MIMO-OFDM is a key technology for next-generation cellular communications (3GPP-LTE,
Mobile WiMAX, IMT-Advanced) as well as wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11n),
wireless PAN (MB-OFDM), and broadcasting (DAB, DVB, DMB). This book provides a
comprehensive introduction to the basic theory and practice of wireless channel modeling,
OFDM, and MIMO, with MATLAB ? programs to simulate the underlying techniques on
MIMO-OFDMsystems.Thisbookisprimarilydesignedforengineersandresearcherswhoare
interested in learning various MIMO-OFDM techniques and applying them to wireless
communications.
This book is exclusively dedicated to WiMAX. The focus of the book is
on the applications of WiMAX networks, with delivery of multimedia
content to wireless and mobile devices being the area of greatest atten-
tion. WiMAX has crossed a number of major milestones in the recent
past.
Mobile wireless communications are in constant evolution due to the continu-
ously increasing requirements and expectations of both users and operators.
Mass multimedia* services have been for a long time expected to generate a large
amount of data traffic in future wireless networks [1]. Mass multimedia services
are, by definition, purposed for many people. In general, it can be distinguished
between the distribution of any popular content over a wide area and the distribu-
tion of location-dependent information in highly populated areas. Representative
examples include the delivery of live video streaming content (like sports compe-
titions, concerts, or news) and file download (multimedia clips, digital newspa-
pers, or software updates).
The unguided transmission of information using electromagnetic waves
at radio frequency (RF) is often referred to as wireless communications,
the first demonstration of which took place at the end of the 19th cen-
tury and is attributed to Hertz. The technology was, shortly thereafter,
commercialised by, amongst others, Marconi in one of the first wire-
less communication systems, i.e., wireless telegraphy. In the first half of
the 20th century the technology was developed further to enable more
than the mere transmission of Morse code. This first resulted in uni-
directional radio broadcasting and several years later also in television
broadcasting.
The book is written for those concerned with the design and performance of satellite
communications systems employed in fixed point-to-point, broadcasting, mobile, radio-
navigation,data-relay,computercommunications,andrelatedsatellite-basedapplications.The
recentrapidgrowthinsatellitecommunicationshascreatedaneedforaccurateinformationon
both satellite communications systems engineering and the impact of atmospheric effects on
satellite link design and system performance. This book addresses that need for the first time
in a single comprehensive source.
Wireless communication has become increasingly important not only for professional appli-
cations but also for many fields in our daily routine and in consumer electronics. In 1990,
a mobile telephone was still quite expensive, whereas today most teenagers have one, and
they use it not only for calls but also for data transmission. More and more computers use
wireless local area networks (WLANs), and audio and television broadcasting has become
digital.
The dictionary definition of telecommunications is ‘communication over long
distance by cable, telegraph, telephone or broadcasting’, but since its initiation over
100yearsagothingshavemovedrapidly.Telecommunicationsisnowaverycomplex
industrywithmanydifferentpressures,operatinginahighlydynamic environment.It
is best viewed as part of a wider industry known as information and communication
technology (ICT). The purpose of this chapter is to explain where telecommunication
fits in, to highlight some of the complexities – hopefully to simplify them – and to
position the industry in today’s dynamic business environment.
