5G mobile communication systems (5G) have just launched for commercial services from 2020. 5G will upgrade for attaining new functions and features in the future. Mobile communication systems have generally evolved every 10 years, and 6G mobile communication system (6G) will launch toward 2030s in the world. 6G will include new devices such as wireless power transformer, sensing technologies, and so on. In this background, microwave passive components will be key technologies for banding mobile communication system and hardware technologies of base stations and mobile terminals. This workshop provided to share the resent recent research results in Japan, which are microwave passive components for 5G evolution and 6G.

First, Prof. Tadashi Kawai (University of Hyogo) presented the current research results and future research topics of compact microwave power dividers and couplers for operating wideband and multiband. The presentation included research topics of microwave power divider for operating sub-THz bands.

Second, Dr. Yasunori Suzuki (NTT DOCOMO) presented the current status and trend of 5G Evolution and 6G. The presentation provided the technical issues and key technologies for realizing mobile communication system and transmitter for sub-THz band operation.

Finally, Mr. Kuniaki Yosui (Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.) presented the multilayer device technologies using liquid crystal polymer for small antenna and front-end module of mobile terminal. The presentation included various use cases of the presented technologies.

In the research activities toward 6G, this workshop shared the current status and future trend of microwave passive components, while that provided deep and comprehensive discussions between attendees and speakers. From these discussions, this workshop was very useful to share the latest results, research trend, and technical issues for realizing 5G Evolution and 6G.