Abstract:
One of the most important components in wireless and cellular communication systems, that is mostly taken-for-granted while upgrading technologies, is Antennas. However they are critical to the operation of a cellular base station for wireless and cellular communication systems. Whereby there has to be many choices available depending upon the particular site and operating environment.
Development of essentially new base station antennas is my interest as mobile communication systems are continuing to grow rapidly, particularly in Rwanda. The new millennium has seen the introduction of fifth-generation (5G) mobile communications systems that will offer broadband data services with high data bit rates, enhanced multimedia services and Internet applications.
As wireless communication markets develop very rapidly, with it, the number of base station antennas has also increased. In coming years, the new generation of wireless communication systems will demand new and improved base station antennas. New base station antennas will need to be developed that will replace current sector panel antennas and reduce the overall number of antennas on cellular base stations.
My project is to provide an overview on fifth-generation mobile communication systems and conformal antennas that could be used in such systems in Rwanda on Kalisimbi volcano. It also aims at analyzing the effects of curvature on the performance of cylindrical microstrip antennas and the operating frequency band for the main fifth-generation air interface. The effects of curvature will be analyzed using High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software which considers mutual coupling effects in antennas. This project aims at establishing a conformal array on Kalisimbi volcano for the above services to be able to be rendered and applications to be applied in Rwanda and in the region; it will be a new designed base station antenna array with upgraded antennas with improved characteristics or behavior.
Kalisimbi is the highest volcano in Rwanda with the highest altitude in Rwanda of 4507 meters; it is an appropriate place for Rwanda to have a central conformal cellular base station which will serve in the forthcoming 5G technology. Its geographical area is very good to provide this service with no problem.
Hence this project aims at;
• Designing a proposed new array of antennas that will provide a stronger signal for the intended 5G applications to be applied in Rwanda.
• Using a new antenna that overcomes the deficiencies of most classical and less-than-optimum performing antennas that are widely used today in Rwanda.
• Designing the antenna that matches with the 5G technology in Rwanda, which has the specific 5G specialties contrast to current generations.
