The GTEC 5G link-level simulator

Abstract

The rapid evolution of nowadays wireless communication systems constitutes a challenge for the versatile and flexible evaluation of transmissions under different scenarios. In order to evaluate the current fourth generation (4G) and future fifth generation (5G) communication techniques, a modular link-level simulator was developed at the GTEC group of the University of A Coruña. In this paper, the structure of the simulator as well as how to use it are presented in detail. The simulator allows for performing link layer simulations both for Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Filter Bank Multicarrier (FBMC) signals. It includes fully-functional transmitter and receiver implementations, as well as different channel models and functions for processing the obtained results. Moreover, we show also that the simulator is fully integrated with the GTEC testbed, enabling not only for performing simulation-based evaluations, but also considering over-the-air measurements. Hence, the GTEC 5G Simulator constitutes a valuable tool for evaluating new communication systems in a versatile and flexible way. Some exemplary results obtained both by simulations and through measurements are included.