On Channel Model to Bridge the Gap between MIMO Design and Performance Requirements in 3GPP

TL;DR

This paper compares the traditional TDL channel model with the more accurate rCDL model for MIMO performance evaluation, demonstrating that rCDL better matches real-world measurements and improves CSI reporting analysis.

Contribution

The study introduces a comprehensive comparison between TDL and rCDL models, validating rCDL's superior accuracy for MIMO evaluation in 3GPP standards.

Findings

rCDL better matches real-world propagation measurements

rCDL enables clearer discrimination of CSI reporting schemes

TDL shows deficiencies in capturing spatial characteristics

Abstract

Accurate channel modeling has become critical for evaluating multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) performance, especially as 5G standardization matures and efforts toward 6G begin. Recent studies within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) have shown that the tapped delay line (TDL) model, currently used for performance testing, fails to capture the spatial propagation characteristics required for realistic MIMO evaluation. To address this limitation, the reduced clustered delay line (rCDL) model has been introduced as a more accurate alternative with manageable computational complexity, thereby enabling practical implementation in test equipment. This work investigates the rCDL through a comparative analysis with the legacy TDL. First, the angular characteristics of both models are examined. Then, their spatial profiles are compared with real-world measurements from a typical commercial deployment. The results reveal clear deficiencies in the TDL and show that the rCDL better matches measured propagation behavior. As a case study, channel state information (CSI) reporting performance is evaluated in single-user MIMO scenarios. The results show that, with appropriate simulation parameter settings, the rCDL enables clear discrimination between low- and high-resolution CSI reporting schemes, unlike the TDL. These findings confirm the relevance of the rCDL model for MIMO performance evaluation and support its use in current and future standardization efforts.