CF-DMM is the next big thing in telecom, often doubling or tripling capacity in the next few years. We need a good non-technical introduction even if I have to write it myself.
The most comprehensive source is Foundations of User-Centric Cell-Free Massive MIMO by top researchers Özlem Tuğfe Demir, Emil Björnson, and Luca Sanguinetti. It’s a 316 page book you can download for free https://arxiv.org/pdf/2108.02541.pdf. The introduction does a good job explaining how mobile networks work today and how Cell-Free would change them.
Artemis/pCell has put together this list of over 100 articles.
J. Zheng, J. Zhang, E. Björnson and B. Ai, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Channel Aging and Pilot Contamination,” August 25, 2020, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.20rehensive source08.10827.
Palhares, V.M., de Lamare, R.C., Flores, A.R. and Landau, L.T. (2020), “Iterative AP Selection, MMSE Pre-coding and Power Allocation in Cell-free Massive MIMO Systems,” IET Communications, 14:3996-4006. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-com.2020.0627.
T. Van Chien, E. Björnson and E. G. Larsson, “Joint Power Allocation and LoadBalancing Optimization for Energy-Efficient Cell-Free Massive MIMO Networks,” in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 19, no. 10, pp. 6798-6812, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1109/TWC.2020.3006083.
M. Bashar et al., “Exploiting Deep Learning in Limited-Fronthaul Cell-Free Massive MIMO Uplink,” in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 38, no. 8, pp.1678-1697, Aug. 2020, doi: 10.1109/JSAC.2020.3000812.
M. Bashar, K. Cumanan, A. G. Burr, M. Debbah and H. Q. Ngo, “On the Uplink Max–Min SINR of Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems,” in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 18,no. 4, pp. 2021-2036, April 2019, doi: 10.1109/TWC.2019.2892463.
M. Bashar et al., “Deep Learning-Aided Finite-Capacity Fronthaul Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Zero Forcing,” ICC2020 – 2020 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC),2020, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/ICC40277.2020.9149210.
Z. Wang, J. Zhang, E. Björnson and B. Ai, “Uplink Performance of Cell-Free Massive MIMO Over Spatially Correlated Rician Fading Channels,” in IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 1348-1352, April 2021, doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2020.3041899.
G. Interdonato, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO : Scalability, Signal Processing and Power Control,” PhD dissertation, Linköping University Electronic Press, Linköping, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3384/diss.diva-167218.
M. Bashar et al., “Uplink Spectral and Energy Efficiency of Cell-Free Massive MIMO With Optimal Uniform Quantization,” in IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 223-245, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2020.3028305.
M.Farooq, M. Juntti and L. -N. Tran, “Power Control for Multigroup Multicast Cell-Free Massive MIMO Downlink: Invited Paper,” 2021 29th European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO), January 23, 2021, pp. 930-934, doi: 10.23919/EUSIPCO54536.2021.9615937.
Xia, X., Zhu, P., Li, J. et al. “Joint Optimization of Spectral Efficiency for Cell-free Massive MIMO with Network-assisted Full Duplexing,” Sci. China Inf. Sci. 64, 182311 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11432-020-3139-9.
T. K. Nguyen, H. H. Nguyen and H. D.Tuan, “Max-Min QoS Power Control in Generalized Cell-Free Massive MIMO-NOMA With Optimal Backhaul Combining,” in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 10949-10964, Oct. 2020, doi:10.1109/TVT.2020.3006054.
C. F. Mendoza, S. Schwarz and M. Rupp, “Cluster Formation in Scalable Cell-free Massive MIMO Networks,” 2020 16th International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Computing, Networking and Communications (WiMob), 2020, pp. 62-67, doi:10.1109/WiMob50308.2020.9253391.
Zheng, j., Zhang, J., Bo, A., “UAV Communications with WPT-aided Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems,” in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas of Communications, vol. 20,no. 3, pp. 1756-1769, March 2021, doi: 10.1109/TWC.2020.3036281.
Ö. T. Demir and E. Björnson, “Joint Power Control and LSFD for Wireless-Powered Cell-Free Massive MIMO,” in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, April 23, 2021, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2104.11513.
