Proceedings of the

International Computing and

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A Multiband T-Shaped Antenna Array for

6G Mobile Communication
Sunday Achimugu1*, Abraham Usman Usman2, Suleiman Zubair3, Michael David4, Abdulkadir
Olayinka Abdulbaki5, Hassan Musa Abdullahi6
1,2,3,4,5,6
Department of Telecommunications Engineering
Federal University of Technology, Minna
*
sundayachimugu@[Link]

ABSTRACT
The paradigm shift in the use cases of wireless communication necessitates the need to move toward higher data
rates, large bandwidths, and intelligent reconfiguration in 6G. This paper presents a novel double T-shaped
antenna array that operates between 4GHz to 16 GHz for 6G mobile communication. The antenna consists of a
rectangular microstrip with a fractal T-shaped slot, cut at the rear of the microstrip to provide an air gap for an
improved radiation pattern. The antenna is separated at 9 degrees to create a 3 × 3 array which is fed through a
0.8 × 2.77 mm2 microstrip line. The antenna was designed and simulated using the CST suite based on Finite
Integration Technique. The antenna exhibits a peak gain of 7.99 dBi at 15.35 GHz, with a maximum reflection
coefficient of -31.01 dBi at 8.43 GHz. It also operates in four bands, 6.62-7.54 GHz, 8.27-8.78 GHz, 10.98-11.78
GHz, and 13.65-15.4 GHz respectively, realizing a 92% radiation efficiency between 8.27-8.78 GHz frequency
band. The antenna array was fabricated on Rogers 5880 substrate with 2.2 𝜀 , and 0.766 mm thickness, displaying
an S11 ≤ -10 dB over the entire operating frequency. This validates the simulated results. The antenna is compact
(30.9 × 26.63 × 0.1 mm3) and suitable for 6G mobile broadband applications.
Keywords: 6G, antenna array, broadband, wireless communication .

1. INTRODUCTION communication, 6G is rapidly receiving attention

within the communication industry and academia
THE emergence of wireless communication has paved
considering its first commercial deployment which is
the way for the seamless transmission of information.
planned for 2030. To advance the development of 6G
The huge demand for data rates has resulted in the
technology, the ITU-R at WRC 2023 harmonized the
transition and upgrade of mobile communication
frequency band for 6G mobile communication and
networks every ten years. Already in use, Fifth-
advanced use case scenarios. For cellular mobile
generation (5G) wireless communication networks
communication, 4400-4800MHz, 7125-7250MHz,
enable machines to communicate with each other, and
7750-8400MHz, and 14.80-15.35GHz have been
deliver high data rates (Andersson et al., 2023).
allocated to region 1. Region 2 is to utilize 7125-
Nevertheless, 5G specifications have not
8400MHz and 14.80-15.35GHz bands. While Region
comprehended the needs of the emerging technologies
3 is to use 4400-4800MHz, 7125-8400MHz, and
and use cases. As we move toward complex use cases
14.80-15.35GHz, all regions have been licensed to use
including, connected intelligent machines,
the 6425MHz – 7125MHz frequency band. In
teleporting, ubiquitous connectivity, tactile internet,
addition, millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) and sub-THz
smart transport, ultra-high-definition videos, and Tbps
bands within 102-275GHz (102-109 GHz, 151.5-164
data rates, 6G has been envisioned (Wang et al.,
GHz, 167-174 GHz, 209-226 GHz 252-275 GHz)
2023). This has led to a continued need for increased
have been earmarked for 6G advanced
data capacity which in turn requires more bandwidth
communication scenarios (Castro, 2023).
and spectrum. The next generation of mobile

