Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless Networks: Potentials and Challenges
05 Feb 2014-Vol. 102, Iss: 3, pp 366-385
TL;DR: Measurements and capacity studies are surveyed to assess mmW technology with a focus on small cell deployments in urban environments and it is shown that mmW systems can offer more than an order of magnitude increase in capacity over current state-of-the-art 4G cellular networks at current cell densities.
Abstract: Millimeter-wave (mmW) frequencies between 30 and 300 GHz are a new frontier for cellular communication that offers the promise of orders of magnitude greater bandwidths combined with further gains via beamforming and spatial multiplexing from multielement antenna arrays. This paper surveys measurements and capacity studies to assess this technology with a focus on small cell deployments in urban environments. The conclusions are extremely encouraging; measurements in New York City at 28 and 73 GHz demonstrate that, even in an urban canyon environment, significant non-line-of-sight (NLOS) outdoor, street-level coverage is possible up to approximately 200 m from a potential low-power microcell or picocell base station. In addition, based on statistical channel models from these measurements, it is shown that mmW systems can offer more than an order of magnitude increase in capacity over current state-of-the-art 4G cellular networks at current cell densities. Cellular systems, however, will need to be significantly redesigned to fully achieve these gains. Specifically, the requirement of highly directional and adaptive transmissions, directional isolation between links, and significant possibilities of outage have strong implications on multiple access, channel structure, synchronization, and receiver design. To address these challenges, the paper discusses how various technologies including adaptive beamforming, multihop relaying, heterogeneous network architectures, and carrier aggregation can be leveraged in the mmW context.
Citations
More filters
01 Nov 2007
TL;DR: Two 4-bit active phase shifters integrated with all digital control circuitry in 0.13-mum RF CMOS technology are developed for X- and Ku-band and K-band phased arrays, respectively, based on a resonance-based quadratures all-pass filter for quadrature signaling with minimum loss and wide operation bandwidth.
Abstract: Two 4-bit active phase shifters integrated with all digital control circuitry in 0.13-mu m RF CMOS technology are developed for X- and Ku-band (8-18 GHz) and K-band (18-26 GHz) phased arrays, respectively. The active digital phase shifters synthesize the required phase using a phase interpolation process by adding quadrature-phased input signals. The designs are based on a resonance-based quadrature all-pass filter for quadrature signaling with minimum loss and wide operation bandwidth. Both phase shifters can change phases with less than about 2 dB of RMS amplitude imbalance for all phase states through an associated DAC control. For the X- and Ku-band phase shifter, the RMS phase error is less than 10 degrees over the entire 5-18 GHz range. The average insertion loss ranges from -3 dB; to -0.2 dB at 5-20 GHz. The input P-1dB for all 4-bit phase states is typically - 5.4 +/- 1.3 dBm at 12 GHz in the X- and.Ku-band phase shifter. The K-band phase shifter exhibits 6.5-13 degrees of RMS phase error at 15-26 GHz. The average insertion loss is from -4.6 to -3 dB at 15-26 GHz. The input P-1dB of the K-band phase shifter is -0.8 +/- 1.1 dBm at 24 GHz. For both phase shifters, the core size excluding all the pads and the output 50 Omega matching circuits, inserted for measurement purpose only, is very small, 0.33 x 0.43 mm(2). The total current consumption is 5.8 mA in the X- and Ku-band phase shifter and 7.8 mA in the K-band phase shifter, from a 1.5 V supply voltage.
43 citations
TL;DR: Simulation results show that the proposed RAS-SM schemes are capable of achieving considerable performance gains over conventional norm-based and eigenvalue-based schemes in mmWave MIMO channels, while avoiding an overwhelming complexity imposed by exhaustive search.
