Angular Spread Statistics for 6.75 GHz FR1(C) and 16.95 GHz FR3 Mid-Band Frequencies in an Indoor Hotspot Environment

TL;DR

This paper analyzes multipath angular spreads at 6.75 GHz and 16.95 GHz in indoor environments, comparing measurements with 3GPP models, and finds promising multipath richness for MIMO systems.

Contribution

It provides detailed spatial angular statistics at mid-band frequencies and compares them with industry models, highlighting differences and implications for MIMO system design.

Findings

Measured angular spreads are consistent with 3GPP models for ASA and ZSA.

LOS ASD is larger than 3GPP predictions, indicating more diverse MPC departure directions.

Wide angular spreads suggest strong potential for MIMO beamforming in mid-band frequencies.

Abstract

We present detailed multipath propagation spatial statistics for next-generation wireless systems operating at lower and upper mid-band frequencies spanning 6--24 GHz. The large-scale spatial characteristics of the wireless channel include Azimuth angular Spread of Departure (ASD) and Zenith angular Spread of Departure (ZSD) of multipath components (MPC) from a transmitter and the Azimuth angular Spread of Arrival (ASA) and Zenith angular Spread of Arrival (ZSA) at a receiver. The angular statistics calculated from measurements were compared with industry-standard 3GPP models, and ASD and ASA values were found to be in close agreement at both 6.75 GHz and 16.95 GHz. Measured LOS ASD was found larger than 3GPP ASD indicating more diverse MPC departure directions in the azimuth. ZSA and ZSD were observed smaller than the 3GPP modeling results as most multipath arrivals and departures during measurements were recorded at the boresight antenna elevation. The wide angular spreads indicate a multipath-rich spatial propagation at 6.75 GHz and 16.95 GHz, showing greater promise for the implementation of MIMO beamforming systems in the mid-band spectrum.