arXiv subjects

Alejandro Ramírez-Arroyo

Publications and source records attributed to Alejandro Ramírez-Arroyo.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On the LEO Satellite Constellation Design for North Atlantic Coverage

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are emerging as a key component of non-terrestrial networks due to their low-latency and high-capacity communication capabilities. However, satellites in these orbits are characterized by a small coverage footprint and high orbital velocity compared to those in higher orbits. This results in constantly changing and dynamic constellations that require smart design of orbital parameters to ensure continuous coverage. Existing constellation deployments are typically optimized either for low- and mid-latitude regions or for full polar coverage, leaving high-latitude regional scenarios such as the North Atlantic insufficiently explored. This work provides insights into the key characteristics associated with the deployment of satellites in LEO for North Atlantic coverage. Therefore, we investigate through a parametric study the individual influence on how constellation inclination, minimum elevation angle, altitude, and satellite footprint affect visibility probability, revisit time, path loss, and coverage continuity. Results show that the minimum elevation angle is a critical design parameter since a Walker Delta constellation with 64 satellites at 1000 km altitude can provide continuous visibility above 55$^\circ$N for elevations below 20$^\circ$, whereas visibility probability degrades drastically for larger elevation angles. Similarly, inclinations above approximately 70$^\circ$ are required to achieve robust North Atlantic coverage with medium-size constellations. Thus, these results provide practical guidelines on how a satellite constellation should be designed to achieve an efficient deployment with a focus on visibility coverage over the North Atlantic, targeting maritime, aviation, and Arctic connectivity scenarios.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2026

Towards Reliable Connectivity: Measurement-Driven Assessment of Starlink and OneWeb Non-Terrestrial and 5G Terrestrial Networks

The emergence of commercial satellite communications networks, such as Starlink and OneWeb, has significantly transformed the communications landscape over the last years. As a complement to terrestrial cellular networks, non-terrestrial systems enable coverage extension and reliability enhancement beyond the limits of conventional infrastructure. Currently, the high reliance on terrestrial networks exposes communications to vulnerabilities in the event of terrestrial infrastructure failures, e.g., due to natural disasters. Therefore, this work proposes the joint evaluation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for two non-terrestrial satellite networks (Starlink and OneWeb) and two terrestrial cellular networks to assess the current performance of these technologies across three different environments: (i) urban, (ii) suburban, and (iii) forest scenarios. Additionally, multi-connectivity techniques are explored to determine the benefits in connectivity when two technologies are used simultaneously. For instance, the outage probability of Starlink and OneWeb in urban areas is reduced from approximately 12-21% to 2% when both solutions are employed together. Finally, the joint analysis of KPIs in both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks demonstrates that their integration enhances coverage, improves performance, and increases reliability, highlighting the benefits of combining satellite and terrestrial systems in the analyzed environments.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2026

Experimental Assessment of Human Blockage at sub-THz and mmWave Frequency Bands

The fifth generation (5G) of mobile communications relies on extremely high data transmission rates utilizing a wide range of frequency bands, including FR1 (sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (mmWave). Future mobile communications systems are envisaged to operate at the electromagnetic spectrum beyond FR2, above 100 GHz, known as sub-THz band. These new frequencies open up challenging scenarios where communications will have to rely on a major contribution such as the line-of-sight (LoS) component. To the best of the authors' knowledge, for the first time in the literature this work studies the human blockage effects over an extremely wide frequency band from 75 GHz to 215 GHz considering: (i) the distance between the blocker and the antennas and (ii) the body size and orientation. The obtained results are fitted to modifications of the classical path loss models and compared to 3GPP alternatives. The average attenuation increases from 42 dB to 56 dB when frequency rises from 75 GHz to 215 GHz. On the other hand, an 18 dB increment in the received power is observed when the Tx--Rx separation is increased from 1 m to 2.5 m. Finally, variations of up to 4.6 dB are found depending on the blocker's orientation.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2026

Enabling FR2-5G Communication with Dielectric OAM Transmitarrays

This paper investigates the potential of near-field (NF) indoor communications in the FR2 frequency bands using fully dielectric structures to generate orbital angular momentum (OAM) waves. All-dielectric platforms based on distributions of T-shaped unit cells are employed for this purpose. The unit cell design is based on a circuital approach and analytical formulations, where phase shifts necessary for OAM generation are achieved by varying the dielectric-to-air ratio within the structure. Based on this unit cell, a set of transmitarrays (TAs) are designed to produce specific OAM modes. These TAs are fabricated in-house using stereolithographic 3D printing and experimentally tested. The tests evaluate two key features of OAM beams: the orthogonality of distinct vortex modes, as characterized by their electric field distributions, and their object-avoidance capability, enabled by the central null characteristic of the wavefront. In addition, a field-test within an indoor environment is conducted emulating a real wireless system. A bit error rate lower than 10\textsuperscript{$-$6} is observed for solidary modes in Tx and Rx, whereas orthogonal modes produces an increment in 4 order of magnitude. The obtained results reveals that the prototype is suitable for short-range scenarios, enabling techniques such as OAM-multiplexation or physical-layer security thanks to the effective orthogonality beteween modes.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2026

