1st International Conference on 5G for Ubiquitous Connectivity

Research Article

Active antenna system (AAS) capabilities for 5G systems: A field study of performance

Download853 downloads
  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/icst.5gu.2014.258113,
        author={Marjo Heikkil\aa{} and Tero Kippola and Piritta K\aa{}rs\aa{}m\aa{} and Asko Nyk\aa{}nen and Pekka Tuuttila and Marja Matinmikko},
        title={Active antenna system (AAS) capabilities for 5G systems: A field study of performance},
        proceedings={1st International Conference on 5G for Ubiquitous Connectivity},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={5GU},
        year={2014},
        month={12},
        keywords={active antenna system beamforming drive test hspa vertical sectorization},
        doi={10.4108/icst.5gu.2014.258113}
    }
    
  • Marjo Heikkilä
    Tero Kippola
    Piritta Kärsämä
    Asko Nykänen
    Pekka Tuuttila
    Marja Matinmikko
    Year: 2014
    Active antenna system (AAS) capabilities for 5G systems: A field study of performance
    5GU
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.4108/icst.5gu.2014.258113
Marjo Heikkilä1,*, Tero Kippola1, Piritta Kärsämä1, Asko Nykänen2, Pekka Tuuttila2, Marja Matinmikko3
  • 1: Centria University of Applied Sciences
  • 2: Nokia Networks
  • 3: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
*Contact email: marjo.heikkila@centria.fi

Abstract

Enhanced antenna technologies will be key enabling factors in the development of 5th-generation (5G) systems that will achieve significant improvements in system capacity. This paper presents a practical performance evaluation of an active antenna system (AAS) that can lead to high-capacity gain with vertical sectorization (VS). Active antennas have flexible radiation pattern control for adapting to changing situations in mobile networks. This study shows the capabilities of an AAS to improving cellular network capacity in a real High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network. The field trial results indicate that the AAS technology can offer 84.6% capacity gains in the downlink direction. Thus AAS technology is a promising development for 5G mobile cellular systems that demand more capacity.