arXiv · 2601.14244
Robust Localization in OFDM-Based Massive MIMO through Phase Offset Calibration
Abstract
Accurate localization in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-based massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems depends critically on phase coherence across subcarriers and antennas. However, practical systems suffer from frequency-dependent and (spatial) antenna-dependent phase offsets, degrading localization accuracy. This paper analytically studies the impact of phase incoherence on localization performance under a static User Equipment (UE) and Line-of-Sight (LoS) scenario. We use two complementary tools. First, we derive the Cram\'er-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) to quantify the theoretical limits under phase offsets. Then, we develop a Spatial Ambiguity Function (SAF)-based model to characterize ambiguity patterns. Simulation results reveal that spatial phase offsets severely degrade localization performance, while frequency phase offsets have a minor effect in the considered system configuration. To address this, we propose a robust Channel State Information (CSI) calibration framework and validate it using real-world measurements from a practical massive MIMO testbed. The experimental results confirm that the proposed calibration framework significantly improves the localization Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) from 5 m to 1.2 cm, aligning well with the theoretical predictions.
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Qing Zhang, Adham Sakhnini, Robbert Beerten, Haoqiu Xiong, Zhuangzhuang Cui, Yang Miao, Sofie Pollin. 2026-01-20. Robust Localization in OFDM-Based Massive MIMO through Phase Offset Calibration. https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.14244
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