Volker
Jungnickel (Fraunhofer HHI), Chair
Charlie Petterson (Ericsson) and Yanchun Li (ZTE), Vice-chairs
Volker
Jungnickel (Fraunhofer HHI), Editor
Tuncer Baykas, Recording Secretary
The Unified Channel Model (UCM) is a newly established Topic Interest Group (TIG) within the IEEE 802.11 Working Group. Its objective is to enable realistic simulation of next-generation WLAN stations (STAs) operating in millimeter-wave or optical wireless communication bands alongside simultaneous transmissions in traditional sub-7 GHz bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz). The key challenge is the development of channel models that are spatially consistent across all these frequency bands, meaning they are derived from a common three-dimensional environment with identical objects placed at the same locations.
Relevant documents presented in 802.11 WNG and in the working group that led to the creation of the UCM TIG:
https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-1067-02-0wng-unified-channel-model-for-802-11.pptx
https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-1387-00-0000-proposed-tig-on-unified-channel-model.pptx
The charter of the IEEE 802.11 Unified Channel Model Topic Interest Group (UCM TIG) is to
• discuss use cases and requirements,
• develop a Unified Channel Model (UCM) and
• enable performance comparison of proposals for multilink operation (MLO) across sub‑7 GHz / mm-wave / optical bands.
The goals of the UCM TIG are to
• deliver a channel model that is spatially consistent across sub-7 GHz / mm-wave / optical bands,
• builds on already available and verified models,
• can be implemented using open software, and
•
is well documented.
The final report will give advice to the IEEE 802.11 working group how far these goals are achievable already today and in what way they could be achieved ultimately.
Main documents
·
May Agenda: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/26/11-26-1020-03-0ucm-agenda-for-ucm-tig-may-2026.pptx
·
May Presentations
o Channel-modelling contributions for the UCM TIG report: 3GPP background, open-source IEEE reference implementation, IEEE/3GPP comparison, and ray-tracing parameterization, Stephan Jaeckel, 11-26/0937r0
o COTS Channel Measurement Tools for Spatial Consistency Validation in WLAN bands: Follow up, Yanchun Li, 11-26/1018r0
o Comparison of IEEE TGN and 3GPP TR38.901 Channel Models, Rainer Strobel, 11-26/0904r0
o Are 3GPP Channel Models useful for IEEE802.11/15?, Robert Mueller, 11-26/1044r0
o Propagation and related KPIs considerations for power efficient network deployment, Isabelle Siaud, 11-26/1071r1
Achievements
·
UCM TIG is starting to collect text for
report
o Various internal and external contributions are available on Mentor (next page)
o Sent out email reminders to all contributors to provide text now and updated the status of external contacts
·
Two text contributions for UCM TIG
report have been approved
o Channel-modelling contributions for the UCM TIG report: 3GPP background, open-source IEEE reference implementation, IEEE/3GPP comparison, and ray-tracing parameterization, Stephan Jaeckel, 11-26/0937r0
o COTS Channel Measurement Tools for Spatial Consistency Validation in WLAN bands: Follow up, Yanchun Li, 11-26/1018r1
· Where UCM TIG text comes from
o Introduction
- Scope of UCM TIG 11-25/1628r0, 11-26/1018r0
o State of the art
-
Modelling:
existing 802.11 models 11-25/1628r0,
3GPP model 11-25/1627r0 (text
available), 11-26/0135r0 (text available), 11-26/0153r0, 11-25/2142r1
-
Measurements:
Selected measurement results in literature 11-25/2117r2, 11-25/2113r0, 11-26/0344r0, 11-25/1588r1
o Proposed modelling approaches (11-26/0937r0 (text available))
-
Reimplement
IEEE models using 3GPP model 11-25/2138 (text available) 11-26/0211r0 (text available)
-
Raytracing
model 11-25/2320r0,
combined Raytracing+3GPP 11-26/0617r0
(text available),
mm-wave 11-26/1044r0,
optical 11-25/1588r1
models
-
What
open-source tools are available (IEEE, 3GPP, Ray tracing, Uni Belfast to
provide RT overview after the May meeting)
o Selected evaluation results
-
How
to use these models in WLANs (multi-AP) 11-25/1475r0 (text available), 11-25/2109r0, 11-26/0904r0 , combined optical and RF modelling results
-
Channel
measurements based on COTS WLAN equipment 11-26/0623r1,
11-26/1018r0
(text available)
o Recommendations to the Working Group
-
List
of possible options, compare pros and cons, Future work needed, required
resources (time, equipment etc.)
