Uplink Performance Evaluation of Massive MU-MIMO Systems

TL;DR

This paper evaluates uplink performance in massive MU-MIMO systems using OFDM, analyzing different linear detectors and confirming the benefits of massive MIMO with reduced complexity detection techniques.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive assessment of linear detectors in massive MU-MIMO uplink, including BER performance under realistic conditions, highlighting the effectiveness of massive MIMO even with simpler detection methods.

Findings

Massive MIMO improves BER performance significantly.

Linear detectors like MMSE, ZF, MRC are effective in massive MIMO.

Reduced complexity detection techniques still achieve substantial gains.

Abstract

The present paper deals with an OFDM-based uplink within a multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) system where a massive MIMO approach is employed. In this context, the linear detectors Minimum Mean-Squared Error (MMSE), Zero Forcing (ZF) and Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC) are considered and assessed. This papers includes Bit Error Rate (BER) results for uncoded QPSK/OFDM transmissions through a flat Rayleigh fading channel under the assumption of perfect power control and channel estimation. BER results are obtained through Monte Carlo simulations. Performance results are discussed in detail and we confirm the achievable "massive MIMO" effects, even for a reduced complexity detection technique, when the number of receive antennas at BS is much larger than the number of transmit antennas.