INTERCONNECTION How higher frequencies are
reshaping RF interconnect design RF system design is constantly changing. Higher data rates and compact architectures mean the physical interfaces carrying signals between components exert greater influence over the entire system’s behaviour.
By Jamal Hagi, RF engineer, PEI-Genesis T
hese constraints are shaping RF design decisions across wireless infrastructure, defence electronics and industrial automation. Systems that once allowed generous electrical margins now operate closer to defined limits. Design teams are closely monitoring how RF signals are launched and protected as they move through complex assemblies.
5G, AI and the new RF reality The shift towards higher-frequency design began with 5G rather than AI. This moved large-scale commercial deployments beyond the sub-6 GHz range found in earlier generations of wireless technology. Millimetre wave operation introduced new constraints around loss control, impedance
stability and mechanical precision. As systems shrink, connector geometry, shielding effectiveness and material selection play crucial roles in determining signal behaviour. With AI use across networked systems increasing, the movement of data between sensors, accelerators and control systems places equal strain on the signal paths that connect them.
These demands are most visible in dense architectures, where multiple high-speed links operate in close proximity. Maintaining signal integrity depends on careful control of impedance and shielding across the interconnect chain. These interactions become harder to manage at higher frequencies, particularly in phased array
radar and 5G test platforms.
Deployment trends suggest that these challenges extend beyond a limited set of flagship installations. A 2025 survey by GSA “identified 203 operators in 56 countries and territories investing in 5G mmWave network deployments”. This level of activity has increased demand for RF interfaces that support high data rates while maintaining predictable performance in compact system layouts.
Quantum and rethinking RF requirements
Alongside AI, quantum computing is influencing how engineers think about future RF requirements. While many quantum systems are still in development, quantum
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JUNE 2026 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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