5G NR Release 16 and Millimeter Wave Integrated Access and Backhaul

The early deployments of the fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) cellular networks based on Release 15 of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification are taking place now. While the focus of Release 15 was enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services, Release 16 features are concurrently being developed to add or enhance services based on Release 15. Notable Release 16 features include ultra-reliable and low-latency connection (URLLC), NR vehicle-to-X (V2X), NR on unlicensed bands (NR-U), and integrated access and backhaul (IAB). In particular, IAB enables backhaul connectivity, without expensive fiber deployment, for fast, cost-effective, and dense millimeter-wave (mmWave) deployments. This paper examines Release 16 features and considers a link simulation of a 28 GHz NR IAB node using an 8x8 phased-array antenna. The phased-array radiation pattern is extracted through electromagnetic (EM) simulation and combined with NR link simulation. Bit-error rate (BER) is used to evaluate the link performance operating as an IAB node subjected to an interferer.