Cell-Free Massive MIMO for 6G: Scalable Implementation and Field Trials
Prof. Erik G. Larsson, Dr. Giovanni Interdonato
Linkoping University
Abstract
This paper presents the first large-scale field trial results of cell-free massive MIMO as a candidate 6G architecture. We deploy 128 access points serving 32 users in a 500-meter urban area and demonstrate 10x improvement in 95th-percentile user throughput compared to conventional cellular. Our scalable signal processing framework reduces computational complexity to O(K) per access point while maintaining near-optimal performance.
AI Summary
- First large-scale cell-free massive MIMO field trial with 128 access points.
- 10x improvement in 95th-percentile user throughput over conventional cellular.
- Scalable processing with O(K) complexity per access point.
- Deployed in a realistic 500-meter urban environment.
Key Findings
- 1Cell-free architecture eliminates cell-edge effects, providing uniform service quality.
- 2Distributed processing is feasible with modern fronthaul capabilities.
- 3Power control algorithms are critical for managing inter-user interference.
Industry Implications
Cell-free massive MIMO is a strong candidate for 6G network architecture.
Addresses the persistent cell-edge problem in cellular networks.
Requires new fronthaul infrastructure investment for practical deployment.
Read the Original Paper
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