The VIAVI Difference for MU-MIMO

VIAVI provides the most advanced and scalable MU-MIMO test and validation options available, with proven solutions adopted by RF cable, O-RAN, and fronthaul vendors throughout the world. With an unmatched collection of requirements from real use cases, the industry leading TM500 has now emerged as a de-facto MU-MIMO test solution as well.

Collaboration and partnerships with key MU-MIMO vendors and stakeholders, along with active participation and contributions to organizations including 3GPP, the O-RAN Alliance, ITU, and Telecom Infra have empowered VIAVI to provide the right solution for your individual test needs in MU-MIMO

While Massive MIMO multiplies the number of antennas in 5G networks exponentially to support beamforming technology and provide service to a higher number of UE’s, MU-MIMO takes network performance and efficiency to the next level by:

• Enabling access points to communicate with users simultaneously rather than sequentially
• Increasing network capacity and boosting overall efficiency
• Optimizing user QoE by ensuring adequate special separation

End users, operators, and carriers benefit from UEs sharing the same block of valuable spectrum as they strive to get the most out of finite spectral resources, especially in city centers, large event venues, and other highly congested, bandwidth-hungry areas. Operating in concert with beamforming technology to transmit data with pinpoint accuracy, MU-MIMO allows more users to get their content delivered quickly and reliably.

Key MU-MIMO Challenges

The technology underpinning MIMO radio has already been adopted for Wi-Fi and LTE applications, just as single-user (SU) MIMO has gradually evolved to service multiple users. Complex 5G networks compound the magnitude of SU-MIMO vs MU-MIMO performance with exponentially higher numbers of antennas and users. This can make 5G MU-MIMO difficult to validate and manage, especially in dynamic environments where the location of users and signal paths are continually changing.

Inter-beam interference caused by incorrect channel estimation or misaligned beams can lead to reduced QoS and QoE for end users while undermining the many benefits of MU-MIMO. 5G networks set a high bar for beamforming accuracy that must be consistently maintained to support effective operation and safeguard the user experience.

Additional challenges for MU-MIMO vendors, carriers, network operators, and end users requiring ongoing focus and innovation include:

• Spatial Separation: MU-MIMO relies on the spatial separation of signals between users to safeguard performance and prevent interference and other reception issues that reduce throughput. A rigorous approach to deployment and testing is needed to optimize service for all users.
• Setup Time: Massive MIMO and MU-MIMO infrastructure require complex setup and test processes to ensure QoE and end-to-end interoperability with other 5G network elements. Setup requirements can delay deployment and monetization if not properly mitigated through advanced emulation and testing processes.