MASSIVE MIMO

Muhammad Usman Bin Younas

(employee ID: 84119073)

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

 Foreword
 By using specific signal processing techniques, massive MIMO improves
radio link reliability, signal quality, and spectral efficiency, which further
helps increase network capacity, coverage, and user rate, and ultimately
improve user experience.
 This course will discuss the concept, related features, and activation
verification of massive MIMO.

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 Objectives

 Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

 Understand the concept and principles of massive MIMO.
 Describe the application scenarios, gains, and impact on the network.
 Describe the feature activation and feature verification and monitoring after the
feature is enabled.

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Hardware evolution of massive MIMO

Traditional MIMO => BBU > RRU > Antenna

Massive MIMO => BBU > AAU (Active Antenna Unit)

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE (Rivision)

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

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Downlink TM Modes in LTE Release 12.
TM
Description Comment
Modes

1 Single transmit antenna Single antenna port port 0

2 Transmit diversity 2 or 4 antenna ports

Open loop spatial

3 2 or 4 antennas ports
multiplexing

Closed loop spatial

4 2 or 4 antennas ports
multiplexing

5 Multi-user MIMO 2 or 4 antennas ports

Closed loop spatial

1 layer (rank 1), 2 or 4
6 multiplexing using a
antennas ports
single transmission layer

7 Beamforming Single antenna port (Virtual)

8 Dual-layer beamforming dual-layer transmission

9 8 layer transmission Up to 8 layers

8 layer transmission
10 Up to 8 layers
(CoMP)

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

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Evolution from MIMO to Massive MIMO
Massive MIMO is widely regarded as a key update of the multiple-antenna technology for evolution from LTE to 5G.
It implements 3D beamforming and multi-layer multi-user resource multiplexing, improving the cell capacity and
UE-perceived rate.

4 Layers

2 Layers 16+ Layers

Massive MIMO

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Traditional MIMO VS Massive MIMO Differences

Category Traditional MIMO Massive MIMO

Only horizontal beamwidth adjustment Both horizontal and vertical beamwidth adjustment
Broadcast coverage
supported supported

Uplink multiple-antenna
2- and 4-antenna receive diversity 32 or 64 -antenna receive diversity
features

Beamforming, and both horizontal and vertical beamwidth

Beamforming not supported
Downlink multiple-antenna adjustment
features
MIMO for at most 4 layers MIMO for up to 16 layers

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Massive MIMO Benefits and Source

 Array gain: Coherent combination can effectively improve the average SNR after processing. The prerequisite is that the channel
information needs to be known.)
 Spatial diversity gain: This gain is achieved by repeating transmission of data to improve the transmission reliability and reducing the
relative fluctuation of the SNR.
 Spatial multiplexing gain: This gain is achieved based on independency between spatial channel fading when multiple data streams are
transmitted to increase the transmission rate.
 Interference suppression gain: This gain is achieved after colored interference is reduced and the post-processed SINR is increased.

Array gains

Diversity gains

Interference
suppression

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MIMO BASIC Feature Package

Feature Name Function Included

•Downlink Beamforming
FBFD-010003
•Uplink receive diversity
MIMO Basic Package
•Downlink Adaptive Selection Between PMI and SRS
FOFD-010020 •DL SU Multiple Layers
SU-MIMO Multiple Layers •UL SU Multiple Layers
•Downlink Spatial Multiplexing for PDSCHs
FOFD-010010
•Downlink Spatial Multiplexing for PDCCHs
MU-MIMO Basic Pairing
•Uplink Spatial Multiplexing for PUSCHs

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential Page 11

 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential Page 12

Downlink Beamforming

 With beamforming (BF), gNodeBs weight signals to form narrow beams towards
target UEs.
 NR sub-6 GHz multi-antenna downlink channels support beamforming by default.
As a result, coverage performance is improved and UEs are more accurately
targeted.

