E-Band
Understanding E-Band
E-band has emerged as the leading solution for high-capacity wireless backhaul, offering fiber-like capacity without fiber installation costs. The combination of wide bandwidth, moderate atmospheric absorption, and pencil-beam antennas enables multi-gigabit links over distances of 1-3 km.
E-Band Advantages
- Bandwidth: 10 GHz total (5+5 GHz). Supports 10+ Gbps links.
- Atmospheric window: Between the 60 GHz O2 absorption peak and the 118 GHz peak. Only ~0.5 dB/km absorption.
- License availability: Light licensing in many countries. Lower cost than traditional microwave licenses.
- Narrow beams: Small antennas produce very narrow beams, minimizing interference.
E-Band Applications
- 5G backhaul: Connecting small cells to the core network.
- Enterprise campus: Building-to-building connectivity.
- Fiber extension: Last-mile alternative to fiber.
Lower band: 71-76 GHz
Upper band: 81-86 GHz
Total bandwidth: 10 GHz
Atmospheric absorption: ~0.5 dB/km
Rain attenuation (heavy): ~10 dB/km
30 cm dish gain at 75 GHz: ~48 dBi
Link budget for 1 km: easy with 10+ dB margin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is E-band?
E-band covers 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz. It provides 10 GHz of bandwidth for high-capacity point-to-point links. Atmospheric absorption is moderate (~0.5 dB/km), enabling multi-gigabit links of 1-3 km.
How much data can E-band carry?
With 5 GHz of bandwidth per sub-band and high-order modulation, E-band links can achieve 10+ Gbps. This rivals fiber capacity and is used for 5G backhaul, data center interconnect, and enterprise campus connectivity.
What limits E-band range?
Rain attenuation is the primary range-limiting factor at E-band. Heavy rain (50 mm/hr) causes about 10 dB/km of additional attenuation. For 99.999% availability in rainy climates, link distances are typically limited to 1-2 km.