5B8 – Wireless Communications

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of wireless communications, covering both theoretical foundations and practical applications in modern and future wireless systems. Students will explore how wireless channels behave, how communication performance is modelled and optimised, and how emerging technologies are shaping next-generation wireless networks.

Core Topics

  • Wireless Channel Fundamentals: Signal propagation models and unique channel characteristics, including path loss, shadowing, and multipath fading.
  • Statistical Channel Modelling: Rigorous treatment of narrowband and wideband fading environments, addressing small-scale and large-scale effects.
  • Channel Capacity and Information Theory: Analysis of wireless channel capacities using key principles of information theory to understand performance limits and spectral efficiency.
  • Techniques for Fading Mitigation: Diversity techniques, adaptive modulation and coding, and error control strategies for improving link reliability.
  • Advanced Antenna and Spatial Techniques: MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) systems, spatial diversity, and beamforming for enhanced spectral efficiency.
  • Modulation and Multiple Access Methods: Fundamentals of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and spread spectrum techniques forming the basis of modern wireless standards.
  • Multi-User Wireless Systems: Resource allocation, interference management, and the evolution of multiple access techniques from FDMA, TDMA, and CDMA to NOMA (Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access) and RSMA (Rate-Splitting Multiple Access).
  • Emerging Wireless Technologies: Massive MIMO, mmWave communications, space communications, 6G and beyond wireless systems, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), terahertz (THz) communications, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and AI-driven wireless optimisation.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you will:

  • Understand the fundamental principles governing wireless channels and communication systems.
  • Be able to analyse and model wireless channels using statistical and information-theoretic methods.
  • Apply key techniques to mitigate fading and improve communication reliability.
  • Gain knowledge of MIMO, OFDM, and multiple access schemes in modern systems.
  • Recognise the technological evolution towards 6G and emerging paradigms such as RIS, THz, ISAC, and AI-driven wireless optimisation.