Fraunhofer ENAS Develops 6 GHz HighFrequency Toroidal Inductor for 5G Base Stations

January 22, 2026 The Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS) in Germany announced a breakthrough in high frequency component technology with the development of a vertical toroidal inductor capable of stable operation at frequencies up to 6 GHz, targeting 5G macro and small cell base stations. Traditional inductors suffer from excessive signal attenuation and parasitic capacitance at high frequencies, limiting their use in 5G RF and power circuits. 

The new toroidal inductor employs an advanced nanocrystalline core material, which provides high permeability and low core loss at microwave frequencies, while its optimized doughnutshaped geometry minimizes parasitic capacitance. Test results show only 3% signal attenuation at 6 GHz, significantly outperforming conventional ferrite based inductors. Dr. Jan Meier, lead researcher at Fraunhofer ENAS, noted that the device can reduce base station power consumption by approximately 8% and lower wireless communication latency, addressing critical challenges in 5G infrastructure deployment. 

The institute has licensed the technology to a major global telecom component manufacturer, with commercial production scheduled to begin in late 2026, accelerating the global expansion of 5G and future 6G networks and establishing the toroidal inductor as a key enabler of high speed wireless connectivity.