Network model of a 5G MIMO base station antenna in a downlink multi-user scenario

Paper in proceeding, 2018

A system level network model of a 5G base station antenna (BSA) with massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capabilities is presented that incorporates antenna mutual interaction and signal processing aspects. The combined transmitter-channel-receiver in such a system is modeled by cascading Z-matrices to interrelate the transmitter and receiver port voltages/ currents to one another. The developed model is then subjected to the zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming algorithm to compute the per-antenna transmit power for a specific minimum signal level at the receiver as well as the required BSA effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP). The presented initial results show that in a line-of-sight (LOS) environment the required EIRP to achieve a 1 Gbps bitrate user link in a 15-200 m coverage ranges from 25-48 dBm, which increases to 31-54 dBm after incorporating first-order mutual coupling effects among the BSA elements.