The vision of next generation 5G wireless communications lies in providing very high data rates (typically of Gbps order), extremely low latency, manifold increase in base station capacity, and significant improvement in users’ perceived quality of service (QoS), compared to current 4G LTE networks. Ever increasing proliferation of smart devices, introduction of new emerging multimedia applications, together with an exponential rise in wireless data (multimedia) demand and usage is already creating a significant burden on existing cellular networks. 5G wireless systems, with improved data rates, capacity, latency, and QoS are expected to be the panacea of most of the current cellular networks’ problems. In this survey, we make an exhaustive review of wireless evolution toward 5G networks. We first discuss the new architectural changes associated with the radio access network (RAN) design, including air interfaces, smart antennas, cloud and heterogeneous RAN. Subsequently, we make an in-depth survey of underlying novel mm-wave physical layer technologies, encompassing new channel model estimation, directional antenna design, beamforming algorithms, and massive MIMO technologies. Next, the details of MAC layer protocols and multiplexing schemes needed to efficiently support this new physical layer are discussed. We also look into the killer applications, considered as the major driving force behind 5G. In order to understand the improved user experience, we provide highlights of new QoS, QoE, and SON features associated with the 5G evolution. For alleviating the increased network energy consumption and operating expenditure, we make a detail review on energy awareness and cost efficiency. As understanding the current status of 5G implementation is important for its eventual commercialization, we also discuss relevant field trials, drive tests, and simulation experiments. Finally, we point out major existing research issues and identify possible future research directions.

Next Generation 5G Wireless Networks: A Comprehensive Survey

Communication at millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies is defining a new era of wireless communication. The mmWave band offers higher bandwidth communication channels versus those presently used in commercial wireless systems. The applications of mmWave are immense: wireless local and personal area networks in the unlicensed band, 5G cellular systems, not to mention vehicular area networks, ad hoc networks, and wearables. Signal processing is critical for enabling the next generation of mmWave communication. Due to the use of large antenna arrays at the transmitter and receiver, combined with radio frequency and mixed signal power constraints, new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication signal processing techniques are needed. Because of the wide bandwidths, low complexity transceiver algorithms become important. There are opportunities to exploit techniques like compressed sensing for channel estimation and beamforming. This article provides an overview of signal processing challenges in mmWave wireless systems, with an emphasis on those faced by using MIMO communication at higher carrier frequencies.

An Overview of Signal Processing Techniques for Millimeter Wave MIMO Systems

There is considerable pressure to define the key requirements of 5G, develop 5G standards, and perform technology trials as quickly as possible. Normally, these activities are best done in series but there is a desire to complete these tasks in parallel so that commercial deployments of 5G can begin by 2020. 5G will not be an incremental improvement over its predecessors; it aims to be a revolutionary leap forward in terms of data rates, latency, massive connectivity, network reliability, and energy efficiency. These capabilities are targeted at realizing high-speed connectivity, the Internet of Things, augmented virtual reality, the tactile internet, and so on. The requirements of 5G are expected to be met by new spectrum in the microwave bands (3.3-4.2 GHz), and utilizing large bandwidths available in mm-wave bands, increasing spatial degrees of freedom via large antenna arrays and 3-D MIMO, network densification, and new waveforms that provide scalability and flexibility to meet the varying demands of 5G services. Unlike the one size fits all 4G core networks, the 5G core network must be flexible and adaptable and is expected to simultaneously provide optimized support for the diverse 5G use case categories. In this paper, we provide an overview of 5G research, standardization trials, and deployment challenges. Due to the enormous scope of 5G systems, it is necessary to provide some direction in a tutorial article, and in this overview, the focus is largely user centric, rather than device centric. In addition to surveying the state of play in the area, we identify leading technologies, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and outline the key challenges ahead, with research test beds delivering promising performance but pre-commercial trials lagging behind the desired 5G targets.

5G : A tutorial overview of standards, trials, challenges, deployment, and practice

The relatively unused millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum offers excellent opportunities to increase mobile capacity due to the enormous amount of available raw bandwidth. This paper presents experimental measurements and empirically-based propagation channel models for the 28, 38, 60, and 73 GHz mmWave bands, using a wideband sliding correlator channel sounder with steerable directional horn antennas at both the transmitter and receiver from 2011 to 2013. More than 15,000 power delay profiles were measured across the mmWave bands to yield directional and omnidirectional path loss models, temporal and spatial channel models, and outage probabilities. Models presented here offer side-by-side comparisons of propagation characteristics over a wide range of mmWave bands, and the results and models are useful for the research and standardization process of future mmWave systems. Directional and omnidirectional path loss models with respect to a 1 m close-in free space reference distance over a wide range of mmWave frequencies and scenarios using directional antennas in real-world environments are provided herein, and are shown to simplify mmWave path loss models, while allowing researchers to globally compare and standardize path loss parameters for emerging mmWave wireless networks. A new channel impulse response modeling framework, shown to agree with extensive mmWave measurements over several bands, is presented for use in link-layer simulations, using the observed fact that spatial lobes contain multipath energy that arrives at many different propagation time intervals. The results presented here may assist researchers in analyzing and simulating the performance of next-generation mmWave wireless networks that will rely on adaptive antennas and multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems.