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The design of antennas that can effectively operate their design. This provided an improved isolation and
across these frequency bands is pivotal to deploying reflection coefficient of the antenna.
6G. The antennas used in cellular and Wi-Fi systems In a related work, (Tuib et al., 2023) presented a 2 by-
have gradually moved from simple patch, dipole, and 2 circular patch MIMO antenna array operating
monopole antennas in the early generation of wireless between 26.5-29.5GHz. The individual antenna in the
communication to advanced beamforming array array has a measured impedance bandwidth of 1.6
antennas used in the multiple-input multiple-output GHz from 27.25 to 28.85 GHz for S11 ≤ −10 dB,
(MIMO) systems in the fourth (4G) and the latest fifth while the MIMO array delivered a gain of 7.2 dBi at
(5G) generations of wireless technologies (Achimugu 28 GHz with inter radiator isolation greater than 26
et al., 2023), (Olwal et al. 2021). In 5G mobile dBi. Introducing frequency selective surfaces (FSS) is
communication systems, a lower mm-wave band another way to improve the performance of antennas.
(<100GHz) is sufficient to deliver 10Gbps data rate The gain of the MIMO array was increased when
(Vyas, 2019). For such a band, multiple-input- (Tuib et al., 2023) introduced an FSS consisting of a 7
multiple-output (MIMO) antenna configurations are × 7 array of rectangular C-shaped resonator unit cells.
been widely implemented. The authors (Griffiths et With the FSS, the gain of the MIMO array increased
al., 2023) presented a mm-wave antenna design using to 8.6 dB at 28 GHz.
a ring-slot resonator to achieve a wide bandwidth of (Baz et al., 2023) suggested a circularly slotted 4 × 4
25.0-29.7 GHz. MIMO antenna. The antenna resonates at three
Although MIMO antennas deliver good spatial different bands, 2.02 GHz, 5.87 GHz, and 11.19 GHz,
radiation, the coupling between the ports is a major realizing a maximum gain of 10.94 dB at 3.94 GHz,
concern as it degrades the performance of the antenna. and was fabricated on a low-profile FR4 substrate.
As a result, several attempts have been undertaken to This paper presents a novel double T-shaped
increase the isolation between radiators. One of the multiband-array antenna for mobile communication in
ways to achieve good isolation in MIMO antennas is 6G technology. The antenna operates across a wide
to use a metamaterial-based MIMO design (You et al. bandwidth of 12GHz, suitable for application in 6G
2021). MIMO technology has been widely utilized in mobile broadband devices. The rest of the work is
mobile cellular antennas to allow operation at arranged as follows. In section 2, the structural design
different bands. Four elements coplanar-fed array of the antenna is presented. The results are discussed
antenna operating across 2-5.2 GHz was proposed by in Section 3. In section 4, a conclusion is drawn while
(Hassan et al., 2023) for 5G mobile communication. section 5 is acknowledgment.
The antenna realized a peak gain of 6.2dBi at 3.8 GHz. 2. ANTENNA GEOMETRY AND DESIGN
Creating an air gap between the design elements of an
A double T-shaped patch antenna fabricated on
antenna is a means of achieving magnetic and electric
Rogers 5880 (RT) substrate with permittivity (ε) of
coupling, providing isolation and improving radiation
2.2, thickness h, and 0.00009 loss tangent has been
efficiency. (Naqvi & Hussain, 2022). (Hassan et al.,
developed following four stages. RT dielectric was
2023) provided an air gap of 1mm and 6mm between
selected because of its low εr, relatively low loss
a front triangular-shaped array and the fractal back in
tangent, and ability to withstand tear. The proposed

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antenna structure design stages are shown in Figure 1. bandwidth and radiation efficiency of the antenna. In
The antenna operates between 4 to 16 GHz, covering stage 3, the T-shaped fractal structure is made into a 3
the four bands allocated for 6G mobile by 3 array separated at an angle of 9 degrees from
communication. Stage 1 represents a rectangular patch each other. This allows the antenna to operate over
structure made of copper, designed following (1) to four frequency bands.
(7) respectively. The novelty of the design is the
double fractal T-shaped strategically cut in the second
stage as shown in Figure 1(b). The T-shaped provides
an air gap between the substrate and the radiating
copper, resulting in an improvement of the

