Near-Field SWIPT with gMIMO in the Upper Mid-Band: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Way Forward

TL;DR

This paper investigates near-field SWIPT with gMIMO in the upper mid-band, highlighting its potential for energy-efficient, high-capacity 6G communications through spherical wave propagation and advanced array techniques.

Contribution

It introduces theoretical insights, design strategies, and a case study demonstrating the feasibility of near-field SWIPT with gMIMO for next-generation wireless networks.

Findings

Feasibility of near-field SWIPT with gMIMO in 7-24 GHz range

Enhanced spectral efficiency through beam focusing and multiplexing

Potential for energy-autonomous IoE and smart factory applications

Abstract

This paper explores the integration of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) with gigantic multiple-input multiple-output (gMIMO) technology operating in the upper mid-band frequency range (7-24 GHz). The near-field propagation achieved by gMIMO introduces unique opportunities for energy-efficient, high-capacity communication systems that cater to the demands of 6G wireless networks. Exploiting spherical wave propagation, near-field SWIPT with gMIMO enables precise energy and data delivery, enhancing spectral efficiency through beam focusing and massive spatial multiplexing. This paper discusses theoretical principles, design challenges, and enabling solutions, including advanced channel estimation techniques, precoding strategies, and dynamic array configurations such as sparse and modular arrays. Through analytical insights and a case study, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of achieving optimized energy harvesting and data throughput in dense and dynamic environments. These findings contribute to advancing energy-autonomous Internet-of-Everything (IoE) deployments, smart factory networks, and other energy-autonomous applications aligned with the goals of next-generation wireless technologies.