Communicating in the Mediumband:What it is and Why it Matters

TL;DR

This paper explores mediumband wireless communication, highlighting its unique properties and potential advantages in challenging environments, and discusses future research directions in this emerging field.

Contribution

It provides an overview of mediumband channels, emphasizing their unique characteristics and potential benefits for wireless communication in difficult propagation environments.

Findings

Mediumband channels can turn unfavorable NLoS environments into favorable conditions.

Communicating in mediumband can significantly improve performance in challenging environments.

The paper outlines future research directions for mediumband wireless communication.

Abstract

This paper, based on recent research, articulates the opportunities and challenges posed by an emerging area of study known as ``mediumband wireless communication'', which refers to digital radio-frequency (RF) wireless communication through mediumband channels. This class of channels that falls in the transitional region between the narrowband and broadband channels, in many ways, is unique and shows significant potential. For instance, the effect of a highly unfavourable non-line-of-sight (NLoS) propagation environment can be transformed into a significantly favourable condition without making any intervention on the original propagation environment, but by simply communicating in the mediumband. The more unfavourable a propagation environment for wireless communication, the higher the potential gain by communicating in the mediumband. In this paper, using lay language as much as possible, we elaborate the unique properties of mediumband channels and implications of communicating in the mediumband for wider wireless communication along with some future research directions.