CORDIS Archive

R2067: MBS - Mobile Broadband System

Workplan References:

T.707, T714, T715, T718, T730, T732, T733, T806, T807, T813, T907

Project Line:

PL3: Mobile Communications

Main Objectives

The MBS project addresses the system concepts, techniques, and technology required for the transition to the Mobile Broadband System. It will also identify the future communication needs for mobile users, their market characterisation and the impact of the expected evolution of technology on the economic feasibility of widespread introduction of the those services.

The project aims to demonstrate industrial capability to produce the subsystems (RF, IF, and baseband) required by future high data rate communications systems in the cost-effective manner necessary for widespread market introduction.

Technical Approach

The project studies and defines procedures (routing, handover, channel management, interworking) for the support of mobility under the much stricter requirements imposed by smaller cell sizes. It also develops techniques for micro-cell planning. Studies towards definition of a universal air interface will be undertaken (antennas, modulation, equalisation, coding, multiple access) taking into account the specific characteristics of the 60GHz radio channel. These are placed in the context of evolving architectures for other networks, evolving user needs, and availability of technology. A common performance evaluation methodology and tools are being developed to support this..

Using recent advances in MMIC technology, in particular the pHEMT processes, MBS is designing, implementing and testing moderate-cost systems performing the main millimetre-wave functions required for 60GHz operation. Feasibility of the main concepts (architectural, operational, technological, application) is being demonstrated by transmitting digitised video over a duplex mobile connection using a high data rate (34Mbit/s) mm wave radio link.

Key Issues

Matching offered services to user needs (applications)
Cost-effective provision of services.
Technical issues resulting from operation at much higher radio frequencies (60GHz).

Achievements

Identification of a set of potential applications, that the project believes will provide its first market.
Functional and operational requirements defined and generic functional model completed.
Definition of a set of Reference Configurations, network architectures and functional architectures for specific scenarios, including the functional scope and the architecture of the Radio Subsystems.
Concepts for interworking with UMTS and B-ISDN, and associated interworking functions specified.
Definition of the main air interface elements is complete.
Development of a model for the optimal cost/revenue cellular design of highway coverage.
Indoor and outdoor channel propagation models .
Measurements on propagation at 60GHz undertaken.
Production as MMICs of the three main blocks (low-noise down-converter, up-converter, local oscillator), meeting the specifications.
Detailed specification and implementation of a demonstrator (transmitter and receiver blocks).
First field trials performed.

Expected Impact

The project will lay the groundwork for the introduction of the Mobile Broadband System from the points of view of the development of system concepts and millimetre-wave components. Through the development and operation of a mobile demonstrator, the project expects to give visibility to the MBS concept thereby stimulating user acceptance of the corresponding services.

Participants

Companhia Portuguesa Radio Marconi (CPRM)* P
Alcatel FACE I
British Broadcasting Corporation UK
BT UK
Deutsche Aerospace D
Instituto Superior Tecnico P
LEP/Philips Microwave F
Norwegian Telecom Research N
Technical University of Aachen D
Thomson CFS Semiconducteurs Spécifiques F
VTT Technical Research Centre Finland SF

*Contact: L Fernandes Compania Portuguesa Radio Marconi
Tel: +351 1 7907 770 Av. Alvaro Pais 2
Fax: +351 1 7207 148 1600 Lisbon
Email: lbfernande@cprm.pt Portugal

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