-
Relation
to other ongoing activities (e.g. ETSI THz group)
July 2026 plans
·
Plans before July
o Collect further text contributions
o Review and approve them during teleconferences
·
3 Teleconferences
o Wed June 3, 17 and July 1, 2026 always 10:00-11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
o Create first version of UCM TIG report until the July meeting
·
Plans for July
o 3 slots requested
o Short overview in TGbq on Monday to motivate feedback from IMMW group
o Create initial UCM TIG report ready for comment collection out of July
Main documents
·
March Agenda: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/26/11-26-0501-03-0ucm-ucm-tig-agenda-for-march-plenary.pptx
·
March Presentations
o Stephan Jaeckel: Extracting 3GPP TR 38.901 Channel Parameters from Ray-Tracing Simulations, 11-26/0617r0
o Yanchun Li: COTS Channel Measurement Tools for Spatial Consistency Validation in WLAN bands, 11-26/0623r0
o Discussion
- Contacts to Andreas Molisch (Chair of IEEE P1944) and Simon Cotton
- Further exchange of information
- Thomas Zemen, AIT Vienna: Site-specific modeling
- Simon Cotton, Uni Belfast: Overview of ray tracing tools, commercial vs. open-source
·
Timeline
·
Telcos
o Wednesday March 25, 2026 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
o Wednesday April 15, 2026 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
Achievements
The group discussed what
contributions to be included in the UCM TIG report:
· Introduction
- Scope of UCM TIG
·
State of the art
- Modelling: existing 802.11 models 11-25/1628r0, 3GPP model 11-25/1627r0, 11-26/0135r0, 11-26/0153r0, 11-25/2142r1
- Measurements: Selected measurement results in literature 11-25/2117r2, 11-25/2113r0, 11-26/0344r0, 11-25/1588r1
·
Proposed modelling approaches
- Reimplemented 802.11 models using 3GPP modelling approach 11-25/2138 11-26/0211r0
- Raytracing 11-25/2320r0, Combined Raytracing+3GPP model 11-26/0617r0 , Optical model 11-25/1588r1
- Available tools (IEEE, 3GPP, Ray tracing, optical): Commercial vs. open source (TBD)
·
Selected performance evaluation results
- How to use these models for WLANs (e.g. for multi-AP) 11-25/1475r0, 11-25/2109r0, combined optical and RF modelling results (TBD)
- Channel measurements based on COTS WLAN equipment 11-26/0623r1
· Recommendations to the 802.11 Working Group
- List of possible options, compare pros and cons, future work needed, required resources (time, equipment etc.)