Abstract: In this paper, a novel multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scheme, termed as receive antenna selection (RAS)-aided spatial modulation MIMO (SM-MIMO), is proposed for millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications. It employs the spatial modulation (SM) concept and the RAS technique to tackle the costs of the multiple radio frequency (RF) chains at both link ends. Moreover, we develop a pair of RAS algorithms for the proposed mmWave RAS-SM scheme based on the capacity maximization (max-capacity) and the bit-error rate (BER) minimization criteria, which are formulated as two combinatorial optimization problems. The theoretical gradients of the capacity and the BER with respect to RAS variables are derived and the convexities of these problems are discussed. Furthermore, a novel iterative algorithm through jointly designing the log-barrier algorithm (LbA) and the simplified conjugate gradient method is proposed for RAS optimization. Our simulation results show that the proposed RAS-SM schemes are capable of achieving considerable performance gains over conventional norm-based and eigenvalue-based schemes in mmWave MIMO channels, while avoiding an overwhelming complexity imposed by exhaustive search.
43 citations
Cites background from "Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..."
...It is noted that mmWave propagation is quasi-optical and suffers from high path losses [8]....
[...]
04 Dec 2014
TL;DR: The comparison between the measured and predicted results show good accuracy is obtained when a simplified RT model is used, suggesting that fast and simple ray tracers will be able to correctly predict the propagation characteristics at mmWave bands.
Abstract: In the summer of 2013, a wideband propagation measurement campaign using rotating directional antennas at 73 GHz was conducted at the New York University (NYU) campus, in order to collect extensive field measurements for use in a millimeter wave (mmWave) E-band statistical channel model. While the measurement campaign provided over 50 Gigabytes of wideband power delay profiles and angular responses [1], [2], the time and labor intensive measurements were based on only 5 transmitter (Tx) locations and 27 receiver (Rx) locations, making up a total of 74 Tx-Rx link combinations. To help generalize the measurements for immediate model development and eventual site planning, this paper presents an empirical ray-tracing model, with the goal of finding a suitable approach such that ray-tracing (RT) can fill in the gaps of the measurements. Here, we use the measured data to investigate the prediction capability of an empirical RT model, in which the 3D model of New York City (including the building structures and interaction losses) are greatly simplified. The comparison between the measured and predicted results show good accuracy is obtained when a simplified RT model is used, suggesting that fast and simple ray tracers will be able to correctly predict the propagation characteristics at mmWave bands.
43 citations
Cites background or methods or result from "Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..."
...Both predicted azimuth and elevation spreads indicates the presence of rich multipath clusters in mmWave propagation, which confirms the finding in [2], [3], [5] that mmWave signals will propagate via several NLOS paths rather than a small number of LOS links....
[...]
...mmWave bands will play an important role in beyond 4G and 5G cellular systems [5]....
[...]
...This is actually a better, more physically accurate model for propagation than common models used in 3GPP (See [1], [2], [5])....
[...]
TL;DR: This paper introduces a dedicated beam training strategy which sends the training beams separately to a specific high mobility user without changing the periodicity of the conventional beam training, and proposes the optimal training beam selection strategy which finds the best beamforming vectors yielding the lowest channel estimation error based on the target user's probabilistic channel information.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose an efficient beam training technique for millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications. Beam training should be performed frequently when some mobile users are under high mobility to ensure the accurate acquisition of the channel state information. To reduce the resource overhead caused by frequent beam training, we introduce a dedicated beam training strategy which sends the training beams separately to a specific high mobility user (called a target user) without changing the periodicity of the conventional beam training. The dedicated beam training requires a small amount of resources because the training beams can be optimized for the target user. To satisfy the performance requirement with a low training overhead, we propose the optimal training beam selection strategy which finds the best beamforming vectors yielding the lowest channel estimation error based on the target user’s probabilistic channel information. This dedicated beam training is combined with the greedy channel estimation algorithm that accounts for sparse characteristics and temporal dynamics of the target user’s channel. Our numerical evaluation demonstrates that the proposed scheme can maintain good channel estimation performance with significantly less training overhead compared to the conventional beam training protocols.
43 citations
Cites background from "Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..."
...The significant path loss of mmWave channels is a major obstacle that makes seamless communication over the mmWave band difficult [4]–[6]....
[...]
...According to [1], [6], the received energy is mostly concentrated in a few dominant paths including the line of sight path since many other paths experience high attenuation....
[...]
TL;DR: A comprehensive survey of recent advances in statistical mmWave channel modeling is presented in terms of channel parameter estimation, large-scale path loss models, and small-scale cluster models, to analyze and optimize the LSAA-based network deployments.
