mmWave Cellular Networks

The millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum is a strong candidate carrier frequency for access channels in 5G cellular networks. Unfortunately, measurements show the human body heavily attenuates mmWave signals, e.g. by a factor of 20-40 dB. Consequently, users’ bodies may attenuate the direct signal, cause signal outage, and further change the base station associations. The effect of self-body blocking was not incorporated in prior performance analysis of mmWave cellular networks.