- Overview of other ongoing activities (e.g. ETSI THz group, 3GPP, IEEE P1944)
May 2026 plans
·
Call for UCM TIG Contributors to
provide proposed draft text for May
Main documents
·
January Agenda: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/26/11-26-0172-05-0ucm-agenda-for-ucm-tig-january-2026.pptx
·
January Presentations
o Overview of 3GPP TR 38.901, Charlie Petterson 11-26/0135r0
o Comparison of IEEE and 3GPP indoor channel models, Stephan Jaeckel 11-26/0211r0
o Thoughts on Unified Channel Model, Gary Anwyl 11-26/0153r0
o UCM TIG Draft Report, Stephan Jaeckel 11-26/0223r0
Achievements
·
Process for creating the TIG report was
proposed and agreed upon
·
For the second time, Motion to approve
initial UCM TIG report failed (72%)
o There were still concerns about the proposed Table of Content
- Document was uploaded well in advance, concrete arguments what to change have not been provided
- This stands in contrast to constructive technical contributions and discussions during both slots
o Running out of time
- Motion on initial model could not be made, Editor could not be appointed, Timeline could not be updated
·
Obviously, more time is needed
o request the WG Chair to extend the duration of the UCM TIG until July 2026
o request all group members to provide text contributions, collaborate effectively to build consensus
·
One Telco scheduled: Wednesday Feb. 11,
2026, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
o Agenda:
- start with a blank sheet of paper, ask for permission to do Motions and create the initial UCM TIG report
- review individual text contributions, move consented contributions individually into the report
- ToC generates automatically, depending on incoming contributions
- announce further telcos if more time is needed to review contributions
March 2026 plans
Main documents
·
November Agenda: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-1753-04-0ucm-ucm-tig-agenda-for-november-plenary.pptx
·
November
Presentations:
o Towards a modern C++ framework for the IEEE indoor channel models, Stephan Jaeckel, 11-25/2118r0
o MIMO Transmissions in Correlated Channel Model, Yanchun Li 11-25/2109r0
o Multi-Frequency and Multi-Scenario Channel Measurement and Modeling Jianhua Zhang 11-25/2113r0
o Overview of Indoor Multi-Band Broadband Measurements: From Microwave to Millimeter-Wave Frequencies, Robert Mueller, 11-25/2117r2
o Discussion on the Unified Channel Model, Charlie Petterson, 11-25/2142r1
o Proposed UCM TIG Technical Report Draft, 11-25/2169r1
· November minutes: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-2138-01-0ucm-ucm-tig-november-2025-meeting-minutes.docx
· Closing report: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-2185-00-0ucm-ucm-tig-closing-report-for-november.pptx
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were:
·
A
proposal to re-implement the existing 802.11 channel models as an open
software, which should becomes available via https://github.com/stjaeckel/quadriga-lib
as part of the open quadriga-lib (see http://quadriga-lib.org/index.html)
·
A
first overview of available multi-band measurement results was given and
discussed 11-25/2117r2. The group understood it is impossible
to do any new measurement in the timeframe of the UCM TIG. Leverage existing
results, as much as available.
·
First
contributions on measurements from international experts (Prof. Jianhua Zhang’s
group from Bejing University of Posts and
Telecommunications) was given 11-25/2113r0. Discussion was limited due to bad
Internet connection.
·
A
proposal to reuse the existing modeling framework from 3GPP was made 11-25/2142r1 and to add the missing indorr scenarios which are typical for 802.11 technology.
Reactions were positive in general. More information has been requested.
January 2026 plans
Main documents
·
September Agenda: https://mentor.ieee.org/802.11/dcn/25/11-25-1601-03-0ucm-agenda-for-ucm-tig-september-2025.pptx
·
September
Contributions:
Achievements
The main achievements of this meeting were:
·
The UCM TIG approved the Chair (Volker
Jungnickel), the Vice Chair (Charlie Petterson) and the Secretary (Tuncer
Baykas).
·
The
group reviewed feedback obtained from 802.11 members contained on slides 20-24
in doc. 11-25/1601r3
concerning the scope and goals of the UCM TIG.
·
The
group approved a first timeline on slide 27 in doc. 11-25/1601r3.
·
A
first contribution 11-25/1627r0
on a spatially consistent channel model applicable to multiple frequency bands
could be presented. Discussion was postponed to the first telco.
·
It
was agreed to handle further contributions during the teleconferences.
November 2025 plans
Following a presentation in
doc. 11-25/1067r2
and discussion during the WNG meeting in July 2025, and a short notice
contained in doc. 11-25/1387r0
at the midweek plenary, the IEEE 802.11 working group approved the formation of
the UCM TIG during its closing plenary by unanimous consent.
USEFUL LINKS TO OTHER SITES:
IEEE P802.11 WLANs RELATED
OTHER SITES
This page is maintained by volker.jungnickel@hhi.fraunhofer.de. Comments are welcome.