A Low-Complexity Distributed-MIMO Testbed Based on High-Speed Sigma–Delta-Over-Fiber

Distributed multiple-input-multiple-output (DMIMO) is a very promising technique to improve capacity and quality of service for emerging 5G systems. In this paper, we propose a flexible and low-cost testbed for D-MIMO systems, where a sigma-delta over fiber (SDoF) solution is proposed to address the fundamental challenge of phase-coherent transmission between multiple distributed access points (APs) from a central unit (CU). Employing low-cost standardized optical data interconnects, SDoF, brings a very flexible and software controlled transmission of RF signals over optical fiber. An SDoF-based D-MIMO testbed with a CU feeding 12 distributed APs has been realized and experimentally evaluated. Initial experiments of D-MIMO and conventional colocated MIMO systems at 2.365 GHz have been performed to demonstrate the flexibility and potential of the proposed testbed as a new powerful tool in the design and analysis of emerging communication system concepts.