Massive MIMO Performance-TDD Versus FDD: What Do Measurements Say?

Downlink beamforming in Massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) either relies on uplink pilot measurements-exploiting reciprocity and time-division duplexing operation, or on the use of a predetermined grid of beams with user equipments reporting their preferred beams, mostly in frequency-division duplexing operation. Massive MIMO in its originally conceived form uses the first strategy, with uplink pilots, whereas there is currently significant commercial interest in the second, grid-of-beams. It has been analytically shown that with isotropic scattering (independent Rayleigh fading) the first approach outperforms the second. Nevertheless, there remains controversy regarding their relative performance in practical channels. In this contribution, the performances of these two strategies are compared using measured channel data at 2.6 GHz.