A long term evolution advanced (LTE-Advanced) network standard has been developed to provide wireless data rates of 1 Gbps downlink and 500 Mbps uplink. The LTE-Advanced network standard also offers multi-carrier transmission and reception within a single band as well as multi-carrier transmission and reception within two separate bands. Multi-carrier transmission within a single band is referred to as intra-band transmission and reception. In contrast, multi-carrier transmission and reception within two different bands is referred to as inter-band transmission and reception. LTE-Advanced technology is also known as fourth generation (4G) technology.
Major challenges are associated with realizing front end radio architectures (FERAs) that are necessary for providing multi-carrier operation using intra-band and inter-band transmission and reception. One of the major challenges pertains to transmit (TX) multi-carrier inter-modulation (IMD) products that can fall within a multi-carrier receive (RX) channel. Another major challenge pertains to RX de-sense due to the proximity of a multi-carrier TX channel. This major challenge is exacerbated by multi-carrier operation in which an offset frequency between the TX channel and the RX channel can be lower than a typical duplex frequency offset. Therefore, a need exists for a FERA having improved IMD performance.