Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications: New Results for Rural Connectivity

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the potential for millimeter wave communications in rural areas by presenting new measurement-based path loss models at 73 GHz, improving accuracy and stability over existing models.

Contribution

It introduces a new rural macrocell path loss model for millimeter waves based on real measurements, addressing gaps in rural propagation understanding.

Findings

Millimeter wave signals can achieve remarkable distances in rural environments.

The new CI model outperforms the 3GPP RMa model in accuracy and stability.

First validation of rural millimeter wave path loss models.

Abstract

This paper shows the remarkable distances that can be achieved using millimeter wave communications, and presents a new rural macrocell (RMa) path loss model for millimeter wave frequencies, based on measurements at 73 GHz in rural Virginia. Path loss models are needed to estimate signal coverage and interference for wireless network design, yet little is known about rural propagation at millimeter waves. This work identifies problems with the RMa model used by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TR 38.900 Release 14, and offers a close-in (CI) reference distance model that has improved accuracy, fewer parameters, and better stability as compared with the existing 3GPP RMa path loss model. The measurements and models presented here are the first to validate rural millimeter wave path loss models.