Antenna Phased Array Beamforming at 26 GHz Using Optical True Time-Delay

Multi-element antenna beam steering in free-licence higher frequency bands is one of the crucial features of 5G networks enabling better tracking of the users. In this paper, we present an experimental microwave photonics transmission system operating at 26 GHz where beamforming is fully realized in the optical domain. The system is designed to be deployed as a part of the mobile fronthaul network with an optical fiber span of 15 km. As a proof of concept, a planar 3-element antenna array has been developed and radiation patterns were measured in an anechoic chamber with high agreement between experimental and simulation results.