Dual-Polarized Channel Measurement and Modeling in Urban Macro- and Small-Cells at 2 GHz

Advanced radio channel modeling continues to be of great interest in order to facilitate innovation and pursue performance prediction of wireless networks; in particular, dual-polarized antenna systems for 4.5 and 5G require models that properly capture the complex phenomenon of depolarization. Accordingly, we present and validate a ray-based model for dual-polarized channel characterization. We present the model and describe the measurement campaign used to obtain field data for evaluation. We also compare our approach to the largely used WINNER-based stochastic model, and discuss the impact of antennas and diffuse scattering in the prediction of depolarization. The paper indicates that a 3D space-time deterministic propagation model must be used if a well correlated channel model, both in LoS and NLoS conditions, is required to assess a system performance.