Channel Estimation for mmWave Massive MIMO Based Access and Backhaul in Ultra-Dense Network

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) massive MIMO used for access and backhaul in ultra-dense network (UDN) has been considered as the promising 5G technique. We consider such an heterogeneous network (HetNet) that ultra-dense small base stations (BSs) exploit mmWave massive MIMO for access and backhaul, while macrocell BS provides the control service with low frequency band. However, the channel estimation for mmWave massive MIMO can be challenging, since the pilot overhead to acquire the channels associated with a large number of antennas in mmWave massive MIMO can be prohibitively high. This paper proposes a structured compressive sensing (SCS)-based channel estimation scheme, where the angular sparsity of mmWave channels is exploited to reduce the required pilot overhead. Specifically, since the path loss for non-line-of-sight paths is much larger than that for line-of-sight paths, the mmWave massive channels in the angular domain appear the obvious sparsity. By exploiting such sparsity, the required pilot overhead only depends on the small number of dominated multipath. Moreover, the sparsity within the system bandwidth is almost unchanged, which can be exploited for the further improved performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms its counterpart, and it can approach the performance bound.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Millimeter-wave (mmWave), mmWave massive MIMO, compressive sensing (CS), hybrid precoding, channel estimation, access, backhaul, ultra-dense network (UDN), heterogeneous network (HetNet). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1604.03695, IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC'16), May 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysi

MmWave Massive MIMO Based Wireless Backhaul for 5G Ultra-Dense Network

Ultra-dense network (UDN) has been considered as a promising candidate for future 5G network to meet the explosive data demand. To realize UDN, a reliable, Gigahertz bandwidth, and cost-effective backhaul connecting ultra-dense small-cell base stations (BSs) and macro-cell BS is prerequisite. Millimeter-wave (mmWave) can provide the potential Gbps traffic for wireless backhaul. Moreover, mmWave can be easily integrated with massive MIMO for the improved link reliability. In this article, we discuss the feasibility of mmWave massive MIMO based wireless backhaul for 5G UDN, and the benefits and challenges are also addressed. Especially, we propose a digitally-controlled phase-shifter network (DPSN) based hybrid precoding/combining scheme for mmWave massive MIMO, whereby the low-rank property of mmWave massive MIMO channel matrix is leveraged to reduce the required cost and complexity of transceiver with a negligible performance loss. One key feature of the proposed scheme is that the macro-cell BS can simultaneously support multiple small-cell BSs with multiple streams for each smallcell BS, which is essentially different from conventional hybrid precoding/combining schemes typically limited to single-user MIMO with multiple streams or multi-user MIMO with single stream for each user. Based on the proposed scheme, we further explore the fundamental issues of developing mmWave massive MIMO for wireless backhaul, and the associated challenges, insight, and prospect to enable the mmWave massive MIMO based wireless backhaul for 5G UDN are discussed.Comment: This paper has been accepted by IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine. This paper is related to 5G, ultra-dense network (UDN), millimeter waves (mmWave) fronthaul/backhaul, massive MIMO, sparsity/low-rank property of mmWave massive MIMO channels, sparse channel estimation, compressive sensing (CS), hybrid digital/analog precoding/combining, and hybrid beamforming. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=730653

A Holistic Investigation on Terahertz Propagation and Channel Modeling Toward Vertical Heterogeneous Networks

User-centric and low latency communications can be enabled not only by small cells but also through ubiquitous connectivity. Recently, the vertical heterogeneous network (V-HetNet) architecture is proposed to backhaul/fronthaul a large number of small cells. Like an orchestra, the V-HetNet is a polyphony of different communication ensembles, including geostationary orbit (GEO), and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites (e.g., CubeSats), and networked flying platforms (NFPs) along with terrestrial communication links. In this study, we propose the Terahertz (THz) communications to enable the elements of V-HetNets to function in harmony. As THz links offer a large bandwidth, leading to ultra-high data rates, it is suitable for backhauling and fronthauling small cells. Furthermore, THz communications can support numerous applications from inter-satellite links to in-vivo nanonetworks. However, to savor this harmony, we need accurate channel models. In this paper, the insights obtained through our measurement campaigns are highlighted, to reveal the true potential of THz communications in V-HetNets.Comment: It has been accepted for the publication in IEEE Communications Magazin

Millimetre wave frequency band as a candidate spectrum for 5G network architecture : a survey

In order to meet the huge growth in global mobile data traffic in 2020 and beyond, the development of the 5th Generation (5G) system is required as the current 4G system is expected to fall short of the provision needed for such growth. 5G is anticipated to use a higher carrier frequency in the millimetre wave (mm-wave) band, within the 20 to 90 GHz, due to the availability of a vast amount of unexploited bandwidth. It is a revolutionary step to use these bands because of their different propagation characteristics, severe atmospheric attenuation, and hardware constraints. In this paper, we carry out a survey of 5G research contributions and proposed design architectures based on mm-wave communications. We present and discuss the use of mm-wave as indoor and outdoor mobile access, as a wireless backhaul solution, and as a key enabler for higher order sectorisation. Wireless standards such as IEE802.11ad, which are operating in mm-wave band have been presented. These standards have been designed for short range, ultra high data throughput systems in the 60 GHz band. Furthermore, this survey provides new insights regarding relevant and open issues in adopting mm-wave for 5G networks. This includes increased handoff rate and interference in Ultra-Dense Network (UDN), waveform consideration with higher spectral efficiency, and supporting spatial multiplexing in mm-wave line of sight. This survey also introduces a distributed base station architecture in mm-wave as an approach to address increased handoff rate in UDN, and to provide an alternative way for network densification in a time and cost effective manner