Beamforming is a key feature frequently highlighted when discussing the advancements of 5G. This topic explains what beamforming is, outlines its benefits for industrial applications, and provides insights into what to expect from commercially available products.

Beamforming is a technique that directs wireless signals toward specific devices instead of broadcasting them in all directions. This is achieved using phased antenna arrays, which are designed so that radio transmissions combine to form a strong signal in one direction, while signals in other directions are minimized or canceled out.

Key benefits of beamforming include:

• Enhanced connectivity and quality: Devices in industrial environments receive a strong, dedicated, and stable signal.
• Reduced interference: Signals are concentrated on their intended targets, minimizing interference in other areas.
• Improved range: Constructive signal addition increases strength, allowing the signal to travel farther.
• Energy efficiency: By focusing the signal in one direction, less power is required to maintain the connection.

While the more complex algorithms used in beamforming can increase energy consumption, directional transmission generally uses energy more efficiently than omnidirectional transmission. In addition, improved connectivity can further reduce overall energy usage. Beamforming also delivers significant performance gains in multi-cell deployments, particularly in environments with high inter-cell interference.

In industrial scenarios, beamforming is available on request when supported by the RAN. Uptake of beamforming in non-public networks (NPNs) has so far been limited, but this may change as the market continues to evolve.