a. rectangular patch b. Double T-shaped patch c. 3 by 3 antenna array

Figure 1: Evolution of the Proposed Radiating Antenna Structure

The Length of the rectangular microstrip antenna is 𝑐 1

𝑊= ( ) (2)
2𝑓𝑟 √(𝜀𝑟 +1
)
represented by 𝐿 while 𝜆0 is the wavelength of the 2

antenna’s resonant frequency, 𝑓𝑟 . The extension of the The effective permittivity 𝜀𝑒 is obtained from (3),
𝑒𝑟 +1 𝑒𝑟 −1 1
patch is represented by ∆𝑙 and derived from equation 𝜀𝑒 = + { } (3)
2 2 √1+ 12ℎ
𝑊
4. 𝜀𝑒 is the effective permittivity of the material and
𝜀𝑒 +0.3 (𝑊 ⁄ℎ)+0.264
𝑐 is the speed of light. The length and width of the ∆𝑙 = 0.412ℎ ( )( ) (4)
𝜀𝑒 −0.258 (𝑊 ⁄ℎ)+0.8

substrate for optimal radiation are obtained from (1) 𝐿𝑠 = 𝐿 + 6ℎ (5)

and (2) respectively, with 𝑓𝑟 = 6GHz. The final
proposed antenna structure is shown in Figure 5. The 𝑊𝑠 = 𝑊 + 6ℎ (6)
optimized physical parameters of the antenna are 0.0606𝜆0
ℎ= (7)
√𝑒𝑟
listed in Table 1.
𝜆0
𝐿= − ∆𝑙 (1)
2√𝜀𝑒

The width of the patch is obtained from (2)

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Table 1: Antenna Structural Design Parameters

SYMBOL PARAMETER UNIT (mm) 3.1. Rectangular Patch
L Length of the patch 6.23
Figure 2 (a) shows the reflection coefficient of the
W Width of the patch 7.41
fg Feed line gap 0.80 rectangular patch in Figure 1 (a). A maximum
fl Feed line length 2.77 performance was realized at the 8.25 GHz band. The
ta T-shaped arm 0.72
tg T-shaped width 0.4 antenna has a peak gain of 6.38 dB at the 15.35 GHz
tl T-shaped length 2.4 band. The large bandwidth of S11 ≥ -10dB exhibited
tb T-shaped breadth 0.48
d T separation length 2.16 by the antenna indicates high distortion of the antenna
g Array gap 2.2 and hence poor performance.

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

(a) (b)

Figure 2: (a) S11 of Single Patch Antenna (b) Peak Gain of Single Patch Antenna

3.2. Double T-shaped Antenna enhanced the performance of the antenna as can be
To improve the performance of the results in Figure 2, seen in Figure 4. Also, a reduced side lobe of -8.8dBi,
a double 1.84 × 2.4 × 2.48 mm3 T-slot cut is and a maximum gain of 6.63 dBi was obtained at the
strategically made at the top of the patch antenna as 14.8 GHz band. However, the large bandwidth of S11
displayed in Figure 3(a). The double T-shaped slots ≥ -10dB exhibited by the antenna is not desirable.

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(a) (b)

Figure 3: (a) Front View of Novel Double T-shaped Antenna (b) Back-view of T-shaped Antenna

(a) (b)

Figure 4: (a) S11 of Double T-shaped Antenna (b) Peak Gain of Double T-shaped Antenna
a 1.59 mm horizontal gap, as shown in Figure 5(a) to
3.3. 3 × 3 Antenna Array improve the isolation between the individual antennas.
The double T-shaped fractal slot rectangular patch A 0.8 × 0.78 mm2 coplanar waveguide microstrip feed
antenna was formed into a 3 × 3 antenna array. The line of 50 Ω input impedance was used for the input
individual antennas in the array were spatially port. The overall dimension of the array (l × w × t) as
arranged orthogonally at 9 degrees to each other with shown in Figure 5 is 30.9 × 26.63 × 0.1 mm3. The

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simulation results in Figure 6 show the antenna’s gain of 7.99 dB at 15.35 GHz, with a maximum
improved performance. The antenna exhibits a peak reflection coefficient of -31.01 dB at 8.43 GHz.