Abstract: Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications will be used in fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems, but they experience severe path loss and have high sensitivity to physical objects, leading to smaller cell radii and complicated network architectures. A coverage extension scheme using large-scale antenna arrays (LSAAs) has been suggested and theoretically proven to be cost-efficient in combination with ultradense small cell networks. To analyze and optimize the LSAA-based network deployments, a comprehensive survey of recent advances in statistical mmWave channel modeling is first presented in terms of channel parameter estimation, large-scale path loss models, and small-scale cluster models. Next, the measurement and modeling results at two 5G candidate mmWave bands (e.g., 28 GHz and 39 GHz) are reviewed and compared in several outdoor scenarios of interest, where the propagation characteristics make crucial contributions to wireless network designs. Finally, the coverage behaviors of systems employing a large number of antenna arrays are discussed, as well as some implications on future mmWave cellular network designs.
42 citations
Cites background from "Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..."
...From a wireless networking perspective, multitier cooperative cell deployment, combined with LSAA-based small cells, is expected to be a key enabler to vastly boost 5G mmWave radio network coverage and capacity with lower energy consumption and networking costs [10]....
[...]
..., business centers, office buildings, large-scale stadiums, and train stations) and improve the quality of service (QoS) [3, 10]....
[...]
References
More filters
Book•
15 Jan 1996
TL;DR: WireWireless Communications: Principles and Practice, Second Edition is the definitive modern text for wireless communications technology and system design as discussed by the authors, which covers the fundamental issues impacting all wireless networks and reviews virtually every important new wireless standard and technological development, offering especially comprehensive coverage of the 3G systems and wireless local area networks (WLANs).
Abstract: From the Publisher:
The indispensable guide to wireless communicationsnow fully revised and updated!
Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, Second Edition is the definitive modern text for wireless communications technology and system design. Building on his classic first edition, Theodore S. Rappaport covers the fundamental issues impacting all wireless networks and reviews virtually every important new wireless standard and technological development, offering especially comprehensive coverage of the 3G systems and wireless local area networks (WLANs) that will transform communications in the coming years. Rappaport illustrates each key concept with practical examples, thoroughly explained and solved step by step.
Coverage includes:
An overview of key wireless technologies: voice, data, cordless, paging, fixed and mobile broadband wireless systems, and beyond
Wireless system design fundamentals: channel assignment, handoffs, trunking efficiency, interference, frequency reuse, capacity planning, large-scale fading, and more
Path loss, small-scale fading, multipath, reflection, diffraction, scattering, shadowing, spatial-temporal channel modeling, and microcell/indoor propagation
Modulation, equalization, diversity, channel coding, and speech coding
New wireless LAN technologies: IEEE 802.11a/b, HIPERLAN, BRAN, and other alternatives
New 3G air interface standards, including W-CDMA, cdma2000, GPRS, UMTS, and EDGE
Bluetooth wearable computers, fixed wireless and Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS), and other advanced technologies
Updated glossary of abbreviations and acronyms, and a thorolist of references
Dozens of new examples and end-of-chapter problems
Whether you're a communications/network professional, manager, researcher, or student, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, Second Edition gives you an in-depth understanding of the state of the art in wireless technologytoday's and tomorrow's.
17,102 citations
"Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..." refers background in this paper
...Also, the human body and many outdoor materials being very reflective, allow them to be important scatterers for mmW propagation [28], [30]....
[...]
...However, these measurements were performed in an outdoor campus setting with much lower building density and greater opportunities for LOS connectivity than would be found in a typical urban deployment....
[...]
...Despite the potential of mmW cellular systems, there are a number of key challenges to realizing the vision of cellular networks in these bands: • Range and directional communication: Friis’ transmis- sion law [54] states that the free space omnidirectional path loss grows with the square of the…...
[...]
TL;DR: The motivation for new mm-wave cellular systems, methodology, and hardware for measurements are presented and a variety of measurement results are offered that show 28 and 38 GHz frequencies can be used when employing steerable directional antennas at base stations and mobile devices.
