15 GHz Street-Level Blocking Characteristics Assessed with 5G Radio Access Prototype

Knowledge about propagation properties and development of realistic channel models at higher frequencies are crucial for evaluations and design decisions in the upcoming 5G standardizations. One propagation phenomenon that requires special attention at higher frequencies is blocking by objects. In this paper, the propagation characteristics in the presence of street-level blocking objects at 15 GHz are investigated based on measurement with a 5G radio access prototype. It is found that blocking by moving obstacles has similar behavior as that by stationary ones. The results are also used to verify the validity of the blocking model developed in the METIS project at higher frequencies. Blocking loss in the range 3-12 dB is observed, which is not larger than that at lower frequency bands. Moreover, our Doppler analysis reveals that for some objects such as cars and vans propagation happens only around the objects; but for other objects such as trees, propagation happens through the object. Reflection and scattering are also identified to contribute to the limited loss from blocking and increase the channel richness enabling improved spatial multiplexing.