Enabling 6G Wireless Communications: UWB Characterization of Corridors within the H-Band

Future sixth-generation of wireless system is expected to provide data-rates in the order of 1 Tbps and latencies below 1 ms. Among others, one of the most promising strategies to meet these requirements is to operate at higher frequencies than millimeter wave bands: the THz bands. Nevertheless, because of the higher losses and the detriment of classical propagation mechanisms, deploying systems operating at these frequencies becomes a real challenge. Consequently, short-range scenarios are of special interest since these effects of THz bands can be managed. This work conducts an extensive campaign within corridors at frequencies within the H-band in the range from 250 GHz to 330 GHz. For the first time in literature, an ultra wideband of 80 GHz is studied simultaneously. Large scale effects are assessed by estimating and modeling path gain. The path gain exponent varies between -2.1 and -1.6, which is explained by a guiding effect also observed at millimeter wave bands. Small scale effects are also evaluated in terms of parameters such as rice $K$-factor, root mean squared delay spread and coherence bandwidth. Additionally, an analytical approximation based on the classical N-rays model is proposed obtaining an accurate representation of the wireless channel which is coherent with the empirical analysis. The full analysis reveals the suitability of these THz bands for deploying point-to-point links due to the predominance of the line-of-sight contribution respect to the reflected components.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2025

Multi-Connectivity Solutions for Rural Areas: Integrating Terrestrial 5G and Satellite Networks to Support Innovative IoT Use Cases

5G cellular networks are now a reality and promise to improve key performance indicators (KPIs), such as Gbps data rates and latencies in the order of milliseconds. While some of these KPIs are achievable in urban scenarios, rural areas often face challenging connectivity conditions due to the lack of terrestrial network (TN) infrastructure. To solve this problem, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) such as satellite-based solutions, have been introduced to provide coverage in remote regions. Therefore, a multi-connectivity approach can be integrated to simultaneously serve an end-user by merging satellite and cellular links in a joint approach. This study explores, using experimental data, the benefits of both TN-TN and TN-NTN multi-connectivity in rural environments. The results obtained demonstrate that a traditional single-connectivity approach may not be sufficient to provide service to rural environments due to the KPIs requirements given several use cases within these rural areas. The multi-connectivity strategy, which jointly integrates 5G and satellite networks, meets the network availability requirements for latency, downlink throughput, and uplink throughput KPIs at least 98%, 99%, and 95% of the time, respectively, for several use cases, such as precision agriculture, livestock monitoring, and forest management. These include applications like microclimate monitoring, remote operational support, early pest detection, and real-time tracking of livestock transport.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Empirical Validation of a Class of Ray-Based Fading Models

As new wireless standards are developed, the use of higher operation frequencies comes in hand with new use cases and propagation effects that differ from the well-established state of the art. Numerous stochastic fading models have recently emerged under the umbrella of generalized fading conditions to provide a fine-grain characterization of propagation channels in the mmWave and sub-THz bands. For the first time in literature, this work carries out an experimental validation of a class of such ray-based models in a wide range of propagation conditions (anechoic, reverberation and indoor scenarios) at mmWave bands. These models allow to characterize the communication channel with a reduced number of physically interpretable parameters. In specific, we show that the independent fluctuating two-ray (IFTR) model has good capabilities to recreate rather dissimilar environments with high accuracy and only four parameters. We also put forth that the key limitations of the IFTR model arise in the presence of reduced diffuse propagation, and also due to a limited phase variability for the dominant specular components.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Observations on Large-Scale Attenuation Effects in a 26 GHz Urban Micro-Cell Environment

This letter presents a measurement campaign carried out in an FR2 urban outdoor environment in a live experimental network deployment. The radio propagation analysis from a physical perspective at 26 GHz is essential for the correct deployment and dimensioning of future communication networks. This study performs a walk test emulating realistic conditions under which a pedestrian may be affected, summarizing and evaluating some of the typical effects encountered in a communications scenario such as penetration losses in a building, losses due to vegetation or the human body, or diffraction/scattering propagation around corners in street canyon-like environments. The operational conditions of the 5G network, the urban micro-cell scenario, and the use of omnidirectional antennas on the UE side validate the channel conditions from a perspective closer to a realistic scenario for a pedestrian within a FR2 live network.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

