5G requires new radio channel models, says Ericsson Research

One area 5G researchers have been targeting is radio channel models. Why? Because the current models are not suitable for this next generation of wireless networks, according to an Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) Research blog post.

"The radio channel models that are currently in wide use, for example WINNER and ITU IMT Advanced, have been developed to match the needs of 3G and 4G mobile networks. From several radio propagation aspects, they are not suitable for 5G," said Jonas Medbo in the post.

There are several reasons for this. For example, the use of millimeter-wave spectrum in 5G will be new and different. And massive MIMO, which will entail substantially larger antenna arrays, as well as narrow beam forming, which will be facilitated by short millimeter-wave wavelengths, are antenna techniques proposed for 5G that will require better channel model directional resolution.

Medbo added that direct device-to-device communication is yet another 5G scenario that requires updated channel modeling. For more about ongoing 5G channel modeling research, check out this Ericsson blog post.