Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output under open radio access network flexible functional splits towards efficient cellular network
department or school: Applied Science, Faculty of
department or school: Engineering, School of (Okanagan)
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCO
creator: Ahmed, SK Razib
issued: 2025-08-28T23:27:49Z
issued: 2025
related degree: Master of Applied Science - MASc
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: This thesis investigates the implementation of flexible functional splits in Cell-Free Massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO) systems under the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) framework. CF-mMIMO is a promising architecture for next-generation wireless networks, offering enhanced spectral efficiency (SE), energy efficiency (EE), and consistent service quality. With rising demands from smart devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), and immersive applications like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), scalable and efficient wireless solutions are essential. However, integrating CF-mMIMO into O-RAN introduces challenges, including high fronthaul bandwidth due to centralized coordination, increased computational burden at distributed units, and complexity in selecting functional splits that balance latency, power consumption, and processing load. The O-RAN architecture disaggregates conventional baseband processing into standardized functional splits (Split 1 through Split 8), allowing flexible allocation of tasks between centralized and distributed units. This thesis focuses on Split 7.2, which places partial baseband processing at the Radio Unit (O-RU), and Split 8, which centralizes all processing at the Central Unit (O-DU/O-CU). A simulation framework is developed to assess SE, EE, and Jain’s Fairness Index (JFI) across various access point (AP) and antenna configurations using a static user model and coherence block assumptions. Fronthaul limitations and power models are incorporated, and optimization is performed using the Concave-Convex Procedure (CCP). Simulation results show that Split 8 provides superior SE, EE, and fairness due to centralized coordination but requires higher fronthaul capacity and computing resources. Split 7.2, in contrast, reduces fronthaul load and latency, making it suitable for bandwidth-limited or delay-sensitive deploy ments. A fully decentralized architecture is also evaluated and shows significantly poorer performance across all metrics. These fin…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/92156
note: Cell-Free Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output under theOpen Radio Access Network Flexible Functional Splits towardsEfficient Cellular NetworkbySK RAZIB AHMEDA THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THEREQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OFMASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCEinThe College of Graduate Studies(Electrical Engineering)THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA(OKANAGAN)August 2025© SK Razib Ahmed, 2025The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to theCollege of Graduate Studies for acceptance, a thesis entitled:Cell-Free Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output under theOpen Radio Access Network Flexible Functional Splits towardsEfficient Cellular NetworkSubmitted by SK RAZIB AHMED in partial fulfilment of the requirementsof the degree of Master of Applied ScienceProf. Dr Md. Jahangir Hossain, School of EngineeringSupervisorProf. Dr Stephen O’Leary, School of EngineeringSupervisory Committee MemberProf. Dr Chen Feng, School of EngineeringSupervisory Committee MemberProf. Dr Shawn Xianfu Wang, Department of MathematicsUniversity ExamineriiAbstractThis thesis investigates the implementation of flexible functional splits inCell-Free Massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO) systems under the Open Radio Ac-cess Network (O-RAN) framework. CF-mMIMO is a promising architecturefor next-generation wireless networks, offering enhanced spectral efficiency(SE), energy efficiency (EE), and consistent service quality. With rising de-mands from smart devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), and immersive ap-plications like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), scalable and efficientwireless solutions are essential. However, integrating CF-mMIMO into O-RAN introduces challenges, including high fronthaul bandwidth due to cen-tralized coordination, increased computational burden at distributed units,and complexity in selecting functional splits that balance latency, power con-sumption, and processing load.The O-RAN architecture disaggregates conventional baseband processinginto standardi…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2025-09
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0449958
language: eng
degree discipline: Electrical Engineering
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Hossain, Md. Jahangir
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/92156