Electronically Steerable Antennas for Future Heterogeneous Communication Networks: Review and Perspectives

Satellite, fifth generation (5G), and sixth (6G) mobile communication systems operating at micro- millimeter wave frequencies are an essential pillar in advanced network architectures for high-throughput low latency services. The decisive factors this current development were the significant technological advances accomplished over last two decades, which meanwhile enable highly integrated, feature-rich, cost-effective realizations of complete phased array transceiver topologies. Motivated through today's trend heterogeneous constellation types to provide truly global coverage, contribution reviews state-of-the-art electronically steerable antennas terrestrial non-terrestrial up 100 GHz. First, potential benefits limitations most relevant technologies contrasted put into context with recent system adaptive beamforming. Their principles along various experimental implementation achievements providing capabilities such as multi-band/multi-beam operation, polarization agility, wide-angle scanning thoroughly presented. Particular emphasis is laid on review direct radiating arrays, quasi-optical antenna configurations, metasurface-based antennas.