(a) (b)
Figure 5: (a) Front view3 × 3 antenna array (b) Back view 3 × 3 antenna array

(a) (b)

Figure 6: (a) S11 of 3 × 3 Antenna Array (b) Peak Gain of 3 × 3 Antenna Array

6G mobile communication antenna will operate in mobile communication. The antenna array was
multiple bands, with high directivity (Naqvi & fabricated on Rogers 5880 substrate with 2.2 𝜀 , and
Hussain, 2022). From Figure 6(a), it can be seen that 0.766 mm thickness as shown in Figure 7. The antenna
the antenna operates in four bands, where S11 ≤ -10 displayed an S11 ≤ -10 dB over the entire operating
dB. These correspond to 6.62-7.54 GHz, 8.27-8.78 frequency. This validates the simulated results. A
GHz, 10.98-11.78 GHz, and 13.65-15.31 GHz bands comparison of the antenna proposed in this paper to
respectively. This makes the antenna suitable for 6G other similar work is presented in Table 2.

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Figure 7: Fabricated 3 × 3 Antenna Array

Table 2: Comparison of proposed antenna to other related work
REFLECTION
FREQUENCY ANTENNA GAIN BANDWIDTH
PAPER COEFFICIENT
(GHz) TYPE (dB) (GHz)
(dB)
(Wong et al., 2023) 7.025-8.4 2 × 2 Array 7.35 1.375 --22
(Abdulhussein et al., 2023) Microstrip
2.7-4.8 - 2.1 -32.33
patch
(Ntawangaheza et al., 2020) 4.48-6.8 4 × 4 array 10.14 2.32 -19.8
(Sayem et al., 2023) Microstrip
2.4-4.29 7.24 1.89 -47.21
patch
This paper 4-16 3 ×3 Array 7.99 12 -31.01

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 4. CONCLUSION 20(August):101505. doi:
10.1016/[Link].2023.101505.
This paper presents a novel double T-shaped
Castro, Caio. 2023. “ITU Defines Frequency Bands for 6G
multiband antenna for 6G mobile communication. The Studies.” Retrieved December 18, 2023
([Link]
antenna operates between 4GHz to 16GHz. A peak frequency-bands-for-6g-studies).
gain of 7.99 dB is obtained at 15.35GHz. Simulation
Griffiths, Gabriela Jana, Shaker Alkaraki, Muhammad
results show that the antenna operates in four bands Aslam, Qammer H. Abbasi, Andrew Evans, and Syeda
Fizzah Jilani. 2023. “Millimeter-Wave Defected Ground
including, 6.62-7.54 GHz, 8.27-8.78 GHz, 10.98- Structure-Based MIMO Antenna for 6G Wireless
11.78 GHz, and 13.65-15.4 GHz respectively. The Applications.” IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society,
AP-S International Symposium (Digest) 2023-
antenna array was fabricated on Rogers 5880 substrate July(July):1399–1400. doi: 10.1109/USNC-
URSI52151.2023.10238146.
with 2.2 𝜀 , and 0.766 mm, displaying an S11 ≤ -10 dB
Hassan, Sabah, Sharul Kamal, Abd Rahim, and Mohammad
over the entire operating frequency. This validates the
Alibakhshikenari. 2023. “An Innovative Fractal
simulated results. The antenna is compact and Monopole MIMO Antenna for Modern 5G
Applications.” AEUE - International Journal of
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Muqdad, Zainab S., Mohammad Alibakhshikenari, Taha A.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Elwi, Zaid A. Abdul, Bal S. Virdee, Richa Sharma,
Salahuddin Khan, Nurhan Türker, Patrizia Livreri,
The authors acknowledge the Nigerian Francisco Falcone, and Ernesto Limiti. 2023. “Photonic
Controlled Metasurface for Intelligent Antenna Beam
Communication Commission that sponsored this Steering Applications Including 6G Mobile
work under the Professorial Endowment Fund, Communication Systems.” AEUE-International Journal
of Electronics and Communications 166:154–66. doi:
awarded to the Federal University of Technology 10.1016/[Link].2023.154652.
Minna. Naqvi, Syeda Iffat, and Niamat Hussain. 2022. “Antennas
for 5G and 6G Communication.” (July). doi:
10.5772/intechopen.105497.
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