Adapting 5g nr spatial components for stacked transmission via rf/optical media

A method of spatially combining 5G new radio (NR) carrier signals for transport via a communications medium, the method comprising:

• for each of a plurality of spatially diverse data signals to be transmitted via a frequency channel of the transmission medium, determining a respective channel component to be imparted thereto, the respective channel components comprising a respective phase shift and a respective time delay, the imparted channel components being configured to cause each spatially diverse data signal to exhibit channel components sufficient to enable a receiver to discriminate the spatially diverse data signals;
• causing each spatially diverse data signal to have imparted thereto its respective channel component;
• combining the spatially diverse data signals;
• and
• shifting the combined spatially diverse data signals to the frequency channel of the transmission medium for transmission therethrough.

Computerized network apparatus configured for use within a content distribution network, the computerized network apparatus comprising:

• processor apparatus;
• and
• storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed by the processor apparatus, cause the computerized network apparatus to:
• cause each spatially diverse data signal to have imparted thereto a respective channel component, the imparted channel components being configured to cause each spatially diverse data signal to exhibit channel components sufficient to enable a receiver to discriminate the spatially diverse data signals;
• combine the spatially diverse data signals;
• and
• shift the combined spatially diverse data signals to the frequency channel of the transmission medium for transmission therethrough.