Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Telecommunications Research Center (PRT) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing microstrip antennas for sixth-generation (6G) communication network technology.
BRIN PRT researcher Yohanes Galih Adhiyoga stated in Jakarta on Friday that the current research focuses on single-layer and multilayer microstrip antennas.
These antennas are designed to be compact for integration into mobile phones.
"We cannot have an antenna whose dimensions exceed the size of the phone itself. Therefore, the antenna must be designed as small as possible to fit inside the device," Adhiyoga said.
He noted that antenna design requires precise calculation, as a single device must house multiple components for cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The research process involves several stages: simulation, optimization, fabrication, and laboratory measurement.
Adhiyoga confirmed the team has performed various tests, including S-parameters and radiation patterns.
The study is an initial step forward in developing 6G technology that could operate at millimeter-wave frequencies in Indonesia in the future.
In addition to antenna research for mobile devices, he and his team are developing antennas for satellite communications (SATCOM).
The development involves creating antenna prototypes to ensure communication between satellites in geostationary orbit and ground stations on Earth.
To support this, the BRIN PRT research team is developing a phased array system, adopting the concept used in Starlink technology. This system allows the antenna beam to be controlled electronically without any mechanical movement.
"The antenna remains physically stationary, but from an electromagnetic perspective, the direction of the signal beam can move. This is important because low-orbit satellites move rapidly, so the antenna must also be able to follow the satellite's movements," Adhiyoga said.
BRIN's Telecommunications Research Center is supported by several laboratory infrastructures, such as the Communication and Signal Processing (CSP) Laboratory; the RF, Microwave, Acoustic, and Photonic (RFMAP) Laboratory; the Antenna and Propagation (AP) Laboratory; the Advanced Network Protocol (ANP) Laboratory; and the Audio Visual Transmission Laboratory.
In addition to thematic laboratories, the BRIN PRT is also equipped with a near-field anechoic chamber used for precision antenna testing and characterization.
In terms of equipment, a network analyzer with measurement capabilities of up to 110 GHz is available, as well as an LPKF H4 protolaser that supports the fabrication of high-precision electronic device prototypes to facilitate research.