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Downlink Beamforming
 Downlink BF procedure:
1. Channel calibration: Ensures the reciprocity of the TX and RX channels and the consistency between channels.
2. Weight calculation: The gNodeBs calculate a weight vector based on downlink channel characteristics to adjust the shape
and directionality of beams.
3. Weighting: The baseband processing board calculates the vector sum of the weights and the to-be-transmitted data to
change the signal amplitude and phase.
4. Beamforming: The gNodeB adjusts the width and direction of beams by using the interference principle.

3
RF-Chain PA
Base
band
Beam 1 64 PAs 2
forming
RF-Chain PA

64TRX architecture 4

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Downlink Beamforming - Channel Calibration

 Background: Complete reciprocity between the uplink and downlink channel characteristics is impossible due to the amplitude
and phase differences between RF TX and RX channels. Such differences vary with the channels. To improve the reciprocity
between RF TX and RX channels, channel calibration is required.
 Procedure:
 gNodeBs calculate the variations in the phase and amplitude of signals transmitted on each TX channel and each RX
channel.
 gNodeBs then compensate for variations in phase and amplitude based on the calculations, improving reciprocity
between TX and RX channels.
 Triggering conditions of channel calibration: Cell reestablishment, channel recovery, periodic triggering, and others
 The main causes of channel calibration failure include hardware faults, configuration errors (such as low power configuration),
and external interference.
Calibration between TX and RX channels

RF chain PA Calibration
between
Baseband ...
channels
RF chain PA

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Downlink Beamforming - Weight Calculation
 Weight calculation: The gNodeBs calculate a weight vector based on downlink channel characteristics to adjust the shape and
directionality of beams.
 Classification: Weight calculation is classified into control channel (SSB/PDCCH/CSIRS) DFT static weight calculation and
PDSCH dynamic weight calculation.
 Calculation of the static weight of the control channel DFT: Predefined and static invariant weights are obtained from the
weight file.
 There are two methods for calculating the PDSCH dynamic weight:
 SRS: Based on channel reciprocity, gNodeBs estimate the downlink channel characteristics using SRSs received
from the UEs to obtain weighting values. This method is suitable for UEs in or near the cell center.
 PMI: gNodeBs select an optimal weighting value based on PMIs received from the UEs. This method is suitable for
UEs at the cell edge.

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Downlink Beamforming - Weighting

 During weighting, gNodeBs use the vector addition function to add the calculated weight value and the data to be transmitted,
including data streams and demodulation reference signals (DMRSs). The width and direction of beams are adjusted based
on the calculation results. The weighting procedure is as follows:
 Assume that noise, 𝑵, is generated when an input signal, 𝒙( 𝑖), passes through channel 𝑯. The output signal, 𝒚( 𝑖), is
calculated using the following formula:
 When weighting is applied, input signal 𝒙(𝑖) is multiplied by complex vector 𝒘( 𝑖) to change the amplitude and phase of
output signal 𝒚(𝑖). Output signal 𝒚(𝑖) is calculated using the following formula:

Dual-layer
weighting

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Downlink Beamforming - Beamforming Implementation
 Beamforming relies on the interference principles. The arcs indicate carrier signal peaks. When two wave peaks intersect, the
signal strength increases. When a wave peak intersects with a wave bottom, the signal strength decreases.
 When beamforming is not used, the beam shape and lobe positions are fixed. When a UE resides between two beams at
the cell edge, the signals are weak.
 When beamforming is enabled, gNodeBs impose weighting on and adjust the transmit power and phase of signals to be
transmitted through each antenna element. This way, the beam shape changes and the main lobe is directed at target
UEs, improving the signal strength.
 A beam generated using SRS- or PMI-based weighting is referred to as a dynamic beam. Control channels and broadcast
channels use predefined weighting values to generate discrete static beams.

