A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems

Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF mMIMO) can be considered as a potential physical layer technology for future wireless networks since it can benefit from all the advantages of distributed antenna systems (DASs) and network MIMOs, such as macro-diversity gain, high channel capacit...

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Main Authors: Joumana Kassam, Daniel Castanheira, Adão Silva, Rui Dinis, Atílio Gameiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Electronics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/4/1001
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author Joumana Kassam
Daniel Castanheira
Adão Silva
Rui Dinis
Atílio Gameiro
author_facet Joumana Kassam
Daniel Castanheira
Adão Silva
Rui Dinis
Atílio Gameiro
author_sort Joumana Kassam
collection DOAJ
description Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF mMIMO) can be considered as a potential physical layer technology for future wireless networks since it can benefit from all the advantages of distributed antenna systems (DASs) and network MIMOs, such as macro-diversity gain, high channel capacity, and link reliability. CF mMIMO systems offer remarkable spatial degrees of freedom and array gains to mitigate the inherent inter-cell interference (ICI) of cellular networks. In such networks, several distributed access points (APs) together with precoding/detection processing can serve many users while sharing the same time-frequency resources. Each AP can be equipped with single or multiple antennas, and hence, can provide a consistently adequate service to all users regardless of their locations in the network. This paper presents a detailed overview of the current state-of-the-art on CF systems. First, it performs a literature review of the conventional CF and scalable user-centric (UC) CF mMIMO systems in terms of the limited capacity of the fronthaul links and the connection between APs and user equipments (UEs). As beyond networks will rely on higher frequency bands, it is of paramount importance to discuss the impact of beamforming techniques that are being investigated. Finally, some of the CF promising enabling technologies are presented to emphasize the main applications in these networks.
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spelling doaj.art-45a52a4ffb0f48619b99a824dfe055a02023-11-16T20:13:29ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922023-02-01124100110.3390/electronics12041001A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO SystemsJoumana Kassam0Daniel Castanheira1Adão Silva2Rui Dinis3Atílio Gameiro4Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT), DETI, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações (IT), DETI, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações (IT), DETI, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações (IT), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, University Nova de Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto de Telecomunicações (IT), DETI, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF mMIMO) can be considered as a potential physical layer technology for future wireless networks since it can benefit from all the advantages of distributed antenna systems (DASs) and network MIMOs, such as macro-diversity gain, high channel capacity, and link reliability. CF mMIMO systems offer remarkable spatial degrees of freedom and array gains to mitigate the inherent inter-cell interference (ICI) of cellular networks. In such networks, several distributed access points (APs) together with precoding/detection processing can serve many users while sharing the same time-frequency resources. Each AP can be equipped with single or multiple antennas, and hence, can provide a consistently adequate service to all users regardless of their locations in the network. This paper presents a detailed overview of the current state-of-the-art on CF systems. First, it performs a literature review of the conventional CF and scalable user-centric (UC) CF mMIMO systems in terms of the limited capacity of the fronthaul links and the connection between APs and user equipments (UEs). As beyond networks will rely on higher frequency bands, it is of paramount importance to discuss the impact of beamforming techniques that are being investigated. Finally, some of the CF promising enabling technologies are presented to emphasize the main applications in these networks.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/4/1001cell-freeuser-centricmassive MIMO and mmWave communicationcooperative networkshybrid beamforminglimited fronthaul capacity
spellingShingle Joumana Kassam
Daniel Castanheira
Adão Silva
Rui Dinis
Atílio Gameiro
A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
Electronics
cell-free
user-centric
massive MIMO and mmWave communication
cooperative networks
hybrid beamforming
limited fronthaul capacity
title A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
title_full A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
title_fullStr A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
title_full_unstemmed A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
title_short A Review on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems
title_sort review on cell free massive mimo systems
topic cell-free
user-centric
massive MIMO and mmWave communication
cooperative networks
hybrid beamforming
limited fronthaul capacity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/12/4/1001
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