FM-4NXTG · Characterization and Measurement of Wideband Directional Channels in FM Band For New Efficient Wireless Systems
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-05-01 → 2018-04-30
- EU contribution
- €157,846
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-RI
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Characterization and Measurement of Wideband Directional Channels in FM Band For New Efficient Wireless Systems
The frequency bands are very scarce and they are named one of the most expensive real estates. Hence, it is very critical that the frequency bands are adequately utilised. When the FM radio stations utilisation is analysed it is seen that the FM radio users are tending to move from traditional radio devices to online radio, especially the younger generation from 13 to 35 year-olds. Besides, there is a gradual increase in online radio revenues worldwide with an average annual growth rate of 28 % per year. This trend indicates that the traditional FM radios will phase out in the near future. This also clearly points out a under-utilisation for one of the precious frequency bands. Since the FM Band has excellent area coverage compared to higher frequency bands, it has high potential applications to be used for 5G systems supplementary downlink channels. This project aims to develop the first directional channel models for the FM Band so that the band can be better utilised for future wireless systems such as 5G. It is now apparent that future wireless systems need some supplementary lower frequency band links on the downlink site in order to meet the required data rates and the FM Band is one of the ideal candidates. However, before the band can be utilised for a digital two-way wireless system, its channel needs to be be better understood. Thus, the main objective of this research is to develop directional channel models for the FM Band and then to validate the developed models through simulations and the field measurements. Once the channel models are available, the performance of the wireless systems can be better assessed before they are deployed. With the channel models developed for the FM Band, the band can be better utilised for the wireless communication and hence can provide additional wireless connectivity to the society. With the internet-of-things promising all devices to be connected, the utilisation of the FM Band overall will help building a connected society. The overall objectives of this project with the given framework are: 1) To develop standard directional channel models in FM Band suitable for contemporary wireless systems with multiple antenna and relay networking, 2) For the utilisation of the band for different environments, developing these models for four different environments (typical urban, bad urban, rural area, and hilly terrain), and 3) to validate the developed models via measurements and simulations. The project outcomes will also provide guidelines for the modelling of channels around the FM Band, enabling the systems operating around this band to be better exploited. For the future work of this project, we will experiment two-way high speed data communication over this frequency band.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Motivation: Wireless access is being used extensively in our life. Wireless access enabler, the frequency bands, on the other hand, is very scarce. It is very important that any wireless access system utilizes the frequency at outmost efficiency. One of the poorly utilized wireless bands is the FM Band between 88–108 MHz. The band is being allocated only for relatively high quality audio broadcast around the world. This band has good propagation characteristics and therefore its coverage range and its penetration through buildings are excellent. As FM coverage is so ubiquitous around the world, several applications are already considered to better exploit this useful band: (a) Software defined radios for public safety, (b) New digital audio broadcast services, and (c) the development of an emergency message delivery services. With one of these applications and good propagation characteristics, FM Band can enable a fully connected Europe. It is of significant interest to investigate and characterize channel properties of the FM Band for the potential wireless systems. Therefore, the objective of this novel research is for the first time to develop a complete channel characterization of FM Band and then to perform analytical directional channel modelling. The newly introduced models will then be validated through field trials, and will be able to support the parameters of the contemporary wireless systems with multiple antennae. Approach: The directional channel models will be developed through (i) geometrical (ray tracing) and (ii) tapped delay line (parametric stochastic modelling) approaches by considering 2-D (time and angular) channel impulse response. The models will be based on the specification of directional channel impulse response functions, large and small channel effects. The measurement campaigns will be carried out via channel sounders. Thus, we will have the first standard directional channel models of the FM Band.
Original text from CORDIS.
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Data: CORDIS, © European Union