An iterative multiuser detection receiver for 3GPP with antenna arrays: performance in terms of BER, cell size and capacity

This paper discusses the implementation of a very powerful but computationally efficient, iterative multi-user detector, intended for use as the base station physical layer receiver for wideband CDMA. This multiuser detector is unique in that it is fully compliant with the release '99 3GPP standard, a result that has not been shown before. The transmitter chain is discussed before the channel model used is introduced. The receiver design approach is then discussed. Special consideration is given to show how channel estimation is integrated into the receiver. We show single cell performance results that indicate a capacity increase of approximately three times over the "conventional" receiver implementation is possible (with and without antenna arrays). Results are then shown using a cell dimensioning simulation tool to indicate the overall gain in terms of increase in cell size. Here we can show that a gain of approximately 50% of the cell size is possible with such a multi-user detection approach. The dimensioning tool is also used to show the increase in capacity for a fixed cell size. Here we can show that a gain in the order of 330% is possible, compared to a conventional receiver approach.