LTE-Advanced and Next Generation Wireless Networks: Channel Modelling and Propagation

Chapter 8

Wideband Channels

Vit Sipal¹, David Edward¹ and Ben Allen²

¹ University of Oxford, UK

² University of Bedfordshire, UK

This chapter describes wave propagation relating to wideband channels. It links the propagation properties in an indoor environment to receiver performance and receiver architecture. The conclusions here are relevant to Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems but the chapter approaches the channel behaviour from the propagation properties of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) channels. The consideration of UWB channels is justified for two reasons. Firstly, UWB systems are considered as a complement to LTE systems for short range communication at extremely high data-rates. Secondly, analysis of the wireless channel over the extreme bandwidth associated with UWB provides an unprecedented insight and understanding into the fundamentals of wave propagation. This understanding can then be translated into narrowband channels which are more specific than the general UWB case.

UWB wireless communication addresses the impending spectrum gridlock, which is one of the main issues current wireless technology is addressing. Over the last century of wireless communication, the usable frequency bands have been fully allocated and there is little room left for new services [1]. Even though the spectrum is almost fully allocated, it is not fully used [2]. Henceforth, re-use of the frequency spectrum has been recognized as an opportunity and UWB is one of the approaches which seek to exploit ...