WiMAGIC · Worldwide Interoperability Microwave Broadband Access System for Next Generation Wireless Communications

The objective of this industry-driven multi-disciplinary research proposal is to develop novel and highly innovative technical solutions which will be backward compatible with the existing global broadband wireless access (BWA) standards (IEEE 802.16 and WiMAX) and linked to the specific end-user requirements which will be incorporated into the emerging IEEE 802.16m standard, which aims at defining an air interface that can ensure high mobility (at least 120 km/h), transmit a data rate of over 100 Mbit/s and offer higher performance compared to the current 802.16e standard. Among the main topics to be addressed for the advanced air interface are new MIMO schemes offering higher diversity and multiplexing gains as well as interference cancellation capabilities, advanced synchronization and channel estimation techniques that are compatible with the increased mobility requirement, advanced radio resource allocation schemes involving cross-layer optimisation, as well as cooperation between users and base stations. Research results developed within the framework of this STREP will be used to draft contributions to the IEEE 802.16m working group and influence this future standard. The developed concepts and algorithms will be simulated, prototyped and then integrated into SoCs to be developed by SEQUANS Communications and tested by other industrial partners of the consortium. The implementation plan for the project is based on a hypothetical system called WiMAGIC that embodies a beyond the state of the art (SoA) target BWA system. WiMAGIC serves as a conceptual platform for 1) specifying target system requirements, 2) developing sub-system level beyond the SoA technological solutions, 3) integrating the sub-system solutions for end-to-end simulation, testing and validation of the WiMAGIC design. This chain of activities, from system specification to system design to technology development to system validation, constitutes the object of the WiMAGIC project.