5G Multi-User MIMO - it isn't just for downlink anymore
5G Multi-User MIMO - it isn't just for downlink anymore
A Third-Party Benchmark Study of 5G Downlink and Uplink MU-MIMO in a Commercial Network
02/21/2024 | 48 pages
SRG just published a benchmark study that we conducted on behalf of Samsung Networks. We did the study in the Verizon Wireless commercial 5G network near Dallas, Texas. The results from this study highlight the downlink and uplink capacity gains that are possible with MU-MIMO versus traditional SU-MIMO.
Highlights of the Report include the following:
Our Thanks. We did this study in collaboration with Accuver Americas (XCAL-M and XCAP) who provided us with their test tools which we used to collect and analyze the data.
Our Methodology. We did multiple tests to determine the incremental benefits of MU-MIMO in both the downlink (16 layers) and uplink (4 layers) direction. By using 8 Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones we were able to show how MU-MIMO was able to reuse PDSCH/PUSCH RBs along with increasing the total layer count to significantly increase the capacity possiblewith SU-MIMO, which we also tested for comparison purposes. We included stationary tests with phones placed throughout the cell sector(s) and we included mobility.
The Results. We show how MU-MIMO can play an important part of an operator’s overall capacity strategy. MU-MIMO can provide significant capacity gains in both the downlink and uplink directions over traditional SU-MIMO, making it especially valuable for the FWA use case. Test results spanning a large number of unique test cases are included in the report, which includes a lengthy appendix with even more test results.