MM-wave LTE-A small-cell wireless backhauling based on TH-IR techniques

The backhauling will be one of the key issues for future wireless networking in the framework of LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) standardization. 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standardization committee has decided to study different alternative solutions for small cell backhauling, considering also broadband wireless solutions based on MM-wave Point-to-Point (P-t-P) and Point-to-multiPoint (P-t-mP) transmissions. Currently, E-band (81–86 GHz) is preferred for LOS backhauling, while the 28 GHz band has been intensively studied for NLOS (Not Line of Sight) backhauling. In this paper, we aim at proposing feasible and effective solutions for LOS small-cell wireless backhaul based on UWB (Ultra Wide Band) Time-Hopping Impulse Radio (TH-IR) techniques in E-band. The motivation of the choice of TH-IR lies in the robustness of such kind of signals and in ease of generation and detection. The intrinsically low spectral efficiency is compensated by the possibility of spanning the transmitted signal over the entire available bandwidth, keeping the power spectral density as low as required. Typical channel impairments affecting MM-wave transmission (nonlinear distortions, rain fading, oxygen absorption, phase noise, etc.) have been considered in our simulations. Results have shown the capability of TH-IR to reach a net capacity of 3.48 Gb/s at a distance superior to 1 Km in a point-to-multipoint 4-to-1 backhaul configuration.