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Uplink Receive Diversity
 Concept: Uplink receive diversity enables gNodeBs to enhance reception by taking advantage of space diversity (diversity
gains) and coherent reception (array gains) to receive UE signals over multiple antennas.
 Procedure:
 A gNodeB receives SRSs from a UE over multiple antennas, estimates the uplink channel characteristics, and then sends
downlink control information (DCI) to the UE, notifying the UE of the optimal PMI/rank value.
 The UE uses that PMI value to precode physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) data and transmits it to the gNodeB.
 The gNodeB uses multiple antennas to receive the PUSCH data, improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and stability of
received signals, and increasing uplink user throughput.

Diversity gains: SNR becomes more Array gains: Coherent reception

stable after combination. improves the SNR.

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Downlink Adaptive Selection Between PMI and SRS

 Downlink Adaptive Selection Between PMI and SRS allows downlink beamforming weight selection based on SRS or
PMI: The PMI-based selection applies to those with a small SNR. The SRS-based selection applies to UEs with a
large SNR. The weight selected based on the PMI is more accurate at the cell edge, which improves the SNR to
positively affect the data rate of CEUs.
 When the uplink SRS SNR of a UE is greater than Th SRS (SrsPreSinrJudgeThld, with the default value of –20 dB),
SRS-based selection is applicable. Otherwise, PMI-based selection is applicable. There is a fixed 3 dB hysteresis
protection on both sides.

SRS to PMI PMI to SRS

hysteresis THSRS hysteresis

Weight Weight
PMI unchanged unchanged SRS

3 dB 3 dB

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential Page 22

DL SU Multiple Layers

 This function uses multi-antenna technologies to enable downlink multi-layer

data transmission for a single UE. The maximum number of downlink layers for
a single UE is determined by the smaller number of gNodeB transmit antennas
and UE receive antennas.
 As shown in the following figure, a 2T4R UE supports data transmission over a
maximum of four layers in the downlink in the case of a 64T64R gNodeB.

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UL SU Multiple Layers

 This function uses multi-antenna technologies to enable uplink multi-layer data

transmission for a single UE. The maximum number of uplink layers for a single
UE is determined by the smaller number of gNodeB receive antennas and UE
transmit antennas.
 As shown in the following figure, a 2T4R UE supports data transmission over a
maximum of two layers in the uplink in the case of a 64T64R gNodeB.

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

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Downlink Spatial Multiplexing for PDSCHs
 Concept: Downlink MU spatial multiplexing enables the gNodeB to send data to two or more UEs using the
same PDSCH resources, achieving spatial multiplexing gains.
 Gains: This function improves spectral efficiency, and to some extent increases downlink throughput. In heavy-
traffic scenarios, it also helps reduce the network load and improve user experience.
 Pairing: When the MU pairing switch is turned on, the number of cell layers is less than the maximum
allowable number, and the MCS index of the UE exceeds a predefined threshold, UEs with isolated beams and
low spatial channel correlations can be paired. The UE in scheduling can be further paired with a UE to be
scheduled based on the RBG as long as the correlation is low.

gNodeB Maximum Number of Layers

64T64R 16

32T32R 16

8T8R 4

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Downlink Spatial Multiplexing for PDCCHs

 Downlink MU spatial multiplexing enables multiple UEs to multiplex CCE(Control

Channel Element) resources. This function increases the PDCCH capacity and
enables more UEs to be scheduled at the same time (or reduces the PDCCH
overhead and increases the PDSCH capacity).
 Currently, the PDCCH supports up to four layers for spatial multiplexing.

gNodeB Maximum Number of Layers

64T64R 4

32T32R 4

8T8R Not supported

Beam isolation

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Uplink Spatial Multiplexing for PUSCHs

 Concept: Uplink MU spatial multiplexing enables the gNodeB to send data to two or more UEs
using the same PUSCH resources, achieving spatial multiplexing gains.
 Gains: This function improves spectral efficiency, and to some extent increases uplink throughput.
In heavy-traffic scenarios, it also helps reduce the network load and improve user experience.
 Pairing: Based on the correlation between UEs, appropriate UEs with low correlation are selected
for pairing.

