Channel estimation for the downlink of 3GPP-LTE systems

In this paper, we study the channel estimation algorithms for the downlink of 3GPP LTE systems. By using computer simulation, the pilot signal assisted channel estimation algorithms based on least square (LS) and linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) criteria, together with channel interpolation based on piecewise-linear interpolation and DFT based interpolation are studied. By analyzing simulation results in terms of Mean Square Error (MSE) and un-coded Bit Error Rate (BER), we conclude that the channel frequency responses of pilot tones are estimated by using LS estimator, and the channel frequency responses of data tones are interpolated by DFT based interpolation method is appropriate for the downlink of 3GPP LTE systems.