Theory and Implementation of a Three-Dimensional Spatial Channel Model for the 3GPP TR 36.873 Long-Term Evolution System

Abstract

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) maintains Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) standards. 3GPP Release 12, which provides LTE enhancements, was completed in March 2016. As various 3GPP LTE/LTE-A network architectures are expanding and improving, global telecommunications firms are competing to develop 5th-generation mobile telecommunications systems. Moreover, the development of world-class telecommunications infrastructure necessitates a simulation platform that meets global standards to assess the performance of telecommunications systems. Therefore, the present study proposed a three-dimensional spatial channel model that–in accordance with a 3GPP technical report (TR 36.873: “Study on 3D channel model for LTEâ€)–included a wrap-around model and large-scale parameter correlation maps. This model was implemented to yield channel responses with spatial properties during an investigation into an LTE-A system. This improved the performance assessment of a telecommunications system with a large antenna.