gNodeB Maximum Number of Layers

64T64R 8

32T32R 8

8T8R 4

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential Page 29

Network Impact of Massive MIMO
 Benefits:
 Improved cell coverage.
 Downlink Adaptive Selection Between PMI and SRS increases coverage performance by 1 dB and the downlink
throughput of cell edge UEs by 5%.
 Improved customer experience.
 Downlink: When the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is satisfactory (MCS index of 27 with 256QAM), the spatial channels are
independent of each other, and the number of receive antennas is greater than or equal to 8, the UE supports
simultaneous data transmission of 8 layers in the downlink. In this case, the single UE downlink peak rate is theoretically 8
times that of the single-layer downlink peak rate.
 Uplink: When the SNR is satisfactory (MCS index of 28 with 64QAM), the spatial channels are independent of each other,
and the number of receive antennas is greater than or equal to 4, the UE supports simultaneous data transmission of 4
layers in the uplink. In this case, the single UE uplink peak rate is theoretically 4 times that of the single-layer uplink peak
rate.
 The system capacity is increased.
 Improved system capacity: The more number of layers, the higher the gains. Assume that N layers are used for spatial
multiplexing of full-buffer services. In this case, the cell throughput increases to N x 100% theoretically.
 Impact:
 Network KPIs are not adversely affected.

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 Contents

1. Transmission Modes in LTE

2. Massive MIMO Overview

3. Massive MIMO Feature Description

3.1 MIMO Basic Package

3.2 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers

3.3 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing

4. Network Impact on Massive MIMO

5. Activation/Verification of Massive MIMO

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. Huawei Confidential Page 31

Massive MIMO Deployment Requirements

 Hardware
 BBU board: UBBPfw1
 AAU: 5G AAU5613 (64T), AAU 5612 (64T), AAU5313 (32T), RRU5258 (8T8R non-MM), HAAU5213
 Software: This feature depends on MIMO Basic Package.
 License:

Feature ID Feature Name Model Sales Unit

FOFD-010020 SU-MIMO Multiple Layers NR0S0PREUM00 Per Cell

FOFD-010010 MU-MIMO Basic Pairing NR0S00MUMM00 Per cell

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Massive MIMO Deployment Requirements (Cont.)

 The maximum number of layers in the SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO scenario must
not exceed the number of layers authorized by the following licenses (one
license corresponds to two layers).

Model Description Sales Unit

License for the massive MIMO DL 2-

NR0S0DLEPU00 per 2 Layers per Cell
layers extended processing unit (NR)

License for the massive MIMO UL 2-

NR0S0ULEPU00 per 2 Layers per Cell
layers extended processing unit (NR)

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When to Use Massive MIMO

 MIMO Basic Package and SU-MIMO Multiple Layers are recommended for all
scenarios.
 MU-MIMO is recommended for heavy-traffic scenarios.
 The uplink or downlink PRB usage is high during busy hours, and the downlink PRB
usage is greater than 50%.
 The number of active users in the uplink or downlink is greater than or equal to three.

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Massive MIMO Deployment Configuration

 MML Configuration
 Downlink Adaptive Selection Between PMI and SRS
MOD NRDUCELLALGOSWITCH:NrDuCellId=1, AdaptiveEdgeExpEnhSwitch = DL_PMI_SRS_ADAPT_SW-1;
MOD NRDUCELLPDSCH: NrDuCellId=1, SrsPreSinrJudgeThld=-100;

 Enabling SU-MIMO multiple layers:

MOD NRDUCELLALGOSWITCH:NrDuCellId=1, SuMimoMultipleLayerSw =DL_SU_MULTI_LAYER_SW-
1&UL_SU_MULTI_LAYER_SW-1;

 Enabling MU MIMO Basic Paring:

