5G • Spectrum
Carrier Aggregation (CA)
5G NR Carrier Aggregation
Combining up to 16 component carriers (CCs) across contiguous or non-contiguous bands to boost peak bandwidth.
Technical Explanation
In 5G NR, Carrier Aggregation allows simultaneous aggregation of up to 16 component carriers across FR1 and FR2, reaching multi-gigahertz total bandwidth. CA supports intra-band contiguous, intra-band non-contiguous, and inter-band combinations, managed through MAC Control Elements activating and deactivating secondary cells (SCells).
Key Functions
- Aggregates up to 16 component carriers across sub-6 GHz and mmWave
- Supports peak multi-gigabit throughputs by combining disparate spectrum
- Dynamically activates/deactivates SCells via MAC Control Elements
Specifications
3GPP TS 38.101-1, TS 38.101-2, TS 38.300
Interfaces
Uu
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