Evolution towards fifth generation (5G) wireless networks: Current trends and challenges in the deployment of millimetre wave, massive MIMO, and small cells

• DOI: 10.1007/s11235-016-0195-x
• Publication Date: 2016-07-14T17:33:24Z
• Authors: Mohammed H. Alsharif; Rosdiadee Nordin
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology

The exponential increase in mobile data traffic is considered to be a critical driver towards the new era, or 5G, of mobile wireless networks. 5G will require a paradigm shift that includes very high carrier frequency spectra with massive bandwidths, extreme base station densities, and unprecedented numbers of antennas to support the enormous increase in the volume of traffic. This paper discusses several design choices, features, and technical challenges that illustrate potential research topics and challenges for the future generation of mobile networks. This article does not provide a final solution but highlights the most promising lines of research from the recent literature in common directions for the 5G project. The potential physical layer technologies that are considered for future wireless communications include spatial multiplexing using massive multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques with millimetre-waves (mm-waves) in small cell geometries. These technologies are discussed in detail along with the areas for future research.