MOD NRDUCELLALGOSWITCH: NrDuCellId=1, MuMimoSwitch=UL_MU_MIMO_SW-1&PDCCH_MU_SW-
1&DL_MU_MIMO_SW-1;

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Massive MIMO Deployment Configuration

 MML Configuration
 Setting the maximum number of MIMO layers
MOD NRDUCELLPDSCH: NrDuCellId=1, MaxMimoLayerNum=LAYER_2;
MOD NRDUCELLPUSCH: NrDuCellId=1, MaxMimoLayerCnt= LAYER_2;
MOD NRDUCELLPDCCH: NrDuCellId=1, MaxPairLayerNum=LAYER_2;

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Massive MIMO Activation Verification - SU MIMO

Start monitoring tasks on the U2020 to check whether SU MIMO is enabled:

a) Log in to the U2020. Choose Monitor > Signaling Trace > Signaling Trace Management.
b) In the navigation tree of the Signaling Trace window, choose User Performance Monitoring >
User Common Monitoring to start a monitoring task for a UE.

DL SU-MIMO multiple layers:

This function has taken effect if the following condition is met: 1 < Code0 DL Average Layer
Num + Code1 DL Average Layer Num < min (Number of gNodeB transmit antennas,
Number of UE receive antennas).
UL SU-MIMO multiple layers:
This function has taken effect if the following condition is met: 1 < Code0 UL Average Layer
Num < min (Number of gNodeB receive antennas, Number of UE transmit antennas).

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Massive MIMO Activation Verification - MU MIMO
Start monitoring tasks on the U2020 to check whether MU MIMO is enabled:
a) Log in to the U2020. Choose Monitor > Signaling Trace > Signaling Trace Management.
b) In the navigation tree of the Signaling Trace Management tab page on the left, choose NR > Cell Performance Monitoring
> Downlink Multi-User MIMO Monitoring or NR > Cell Performance Monitoring > Uplink Multi-User MIMO Monitoring,
and select the corresponding base station and cell to view monitoring items.
c) If the value of this monitoring item is greater than 1, this function has taken effect.

Monitoring Item Meaning

Maximum number of transmission
Max Number of
layers for paired RBs in downlink
DL Transmission
timeslots during which pairing
Pair Layers
occurs in a monitoring period
Maximum number of transmission
Max Number of
layers for paired resource block
UL Transmission
groups (RBGs) during uplink
Pair Layers
scheduling in a monitoring period
Maximum number of UEs paired for
PDCCH MU Max
PDCCH MU spatial multiplexing in a
Num
detection period

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Massive MIMO Network Monitoring

 The capacity gains can be obtained by observing the cell throughput.

 Downlink user throughput = N.ThpVol.DL (traffic volume)/N.ThpTime.DL (data transmission time)
 Uplink user throughput = N.ThpVol.DL (traffic volume)/N.ThpTime.DL (data transmission time)
 Downlink user throughput = N.ThpVol.DL (traffic volume)/N.ThpTime.DL (data transmission time of all UEs)
 Uplink user throughput = N.ThpVol.UL (traffic volume)/N.ThpTime.UL (data transmission time of all UEs)
 N.ChMeas.MIMO.DL.Pair.PRB: Total number of PRBs paired for downlink MIMO
 N.ChMeas.MIMO.DL.Pair.Layer: Total number of layers paired for downlink MIMO
 N.ChMeas.MIMO.UL.Pair.PRB: Total number of PRBs paired for uplink MIMO
 N.ChMeas.MIMO.UL.Pair.Layer: Total number of layers paired for uplink MIMO

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 Summary

 Massive MIMO Overview

 Evolution to massive MIMO and benefits
 Massive MIMO Feature Description
 MIMO Basic Package, SU-MIMO Multiple Layers, and MU-MIMO Basic Pairing
 Massive MIMO Deployment Requirements
 Deployment configuration, activation verification, and network monitoring

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Thank you
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