The next generation of wireless networks needs to provide enhanced data rates for mobile broadband applications along with low latency and reliability for a machine and vehicular communication. Spectrum in conventional cellular frequency bands of 500MHz to 4 GHz is crowded and exorbitantly expensive. Availability of frequency band near mmwave is promising but at the same time provides challenges for researchers. For optimum utilization and mass deployment, there are many challenges which need to be addressed such as the development of new algorithms, technologies, and air interfaces along with energy efficiency and channel models.

5G MMWAVE LAB is a software programmable hardware transceiver which allows limitless research and development along with laboratory experiments to be performed on a single device. The system is ideally suited for applications requiring high RF performance and great bandwidth such as 5G Physical layer prototyping, Dynamic Spectrum Access, and Cognitive Radio, Spectrum Monitoring and even Networked Sensor Deployment.

The system has a modular architecture with high-performance synthesizers and integrated mixers allowing baseband processing. The system has an independently programmable transmitter and receiver sections with programmable frequencies, ADC and DAC sampling rates, filter bandwidths, variable gain amplifiers, LNA and PA.

The entry barrier is lowered to include the graduate students by providing a graphical programming environment. The system also supports interface with MATLAB. The burden on faculty is lowered by using courseware designed at IITD from simple FM to most complex MIMO systems.