Abstract: The global bandwidth shortage facing wireless carriers has motivated the exploration of the underutilized millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequency spectrum for future broadband cellular communication networks. There is, however, little knowledge about cellular mm-wave propagation in densely populated indoor and outdoor environments. Obtaining this information is vital for the design and operation of future fifth generation cellular networks that use the mm-wave spectrum. In this paper, we present the motivation for new mm-wave cellular systems, methodology, and hardware for measurements and offer a variety of measurement results that show 28 and 38 GHz frequencies can be used when employing steerable directional antennas at base stations and mobile devices.
6,708 citations
"Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..." refers background or methods in this paper
...In both 28- and 73-GHz measurements, each point was classified as either being in a NLOS or LOS situation, based on a manual classification made at the time of the measurements; see [26] and [28]–[33]....
[...]
...• Empirical NYC: These curves are based on the omnidirectional path loss predicted by our linear model (1) for the mmW channel with the parameters from Table 1, as derived from the directional measurements in [26]....
[...]
...Details of the measurements can be found in [26], [28]– [33], [81]....
[...]
...This tremendous potential has led to considerable recent interest in mmW cellular both in industry [7]–[9], [18], [19] and academia [20]–[26], with a growing belief that mmW bands will play a significant role in beyond 4G and 5G cellular systems [27]....
[...]
...In particular, we survey our own measurements [26], [28]–[33] made in New York City (NYC) in both 28- and 73-GHz bands and the statistical models for the channels developed in [34]....
[...]
TL;DR: The gains in multiuser systems are even more impressive, because such systems offer the possibility to transmit simultaneously to several users and the flexibility to select what users to schedule for reception at any given point in time.
Abstract: Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology is maturing and is being incorporated into emerging wireless broadband standards like long-term evolution (LTE) [1]. For example, the LTE standard allows for up to eight antenna ports at the base station. Basically, the more antennas the transmitter/receiver is equipped with, and the more degrees of freedom that the propagation channel can provide, the better the performance in terms of data rate or link reliability. More precisely, on a quasi static channel where a code word spans across only one time and frequency coherence interval, the reliability of a point-to-point MIMO link scales according to Prob(link outage) ` SNR-ntnr where nt and nr are the numbers of transmit and receive antennas, respectively, and signal-to-noise ratio is denoted by SNR. On a channel that varies rapidly as a function of time and frequency, and where circumstances permit coding across many channel coherence intervals, the achievable rate scales as min(nt, nr) log(1 + SNR). The gains in multiuser systems are even more impressive, because such systems offer the possibility to transmit simultaneously to several users and the flexibility to select what users to schedule for reception at any given point in time [2].
5,158 citations
"Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..." refers background in this paper
...These multiple antenna systems can be used to form very high gain, electrically steerable arrays, fabricated at the base station (BS), in the skin of a cellphone, or even within a chip [6], [10]–[17]....
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe five technologies that could lead to both architectural and component disruptive design changes: device-centric architectures, millimeter wave, massive MIMO, smarter devices, and native support for machine-to-machine communications.
Abstract: New research directions will lead to fundamental changes in the design of future fifth generation (5G) cellular networks. This article describes five technologies that could lead to both architectural and component disruptive design changes: device-centric architectures, millimeter wave, massive MIMO, smarter devices, and native support for machine-to-machine communications. The key ideas for each technology are described, along with their potential impact on 5G and the research challenges that remain.
3,711 citations
TL;DR: The technical and business arguments for femtocells are overview and the state of the art on each front is described and the technical challenges facing femtocell networks are described and some preliminary ideas for how to overcome them are given.
Abstract: The surest way to increase the system capacity of a wireless link is by getting the transmitter and receiver closer to each other, which creates the dual benefits of higher-quality links and more spatial reuse. In a network with nomadic users, this inevitably involves deploying more infrastructure, typically in the form of microcells, hot spots, distributed antennas, or relays. A less expensive alternative is the recent concept of femtocells - also called home base stations - which are data access points installed by home users to get better indoor voice and data coverage. In this article we overview the technical and business arguments for femtocells and describe the state of the art on each front. We also describe the technical challenges facing femtocell networks and give some preliminary ideas for how to overcome them.
3,298 citations
"Millimeter-Wave Cellular Wireless N..." refers background in this paper
...Heterogeneous networks, or HetNets, have been one of the most active research areas in cellular standards bodies in the last five years [45], [48], [67], [68], with the main focus being intercell interference coordination and load balancing....
[...]