Statistical Modelling of Building Scatter in Metropolitan Cells at 20 and 40 GHz for Fixed Wireless Access Links

For fixed wireless access systems in urban areas, reflection or scattering from building surfaces can cause propagation impairments and influence system planning, deployment and quality of service. This paper presents a statistical model for fixed radio links operating at microwave/millimeter frequencies and predicts the radiowave propagation characteristics. The model considers the underlying propagation modes, where buildings give rise to multipath due to reflection or scattering. In addition, the model accounts for the antenna properties, including relative height, orientation and radiation patterns. Measurement campaigns were conducted using both 20 and 40 GHz radio links set up in the university campus. The measured and prediction results conducted at 20 and 40 GHz were compared. Agreement between the statistical properties of narrowband measurements and those from simulations using the model are demonstrated