Polarimetric millimeter wave propagation channel measurement and cluster properties in outdoor urban pico-cell environment

To use millimeter wave bands in future cellular and wireless networks, characterization of the radio propagation channel in outdoor urban small cell or pico cell environment is vital. In this paper we present results from analysis of wideband full polarimetric directional channel measurements in an urban pico-cell environment using the double directional millimeter wave channel sounding system we developed. Multipath clusters with excess gain ranging from −9.6 dB to −22 dB in both line of sight (LOS) and obstructed LOS cases are seen. The most significant clusters were due to first and second order reflection, and diffraction. The clusters ranged from being highly specular in nature with very small (nearly 0°) angular spread to having angular spreads of up to 5.8° in azimuth and 6.3° in elevation. Similarly the delay spread of the clusters ranged up to 2.1 ns.