Performance evaluation of frequency division duplex (FDD) massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) under different correlation models

Abstract

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive-MIMO) is considered as the key technology to meet the huge demands of data rates in the future wireless communications networks. However, for massive-MIMO systems to realize their maximum potential gain, sufficiently accurate downlink (DL) channel state information (CSI) with low overhead to meet the short coherence time (CT) is required. Therefore, this article aims to overcome the technical challenge of DL CSI estimation in a frequency-division-duplex (FDD) massive-MIMO with short CT considering five different physical correlation models. To this end, the statistical structure of the massive-MIMO channel, which is captured by the physical correlation is exploited to find sufficiently accurate DL CSI estimation. Specifically, to reduce the DL CSI estimation overhead, the training sequence is designed based on the eigenvectors of the transmit correlation matrix. To this end, the achievable sum rate (ASR) maximization and the mean square error (MSE) of CSI estimation with short CT are investigated using the proposed training sequence design. Furthermore, this article examines the effect of channel hardening in an FDD massive-MIMO system. The results demonstrate that in high correlation scenarios, a large loss in channel hardening is obtained. The results reveal that increasing the correlation level reduces the MSE but does not increase the ASR. However, exploiting the spatial correction structure is still very essential for the FDD massive-MIMO systems under limited CT. This finding holds for all the physical correlation models considered.