3GPP channel model developments for 5G NR requirements and testing

The work in 3GPP to define channel models for the development of the 5G New radio (NR) air interface is ongoing. 3GPP published the Study on channel model for frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz [1] in March 2017 providing a framework for system level and link level channel models. The system level models are being used for system level simulations while link level models are being defined for the development of requirements and test cases for UE and BS. The process of turning the framework in [1] into usable link level channel models has several steps which include scaling by carrier frequency, channel bandwidth, truncation by power, angular and delay spread scaling as well as the application of a BS transmit (Tx) antenna pattern assumption to spatially filter the model. This paper outlines the status of this work and an early look at the kind of link level channel models likely to be used for UE and BS conformance testing.