Achieving Large Multiplexing Gain in Distributed Antenna Systems via Cooperation with pCell Technology

TL;DR

This paper introduces pCell technology, a cooperative distributed antenna system that creates multiple concurrent data links in the same spectrum, significantly enhancing spectral efficiency and data rates.

Contribution

It presents the first commercial-grade wireless system using cooperation between distributed transceivers to enable multiple simultaneous users in the same spectrum.

Findings

Up to 16 concurrent spatial channels achieved

Spectral efficiency of 59.3 bps/Hz downlink

Data rates of 200 Mbps downlink in 5 MHz spectrum

Abstract

In this paper we present pCellTM technology, the first commercial-grade wireless system that employs cooperation between distributed transceiver stations to create concurrent data links to multiple users in the same spectrum. First we analyze the per-user signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) employing a geometrical spatial channel model to define volumes in space of coherent signal around user antennas (or personal cells, i.e., pCells). Then we describe the system architecture consisting of a general-purpose-processor (GPP) based software-defined radio (SDR) wireless platform implementing a real-time LTE protocol stack to communicate with off-the-shelf LTE devices. Finally we present experimental results demonstrating up to 16 concurrent spatial channels for an aggregate average spectral efficiency of 59.3 bps/Hz in the downlink and 27.5 bps/Hz in the uplink, providing data rates of 200 Mbps downlink and 25 Mbps uplink in 5 MHz of TDD spectrum.