Wideband Millimeter-Wave Propagation Measurements and Channel Models for Future Wireless Communication System Design

The spectrum crunch currently experienced by mobile cellular carriers makes the underutilized millimeter-wave frequency spectrum a sensible choice for next-generation cellular communications, particularly when considering the recent advances in low cost sub-terahertz/millimeter-wave complementary metal–oxide semiconductor circuitry. To date, however, little is known on how to design or deploy practical millimeter-wave cellular systems. In this paper, measurements for outdoor cellular channels at 38 GHz were made in an urban environment with a broadband (800-MHz RF passband bandwidth) sliding correlator channel sounder. Extensive angle of arrival, path loss, and multipath time delay spread measurements were conducted for steerable beam antennas of differing gains and beamwidths for a wide variety of transmitter and receiver locations. Coverage outages and the likelihood of outage with steerable antennas were also measured to determine how random receiver locations with differing antenna gains and link budgets could perform in future cellular systems. This paper provides measurements and models that may be used to design future fifth-generation millimeter-wave cellular networks and gives insight into antenna beam steering algorithms for these systems.

Broadband Millimeter-Wave Propagation Measurements and Models Using Adaptive-Beam Antennas for Outdoor Urban Cellular Communications

Microwave/millimeter-wave propagation in woods and forests was investigated at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz. The experiments were repeated over the same transmission paths, under both summer and winter conditions, i.e. with tree in leaf and without leaves. Of particular interest were the range dependence, beam broadening, and depolarization of millimeter-wave beams in vegetation and frequency dependence of these effects. The experiments have shown, in particular, that the range dependence is characterized by a high attenuation rate at short vegetation depths and a reduced attenuation rate at large depth. For trees fully in leaf, the transition between the two regimes can be abrupt and the change in attenuation rate substantial. Just after the transition significant beam broadening (and depolarization) occurs. A theory of millimeter-wave propagation in vegetation was derived using transport theory. >

Millimeter-wave propagation in vegetation: experiments and theory

Measurements on point-to-point transmission at street level were performed in downtown Denver, CO, with RF probes that operated at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz. All probes were mounted on self-contained vehicles, permitting a variety of path scenarios. Information on performance of these channels for propagation in an urban environment on both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight paths is presented. For non-line-of-sight (non-LOS) paths obstructed by buildings of several common materials, results that showed signal attenuations in excess of 100 dB. When the LOS followed a path directly through clear glass walls, the attenuation was small at all probe frequencies. However, when the glass wall had a metalized coating to reduce ultraviolet and infrared radiation, the attenuation increased by 25 to 50 dB for each metallized layer. In most cases no signals could be detected through steel reinforced concrete or brick buildings. >

Millimeter-wave propagation at street level in an urban environment

: Vegetation loss studies conducted for this report were a continuation of work reported in U S Army Report CECOM-81-CS020-F entitled, SHF-EHF Propagation Through Vegetation on Colorado East Slope. These measurements at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz, emphasize determining signal properties as a function of foliage depth in order to support the development of a model for predicting link performance. An evenly planted pecan orchard near Wichita Falls, Texas, was selected as the test area, which permitted controlled measurements to remove the density variability normally found in forested areas. In both the foliated and nonfoliated state, a sequence of measurements was made for an increasing number of trees in path, starting with one tree. For each path, azimuthal and elevation angle scans were made at terminal heights of 1, 4, and 6 meters. Additional tests, allowed determination of propagation characteristics associated with the position of the transmitter and receiver relative to a group of trees, as the transmitter was moved (position scanned) along an arc at the edge of the orchard. An abrupt change in rate of loss with tree depth in the presence of leaves, occuring between 30 and 80 meters is believed explainable by the transition from direct ray to a propagation mode where multiple scattering produced a lower loss rate. (Author)

Vegetation Loss Measurements at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz through a Pecan Orchard in Texas.

: Measurements of millimeter wave propagation in urban areas at 9.6, 28.8 and 57.6 GHz, and a determination of signal levels reflected from several building surfaces, were made to study wave propagation characteristics in a city environment. Principal emphasis was on the evaluation of communications link reliability, detectability and usable bandwidth as a function of position of terminals. Reflected signal level measurements were performed on building surfaces of concrete aggregate, painted smooth concrete with protruding ribs, brick, and metal siding. Multipath measurements were recorded as a function of distance for several runs over paths of about 1 kilometer in the center of the Denver metro area. Non-line-of-sight observations showed a large number of substantial signals arriving from a wide range of angles. This report contains the results and analysis from single-path and multipath and multipath reflections recorded for the study. Included are an evaluation of multipath effects for both urban and non-urban line-of-sight path and measurements of signals received on non-line-of-sight paths, using edge diffraction effects. (Author)

F.K. Schwering

Papers

Millimeter-wave propagation in vegetation: experiments and theory

Millimeter-wave propagation at street level in an urban environment

Vegetation Loss Measurements at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz through a Pecan Orchard in Texas.

Urban Millimeter Wave Propagation Studies.