- The paper examines the use of multi-gigabit millimeter wave (MMW) in the E-band for 5G, highlighting its huge spectrum capacity (~50x cellular) enabling multi-gigabit data rates but facing significant propagation loss.
- E-band communication is presented as viable for high-capacity wireless backhaul, last-mile access, and campus networks, potentially serving as an economical alternative to fiber optics.
- Overcoming E-band challenges requires technological solutions like large-scale MIMO, beamforming, dense base station deployments, and hybrid precoder designs, emphasizing the need for continued research in propagation and transceiver technology.
Multi-Gigabits Millimetre Wave Wireless Communications for 5G: From Fixed Access to Cellular Networks
The paper by Peng Wang et al. provides an in-depth examination of multi-gigabit wireless communications over millimeter wave (MMW) bands, particularly focusing on the E-band frequencies (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz). The authors explore the feasibility, benefits, and technical challenges associated with deploying future wireless communications using these frequencies, from fixed point-to-point links to the development of next-generation mobile communication networks, specifically 5G.
The authors begin with a historical backdrop of the E-band spectrum allocations and discuss its light licensing policy which is favorable for commercial deployment due to its streamlined process and nominal costs. The spectrum efficiency for 5G applications over conventional microwave bands is reaching its saturation point, and hence the exploration into the MMW bands, especially the E-band, represents a notable shift towards accommodating the increasing data throughput demands of modern wireless communication services.
The paper emphasizes the propagation characteristics of E-band signals that, while subject to significant path losses, are amenable to compensation through the deployment of multiple antennas at both transmission ends. The E-band exhibits low atmospheric attenuation over long distances, given the appropriate technological adaptations. Notably, the E-band provides a spectrum capacity about 50 times the allocation of the entire current cellular spectrum.
Numerically, the benefit of E-band over traditional wireless technologies is underscored by its capability to supply multi-gigabits per second data rates over several miles, outperforming several existing wireless technologies like WiFi, WiMAX, and optical services in terms of capacity and reliability, albeit with challenges from atmospheric effects and severe propagation loss.
However, to achieve non-trivial multiplexing gains and multi-stream transmissions, meticulous care in antenna deployments is key. The researchers highlight the applicability of large-scale MIMO systems, which, through beamforming, can mitigate E-band's inherent propagation loss, thereby enhancing effective range and capacity.
The authors illustrate several potential E-band applications:
- Wireless backhaul and last-mile access systems can capitalize on E-band's vast frequency bandwidth, especially in metropolitan environments.
- The feasible use of E-band for high-capacity wireless solutions presents an economical alternative to fiber optics for campus networks and network recovery scenarios.
The mobile broadband E-band (EMB) system proposed as a candidate for future mobile communications addresses the essential aspect of achieving adequate spatial multiplexing gains. Here, the EMB system model considers channelization strategies and frame structures compatible with existing cellular frameworks.
The paper concludes with potential techniques for overcoming E-band deployment obstacles in outdoor mobile communications, proposing dense base station deployments and hybrid precoder designs to enhance spectral efficiency and coverability. The EMB architecture recognizes the need for hybrid systems that leverage existing 4G infrastructure to maintain network robustness and user experience in non-ideal E-band conditions.
While these developments signify considerable progress, the authors suggest that continued research into E-band propagation, channel modeling, and efficient transceiver designs is crucial for realizing the full potential of 5G networks and beyond. The paper provides a comprehensive resource for researchers seeking to develop more efficient and effective high-frequency wireless communication systems.