Evaluation of User-Centric Cell-Free Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Networks Considering Realistic Channels and Frontend Nonlinear Distortion

Abstract

Future 6G networks are expected to utilize Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (M-MIMO) and follow a user-centric cell-free (UCCF) architecture. In a UCCF M-MIMO network, the user can be potentially served by multiple surrounding Radio Units (RUs) and Distributed Units (DUs) controlled and coordinated by a single virtualized Centralized Unit (CU). Moreover, in an M-MIMO network, each transmit frontend is equipped with a Power Amplifier (PA), typically with nonlinear characteristics, that can have a significant impact on the throughput achieved by network users. This work evaluates a UCCF M-MIMO network within an advanced system-level simulator considering multicarrier transmission, using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), realistic signal-processing steps, e.g., per resource block scheduling, and a nonlinear radio frontend. Moreover, both idealistic independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Rayleigh and 3D ray-tracing-based radio channels are evaluated. The results show that under the realistic radio channel, the novel user-centric network architecture can lead to an almost uniform distribution of user throughput and improve the rate of the users characterized by the worst radio conditions by over 3 times in comparison to a classical, network-centric design. At the same time, the nonlinear characteristics of the PA can cause significant degradation of the UCCF M-MIMO network’s performance when operating close to its saturation power.