Multi-Dimensional Wideband Radio Channel Characterisation for 2-6 GHz Band

Future wireless communication systems employ higher carrier frequencies and wider bandwidths than the 2G/3G systems. Moreover, dual-polarised antenna arrays will most probably be employed for improved coverage and higher data rates. As a result multi-dimensional knowledge of the mobile radio channel with fine resolution becomes available for adaptive utilisation of the channel capacity. At the same time there is a tendency that cell sizes in new wideband radio access systems will be smaller and thus, the 3D radio scattering environment plays a major role. Therefore, it can be stated that effective development and specification of these novel wireless systems will require multi-dimensional radio channel modelling in such detail which is not widely available for current 2G/3G systems. The current study reports preliminary results on multi-dimensional channel characterisation with 100 Mchip/s bandwidth at 5.25 GHz carrier frequency. The results in indoor office environment indicate that future multi-antenna systems employing MIMO or beamforming techniques may have a significant benefit from utilising the effects of polarization. Future research aims at developing advanced link and system level radio channel models in cooperation with interested parties from academia and industry.