Massive MIMO Channel Modeling and Measurements

Summary

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology exploits large antenna arrays at a base station to serve many users simultaneously, offering significant gains in spectral and energy efficiency. Accurate channel modelling is essential to predict propagation characteristics—such as spatial correlation, delay and angular spreads—and to design robust beamforming and precoding strategies. Complementary measurement campaigns in indoor, outdoor and mixed scenarios validate and refine these models, revealing phenomena such as user channel correlation, frequency selectivity and the impact of array geometry. Together, modelling and measurement underpin the development of next-generation wireless systems, from 5G to 6G, guiding network planning, performance evaluation and spectrum-efficient system deployment in both urban macrocells and dense indoor environments.

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Massive MIMO Channel Modeling and Measurements publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in massive mimo channel modeling and measurements across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Massive MIMO: Wireless technology using very large antenna arrays to serve multiple users simultaneously for improved capacity.

Channel model: Mathematical representation of radio-wave propagation capturing parameters such as path loss, delay spread and spatial correlation.

Spectral efficiency: Measure of information rate achieved per unit bandwidth, expressed in bits per second per hertz.

Favourable propagation: Condition in which user channels are nearly orthogonal, enabling high multiplexing gains in MIMO systems.

Coherence bandwidth: Frequency range over which the channel response is approximately constant, determining subband design.

References

  1. An ECA–ResNet‐Based Intelligent Communication Scenario Identification Algorithm for 6G Wireless Communications. International Journal of Intelligent Systems (2024).
  2. Analysis of Massive MIMO Performance in an Indoor Picocell With High Number of Users. IEEE Access (2020).
  3. Experimental Analysis of Concentrated versus Distributed Massive MIMO in an Indoor Cell at 3.5 GHz. Electronics (2021).

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