Analysis on Channel Parameters and Signal Processing methods at mm-wave for 5G networks

Abstract

Wireless data traffic is expected to increase 10000 fold in next 20 years. To meet this ever increasing demand of increased wireless traffic, the fifth-generation (5G) cellular systems are getting prepared to be deployed by 2020. 5G cellular systems are most likely to operate in millimeter wave (mm-wave)frequency bands. Communication at mm-wave is setting a new era of wireless communication. The mm-wave frequencies offer higher bandwidth channels up to 2 GHz. Signal processing techniques are critical for implementing in the next generation mm-wave communication systems. Millimeter wave technology enables the use of large antenna arrays at the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx). Along with high operating frequency and mixed signal power constraints, incipient multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication signal processing methods are essential. Due to large bandwidths, designing low complexity transceiver algorithms becomes critical. Millimeter wave technique provides enough opportunities to utilize the signal processing techniques such as compressed sensing technique in channel estimation and beamforming (BF). This article presents an overview of efficacious signal processing methods and challenges in using mm-wave technique, with an incremented fixate on MIMO technology in achieving larger data rates and issues with limited availability of frequency spectrum. There is an immense interest in mm-wave BF predicated for 5G networks. An important aspect in mm-wave communications is to exploit the increased number of deployable antennas at both Tx and Rx to combat high path loss, to tackle increased interference due to higher user density and to tackle multipath effects in frequency selective channels.