5G 3GPP-like Channel Models for Outdoor Urban Microcellular and Macrocellular Environments (1602.07533v2)

Abstract: For the development of new 5G systems to operate in bands up to 100 GHz, there is a need for accurate radio propagation models at these bands that currently are not addressed by existing channel models developed for bands below 6 GHz. This document presents a preliminary overview of 5G channel models for bands up to 100 GHz. These have been derived based on extensive measurement and ray tracing results across a multitude of frequencies from 6 GHz to 100 GHz, and this document describes an initial 3D channel model which includes: 1) typical deployment scenarios for urban microcells (UMi) and urban macrocells (UMa), and 2) a baseline model for incorporating path loss, shadow fading, line of sight probability, penetration and blockage models for the typical scenarios. Various processing methodologies such as clustering and antenna decoupling algorithms are also presented.

• The paper introduces advanced 3GPP-like channel models extending coverage up to 100 GHz for urban microcell and macrocell scenarios.
• The study employs extensive measurement and ray tracing data to analyze path loss, shadow fading, and blockage effects.
• The findings highlight improved channel characterizations critical for future 5G network design and deployment in dense urban areas.

Overview of 5G 3GPP-like Channel Models

The paper "5G 3GPP-like Channel Models for Outdoor Urban Microcellular and Macrocellular Environments" offers a preliminary examination of radio propagation models for 5G systems operating across bands up to 100 GHz. These models are necessary as existing models cover frequencies only up to 6 GHz and lack the precision required for higher frequency domains essential for next-generation networks.

The authors present a 3D channel model encompassing urban microcells (UMi) and urban macrocells (UMa). The work incorporates data from extensive measurement and ray tracing results, offering insights into path loss, shadow fading, line-of-sight probability, and penetration and blockage models.

Key Contributions

The paper identifies several critical components required for new 5G channel models:

• Frequency Band Extensions: Models that are consistent with existing 3GPP frameworks while extending them to cater for frequencies as high as 100 GHz.
• Comprehensive Deployment Scenarios: Inclusion of UMi and UMa scenarios, emphasizing path loss behaviors and cross-polarization discrimination ratios.
• Penetration and Blockage Modeling: Insights into the effects of diverse materials on signal penetration losses, alongside blockage phenomena due to both dynamic and static entities in urban landscapes.

The research underscores the significance of enhanced path loss models, with comparisons made across several multi-frequency path loss models, namely the close-in (CI) free space reference distance model, the CIF model, and the ABG model. Table data in the paper provides parameter values optimized for these models over various urban settings, validating their applicability across a wide frequency spectrum.

Numerical Findings

From the experimental results, specific trends in path loss and shadow fading are evaluated. In particular, the LOS path loss aligns with theoretical free-space models at frequencies above 6 GHz, with NLOS conditions contributing to increased path loss slope. The research shows shadow fading magnitude discrepancies between empirical measurements and ray tracing, attributed to the dynamic range utilized.

Furthermore, the paper discusses the diffusion impacts on polarizations, indicating how higher frequencies tend to show greater variation due to increased scattering phenomena. The documented shadow fading and angular spreads offer essential insights that supplement existing 3GPP models.

Implications for Future Research

The findings in this paper are pivotal for developing robust 5G channel models that support an extensive frequency range, ensuring practical accuracy for simulations. These developments influence evaluations of technical specifications in heterogeneous environments, affecting practical implementations of future 5G network designs.

Continued research should aim to validate proposed models with real-world measurements specifically for UMa environments, thus refining multi-path component analyses and clustering methodologies. Such insights are foundational for optimizing the design and deployment of millimeter-wave communication strategies in dense urban layouts.

Conclusion

The work highlights the necessity of extending current modeling frameworks to accommodate higher frequency bands in 5G technologies. While the paper provides preliminary findings, further studies focused on real-environment validations, detailed terrain analyses, and comprehensive scenario modeling will undoubtedly enhance the predictive capabilities and reliability of 5G systems. The presented methodologies form a crucial step toward refined channel modeling, paving the way for reliable and efficient 5G network infrastructures.