Millimeter-Wave Communications: Physical Channel Models, Design Considerations, Antenna Constructions, and Link-Budget

Ibrahim A Hemadeh,Mohammed El-Hajjar,Katla Satyanarayana,Lajos Hanzo

doi:10.1109/comst.2017.2783541

Ibrahim A Hemadeh, Mohammed El-Hajjar + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/comst.2017.2783541

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Abstract

The millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band spanning from 30 to 300 GHz constitutes a substantial portion of the unused frequency spectrum, which is an important resource for future wireless communication systems in order to fulfill the escalating capacity demand. Given the improvements in integrated components and enhanced power efficiency at high frequencies, wireless systems can operate in the mmWave frequency band. In this paper, we present a survey of the mmWave propagation characteristics, channel modeling, and design guidelines, such as system and antenna design considerations for mmWave, including the link budget of the network, which are essential for mmWave communication systems. We commence by introducing the main channel propagation characteristics of mmWaves followed by channel modeling and design guidelines. Then, we report on the main measurement and modeling campaigns conducted in order to understand the mmWave band’s properties and present the associated channel models. We survey the different channel models focusing on the channel models available for the 28, 38, 60, and 73 GHz frequency bands. Finally, we present the mmWave channel model and its challenges in the context of mmWave communication systems design.

Highlights

I N THIS paper, we provide a review of the propagation characteristics of mmWave signals and a comprehensive survey of the mmWave channel models found in the literature
The channel effects were resembled to the specific symptoms of a disease in [226], where understanding the symptoms, namely the propagation characteristics leads to an effective treatment and a high-integrity communication system
We reviewed the salient mmWave propagation characteristics, including the free-space path loss, atmospheric attenuation, rain and foliage attenuation, material penetration and other propagation factors

Summary

Introduction

I N THIS paper, we provide a review of the propagation characteristics of mmWave signals and a comprehensive survey of the mmWave channel models found in the literature. Various data traffic reports forecast an impending capacity crisis, for example in [3] it is reported that the global mobile data traffic has grown 4,000-fold over the past decade and nearly 400-million fold over the past 15 years. Ericsson in [4] reported that by the end of the year 2020 more than nine billion mobile subscriptions and 7.7 billion mobile broadband subscriptions will be using the existing 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies. This capacity demand triggered both academic [5]–[8] and industrial [9]–[12] efforts to find new methods of overcoming it

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