5G: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!

MU-MIMO and the Tower of Power Chapter 1: The 8-Layer Conundrum

01/10/2023 | 73 pages
Price: $1,995.00

SRG just completed its 30th 5G benchmark study.  For this endeavor we collaborated with Accuver Americas and Spirent Communications to conduct an independent benchmark study of 5G 8-layer MU-MIMO, using the SRS-based implementation.

Highlights of the Report include the following:

Our Thanks.  We did this study in collaboration with Accuver Americas (XCAL5 and XCAP) and Spirent Communications (Umetrix Data).  SRG is responsible for the data collection and all analysis and commentary provided in this report.

Our Methodology.  Testing took place on the T-Mobile network (Band n41) in southern California at commercial cell sites.  We used 4 smartphones or 4 FWA CPEs to load the network with full buffer data transfers.  We looked at the impact of UE placement within the cell as well as mobility.  We analyzed all the typical KPIs, including RB usage, MIMO layers, MCS, and, of course, throughput, while also including vehicular speed and geo coordinates.

The Results.  We observed significant double-digit throughput gains due to MU-MIMO pairing relative to SU-MIMO (we disabled SRS / MU-MIMO in the network).  Close placement of UEs had little, if any, impact on the efficiency of MU-MIMO with excellent pairing maintained.

The FWA Implications.  T-Mobile has already deployed the functionality at all Ericsson Band n41 cell sites on a nationwide basis.  For reasons discussed in the report, MU-MIMO functionality can have a significant positive influence on the FWA business case, even though some limitations to MU-MIMO exist.

More in Store.  This MU-MIMO report marks what we anticipate will be at least a few more MU-MIMO studies in the coming year.  We anticipate looking at 16-layer MU-MIMO, more device placement scenarios, different geographies (rural), and traffic profiles.  All these reports will be available through our Signals Ahead publication.