G Fixed Wireless Access

DARMSTADT, GERMANY (March 29, 2022) — Smart antenna start-up, ALCAN Systems and AGC Inc.(AGC), a world leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials today announces the successful development of transparent antennas for indoor mmWave Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) following rigorous demonstrations at ALCAN’s head office in Darmstadt. The test results showed a real-world, effective solution to address the challenges of in-building penetration for mmWave 5G.

The technology developed by ALCAN in partnership with AGC uses ALCAN’s unique Liquid Crystal (LC) based phased array technology which allows for a transparent solution. This will be added to existing windows with a discreet FWA unit.  The FWA units give a low cost, low power, transparent and easy to install solution to address the challenges of mmWave penetration in-buildings.

ALCAN’s 5G solutions use liquid crystal which is controlled by an electromagnetic field. This can change the direction of the received or transmitted beam without needing to physically turn the antenna. This combined with the transparent nature of Liquid Crystal allows it to be integrated into glass solutions without impacting opacity.

The solution is specifically designed for windows made using low-emissivity (low-E) glass. This glass type is now standard or a regulatory requirement across several regions due to the energy efficiency savings it offers. The low-E glass market is expected to reach an estimated $39.4 billion by 2024, as a result and account for a significant proportion of windows worldwide. However, low-E glass significantly impacts the attenuation of mmWave frequencies. A double-glazing unit with low-E coating reduces the signal by 30 dB, meaning just 0.1% of the signal penetrates inside the building. The FWA unit from ALCAN works with AGC’s WAVETHRU^TM technology [1] to give a complete solution that significantly improves mmWave 5G penetration with minimal visual impact. Additionally, by using Liquid Crystal, rather than traditional silicon-based alternatives, power consumption is minimized.

The solution has been tested and proven to address the challenges of in-building mmWave 5G penetration. The tests demonstrated a transparent antenna successfully operating at 28 GHz frequency. The indoor solution also successfully showcased the antenna’s beam steering capabilities, delivering multiple Gbps throughput consistently, as well as proving it is capable of beam steering continuously in two dimensions. This gives customers the greatest flexibility on where they choose to install the antenna in relation to base station.

Onur Hamza Karabey, CEO at ALCAN Systems commented, “We are very excited about the partnership with AGC and seeing the unique benefits of using liquid crystal technology, in this case, its transparent nature, allow a form factor that solves a real problem when it comes to mmWave 5G.”

Satoshi Takada, Executive Officer, General Manager of Business Development Division commented, “At AGC we strive to develop new solutions that truly meet all the needs of modern life. The low-E glass is essential from an energy efficiency perspective and the collaboration with ALCAN ensures we can add value for our customers by meeting the requirements for high throughput anywhere in the building without affecting its appearance.”

About ALCAN

ALCAN Systems is a German-based smart antenna technology company which has developed a revolutionary new liquid crystal (LC) based phased array antenna technology. ALCAN’s liquid crystal based platform technology provides the lowest cost and lowest power consuming high-performance phased array technology in the world. This has disruptive implications for the satellite and 5G markets.

For the 5G market, ALCAN is targeting 2D beam-steering antennas that can meet the performance requirements of the mmWave frequencies at price points that are 3-5x lower than comparable products. Furthermore, ALCAN is also working to develop transparent UE antennas that can be integrated into the windows of buildings or car sunroofs.

About AGC

AGC Inc. is the parent company of the AGC Group, a world-leading glass solution provider and supplier of flat, automotive and display glass, chemicals, ceramics and other high-tech materials and components. Based on more than a century of technical innovation, the AGC Group has developed a wide range of cutting-edge products. The AGC Group employs some 56,000 people worldwide and generates annual sales of approximately 1.7 trillion Japanese yen through business in about 30 countries.

[1] AGC’s WAVETHRU^TM technology allows the heat-shielding layer on low-E glass to be specially treated so that radio waves can more easily penetrate the glass, while maintaining the thermal insulation and appearance of existing window.