Challenges of using Phased Array Antennas in commercial backhaul equipment at 26 GHz

Software Defined Network is one of the key enabling technologies for the upcoming 5G networks. Both the fronthaul and the backhaul of the network must be reconfigurable for SDN to work properly. Phased Array Antennas could add to the backhaul/fronthaul wireless equipment beamsteering capabilities to make it reconfigurable. This paper summarizes feasibility considerations resulting from the desire of replacing the current reflector antenna with phased arrays in the backhaul segment. Energy consumption and compliance with regulatory radiation masks are analyzed and found to represent challenging requirements. Several techniques are also identified as possible solutions to comply with such stringent demands and future research steps are described