Abstract—This paper presents the design and validation of a tri-band patch array antenna intended for 5G-based medical data communication. The proposed antenna operates efficiently across 0.7 GHz, 2.6 GHz (sub-6 GHz), and 26 GHz (mmWave), aligning with the 5G spectrum allocations used in Thailand. The antenna’s T–F shaped single-patch structure is optimized to achieve impedance matching, high gain, and radiation efficiency across all three bands. Simulations in CST Microwave Studio were performed to evaluate |S11|, gain, and efficiency across different array configurations (2×1, 2×2, 4×1, and 4×2). Based on these results, the 2×2 array was selected for prototype fabrication and experimental testing. The fabricated prototype was characterized using a Vector Network Analyzer and radiation pattern measurements in a controlled indoor setup. Furthermore, an over-the-air communication test using USRP software-defined radios was conducted to measure Packet Error Rate (PER) and Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) at different distances. Results demonstrated that the 2×2 array significantly outperformed the single-element antenna, with lower PER and higher SINR at both 0.7 and 2.6 GHz. The proposed antenna, designed for non-implantable, device-level integration, is well suited for applications such as remote patient monitoring and medical IoT. Its tri-band capability ensures reliable connectivity across multiple 5G layers, while its compact design enables integration into portable medical devices. Future work will extend to hybrid beamforming and full 5G link validation including BER and latency analysis.


Keywords—antenna array, 5G, microstrip antenna, medical communication, tri-band

Cite: Paleerat Wongchampa and Lerson Kirasamuthranon, “Tri-Band Patch Array Antenna Design for 5G Medical Data Communication in Sub-6 GHz and mmWave Bands," Journal of Communications, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 351-364, 2026.

Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).