High Performance 5G Distributed Massive-MIMO Networks for Shipboard Deployment

For this Phase I effort, XCOM is proposing to take our 5G Open RAN based innovation we developed called eXpandable Coordinated Multi-Point (XCoMP) and perform a study to determine the expected performance of this technology in a Department of Defense environment, specifically on the USS Midway aircraft carrier. Led by our principal investigator, Dr. Tamer Kadous, our experienced team of wireless professionals will:Capture Department of Defense shipboard requirements for a 5G network deploymentPerform tests of potential targeted shipboard network locationsAnalyze and report on the testingProvide a complete design package for a proposed Phase II 5G prototype network deploymentAs described above, at the conclusion of this Phase I study, XCOM will provide deliverables in terms of reports, drawings, bill of materials and specification that provides a design and expected performance for a prototype network that could be deployed in a Phase II project.XCOM is a non-traditional, U.S.-based small business that started with the vision of inventing next generation wireless technology that leap-frogs the current state of the art. A key innovation that came out of this vision is XCoMP which delivers highly reliable coverage but also delivers multi-fold aggregate capacity and spectral efficiency gains over current, conventional 5G. XCoMP employs joint processing to increase spectral efficiency and network capacity up to six times in high user density scenarios. This technology is differentiated by simply adding light weight and economical Open RAN Radio Units (RUs) to increase capacity versus the conventional approach of redesigning an expensive and capacity capped small cell network for closed RAN systems.XCoMP is a physically distributed non-collocated jointly processed multi-user multi-input multi-output (MIMO) technology. MIMO technology has been used since 3G cellular networks and has become a well-known scheme to increase network capacity by exploiting spatial domain. Distributed MIMO ensures coverage by spreading antennas so that they are not all physically co-located but the radios are distributed over an area while simultaneously delivering capacity gains by jointly processing to minimize interference. In essence, our approach leverages computational power to outperform the capacity gains of small cells and achieve the coverage benefits of distributed antenna systems (DAS) while avoiding the drawbacks of both approaches, as described in more detail in Volume 2 Technical Volume.As described in the Related Work section of Volume 2 Technical Volume, XCOM is developing and piloting products and solutions based on this fundamental technology to provide increased capacity, reliability and minimal interference for warehouse automation, navy ships, hangar areas, tactical networks needed in military theatres, public safety and disaster settings, critical infrastructure field locations, sporting events, business venues, and beyond.