FR2 5G Networks for Industrial Scenarios: Experimental Characterization and Beam Management Procedures in Operational Conditions

Industrial environments constitute a challenge in terms of radio propagation due to the presence of machinery and the mobility of the different agents, especially at mmWave bands. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of a FR2 5G network deployed in an operational factory scenario at 26 GHz. The experimental characterization, performed with autonomous mobile robots that self-navigate the industrial lab, leads to the analysis of the received power along the factory and the evaluation of reference path gain models. The proposed assessment deeply analyzes the physical layer of the communication network under operational conditions. Thus, two different network configurations are assessed by measuring the power received in the entire factory, providing a comparison between deployments. Additionally, beam management procedures, such as beam recovery, beam sweeping or beam switching, are analyzed since they are crucial in environments where mobile agents are involved. They aim for a zero interruption approach based on reliable communications. The results analysis shows that beam recovery procedures can perform a beam switching to an alternative serving beam with power losses of less than 1.6 dB on average. Beam sweeping analysis demonstrates the prevalence of the direct component in Line-of-Sight conditions despite the strong scattering component and large-scale fading in the environment.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Joint Ultra-wideband Characterization of Azimuth, Elevation and Time of Arrival with Toric Arrays

In this paper, we present an analytical framework for the joint characterization of the 3D direction of arrival (DoA), i.e., azimuth and elevation components, and time of arrival (ToA) in multipath environments. The analytical framework is based on the use of nearly frequency-invariant beamformers (FIB) formed by toric arrays. The frequency response of the toric array is expanded as a series of phase modes, which leads to azimuth-time and elevation-time diagrams from which the 3D DoA and the ToA of the incoming waves can be extracted over a wide bandwidth. Firstly, we discuss some practical considerations, advantages and limitations of using the analytical method. Subsequently, we perform a parametric study to analyze the influence of the method parameters on the quality of the estimation. The method is tested in single-path and multipath mm-wave environments over a large bandwidth. The results show that the proposed method improves the quality of the estimation, i.e., decreases the level of the artifacts, compared to other state-of-art FIB approaches based on the use of single/concentric circular and elliptical arrays.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2023

Joint Direction-of-Arrival and Time-of-Arrival Estimation with Ultra-wideband Elliptical Arrays

This paper presents a general technique for the joint Direction-of-Arrival (DoA) and Time-of-Arrival (ToA) estimation in multipath environments. The proposed ultra-wideband technique is based on phase-mode expansions and the use of nearly frequency-invariant elliptical arrays. New possibilities open with the present approach, as not only elliptical, but also circular and linear (highly flattened) arrays can be considered with the same implementation. Systematic selection/rejection of signals-of-interest/signals-not-of-interest in smart wireless environments is possible, unlike with previous approaches based on circular arrays. Concentric elliptical arrays of many sizes and eccentricities can be jointly considered, with the subsequent improvement that entails in DoA and ToA detection. This leads to the realization of pseudo-random array patterns; namely, quasi-arbitrary geometries created from the superposition of multiple elliptical arrays. Some simulation and experimental tests (measurements in an anechoic chamber) are carried out for several frequency bands to check the correct performance of the method. The method is proven to give accurate estimations in all tested scenarios, and to be robust against noise and position uncertainty in sensor placement.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2022

Artificial Intelligence and Dimensionality Reduction: Tools for approaching future communications

This article presents a novel application of the t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) clustering algorithm to the telecommunication field. t-SNE is a dimensionality reduction (DR) algorithm that allows the visualization of large dataset into a 2D plot. We present the applicability of this algorithm in a communication channel dataset formed by several scenarios (anechoic, reverberation, indoor and outdoor), and by using six channel features. Applying this artificial intelligence (AI) technique, we are able to separate different environments into several clusters allowing a clear visualization of the scenarios. Throughout the article, it is proved that t-SNE has the ability to cluster into several subclasses, obtaining internal classifications within the scenarios themselves. t-SNE comparison with different dimensionality reduction techniques (PCA, Isomap) is also provided throughout the paper. Furthermore, post-processing techniques are used to modify communication scenarios, recreating a real communication scenario from measurements acquired in an anechoic chamber. The dimensionality reduction and classification by using t-SNE and Variational AutoEncoders (VAE) show good performance distinguishing between the recreation and the real communication scenario. The combination of these two techniques opens up the possibility for new scenario recreations for future mobile communications. This work shows the potential of AI as a powerful tool for clustering, classification and generation of new 5G propagation scenarios.

eess.SP↗