# MIMO Applications for Multibeam Satellites

## TL;DR

This paper explores the application of MIMO technology in multibeam satellite systems to enhance data throughput and coverage, using spatial multiplexing and precoding techniques for improved performance.

## Contribution

It introduces the use of MIMO in both feeder links and user downlinks for multibeam satellites, demonstrating potential throughput improvements.

## Key findings

- Significant sum throughput gains shown in simulations
- Effective spatial separation of user signals achieved
- Precoding reduces interstream interference

## Abstract

High throughput satellites employing multibeam antennas and full frequency reuse for broadband satellite services are considered in this paper. Such architectures offer, for example, a cost-effective solution to optimize data delivery and extend the coverage areas in future 5G networks. We propose the application of the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology in both the feeder link and the multiuser downlink. Spatial multiplexing of different data streams is performed in a common feeder beam. In the user links, MIMO with multiple beams is exploited to simultaneously serve different users in the same frequency channel. Under particular design constraints, effective spatial separation of the multiple user signals is possible. To mitigate the interstream interference in the MIMO feeder link as well as the multiuser downlink, precoding of the transmit signals is applied. Simulation results illustrate the performance gains in terms of sum throughput.