Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, April 4 (Xinhua)-- Apple released the updated iOS 16.4 official version at the end of March this year. In addition to many software enhancements, it also provides significant improvements to 5G connectivity and unlocks new carrier aggregation capabilities, especially on iPhone 14. It is very useful for AT&T networks. This OS update highlights the importance of providing advanced RF components prior to the deployment of new networks and bands.

As for iPhone 14, Apple now allows the latest iPhone models to connect to AT&T 's 3.45GHz mid-band 5G spectrum, as well as their existing c-band frequencies (starting with 3.7GHz in the N77 band), according to the TechInsights research report. Before iPhone 14 and iOS 16.4, due to the limitations of modem and RF design, only a few Samsung flagship phones could use this unique if 5G frequency. In addition, the coexistence of RF and CBRS bands (see figure below) and the associated RF filtering increase the overall challenge of carrier aggregation for the entire N77 band.

TechInsights studied the RF design of Apple iPhone 14. Through disassembly and reverse engineering analysis, it was found that it contains a 3GPP Release 16 modem (CTOnews.com note: Qualcomm Snapdragon X65), with two separate RF transceivers (Qualcomm SDR735), can provide a larger 5G carrier aggregation combination. Previous 5G iPhone designs used a single transceiver design and did not have as many RF ports available as the new dual transceiver design. This new modem RF architecture is critical for the access and operation of carrier aggregation in discontiguous bands used by AT&T.

With the new iOS 16.4 installed in the Band N77 holdings in the US market, the iPhone 14 model can now aggregate up to 5G in the intermediate band of 80MHz, including the c-band spectrum of 40MHz and the 3.45 GHz spectrum of 40MHz. Doubling the spectrum of the 5G aggregate mid-band will not only improve the network performance and connection speed, but also increase the network capacity; therefore, AT&T can provide more 5G of the mid-band for more users. In addition, by the end of 2023, existing satellite spectrum holders will vacate the next portion of the c-band spectrum assets (block B) to enable AT&T (and Verizon) to access more 5G intermediate frequency bands and gain more 5G performance and capacity benefits.

Another 5G connectivity enhancement provided by the iOS 16.4 update is the ability to run 5G independent (SA) mode on compatible networks such as T-Mobile. Users can take advantage of the faster 5G core network architecture to improve performance (without relying on anchoring LTE networks).

IPhone 14 has implemented new 5G RF features with iOS 16.4 updates, highlighting the fact that leading smartphone manufacturers must build extended 5G RF features into their designs before market demand. The migration of iPhone 14 (and Samsung's flagship products) to dual RF transceiver designs can now be directly attributed to the need to support N77 carrier aggregation in the band. Because 5G NR in the mid-band requires 4 × 4 MIMO, bringing 2 or 3 operators together is equivalent to processing an additional 8 to 12 MIMO layers. This MIMO layer extension requires the number of RF transceiver ports to be expanded in a similar manner to support discrete RF channels. Although there are some costs in choosing a dual transceiver chip design, such as taking up more circuit board space and interconnection complexity, the cost-effectiveness of this design option is now clearer in terms of newly discovered 5G connectivity.

In order to effectively design the next generation 5G mobile phone, it is very important to provide advanced RF components to mobile phone RF designers before network deployment. Component suppliers such as Qualcomm, Broadcom, Qorvo and Skyworks must develop RF products that are earlier than market demand. By following the roadmap of standards organizations such as 3GPP, component suppliers can effectively plan their product development efforts to provide key technologies for future cellular networks.

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