Özlem Tugfe Demir, Emil Björnson and Luca Sanguinetti (2021), “Foundations of User-Centric Cell-Free Massive MIMO,” Foundations and Trends in Signal Processing: Vol. 14: No.3-4, pp 162-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/2000000109.
G. Interdonato, H. Q. Ngo and E. G. Larsson, “Enhanced Normalized Conjugate Beamforming for Cell-Free Massive MIMO,” in IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 2863-2877, May 2021, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3055522.
L. Du, L. Li, H. Q. Ngo, T. C. Mai and M. Matthaiou, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO: Joint Maximum-Ratio and Zero-Forcing Precoder With Power Control,” in IEEE Transactions onCommunications, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 3741-3756, June 2021, doi:10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3059300.
M. M. Mojahedian, R. Mosayebi and A.Lozano, “Pseudo-Inverse vs Generalized Inverse for C-RAN Downlink Precoding,” GLOBECOM2020 – 2020 IEEE Global Communications Conference, 2020, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/GLOBECOM42002.2020.9348123.
Ding, Jie; Homssi, Bassel Al; Choi, Jinho (2021), “Analytic Modeling for Grant-Free Transmission in Cell-Free Massive MIMO: A Stochastic Geometry Approach”. TechRxiv. Preprint. https://doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.16566201.v1.
Zhou, Meng, Yao Zhang, Xu Qiao, Weiqiang Tan, and Longxiang Yang. 2021. “Analysis and Optimization for Downlink Cell-Free Massive MIMO System with Mixed DACs” Sensors 21, no. 8: 2624. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21082624.
Khanh, Le Ty, et al., “Deep Learning for Uplink Spectral Efficiency in Cell-Free Massive MIMO System”, Journal of Advances in Information Technology Vol. 12, No. 2, May 2021, DOI: 10.12720/jait.
Geraci, Giovanni, et al., “What Will the Future of UAV Cellular Communications Be? A Flight from 5G to 6G”, May 1, 2021, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2105.04842.
Priyabrata Parida and Harpreet S. Dhillon, “Pilot Assignment Schemes for Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems”, May 20,2021, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2105.09505.
M. Y. Abdelsadek, H. Yanikomeroglu andG. K. Kurt, “Future Ultra-Dense LEO Satellite Networks: A Cell-Free Massive MIMO Approach,” 2021 IEEE International Conference onCommunications Workshops (ICC Workshops), 2021, pp. 1-6, doi:10.1109/ICCWorkshops50388.2021.9473753.
Datta, Soumyadeep (2021): “Full-Duplex Cell-Free mMIMO Systems: Analysis and Decentralized Optimization,” June 21, 2021, TechRxiv, Preprint, doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.14805216.v1.
M. Farooq, H. Q. Ngo, E. K. Hong and L. N. Tran, “Utility Maximization for Large-Scale Cell-Free Massive MIMO Downlink,” in IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 69, no. 10, pp. 7050-7062, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3097718.
X. Zhang, T. Liang, K. An, G. Zheng and S. Chatzinotas, “Secure Transmission in Cell-Free Massive MIMO With RF Impairments and Low-Resolution ADCs/DACs,” in IEEE Transactions on VehicularTechnology, vol. 70, no. 9, pp. 8937-8949, Sept. 2021, doi:10.1109/TVT.2021.3098693.
A. K. Papazafeiropoulos, E. Björnson, P. Kourtessis, S. Chatzinotas and J. M. Senior, “Scalable Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems With Hardware Impairments,” 2020 IEEE31st Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications, 2020, pp. 1-7, doi: 10.1109/PIMRC48278.2020.9217151.
Mahmoud Zaher, Özlem Tuğfe Demir, Emil Björnson, Marina Petrova, “Learning-Based Downlink Power Allocation in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems”, September 7, 2021, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2109.03128.
H. Yang, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO in LoS,” 2021 IEEE 32nd Annual International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC), 2021, pp. 672-677, September 13, 2021, doi: 10.1109/PIMRC50174.2021.9569416.
J. Zhang, J. Zhang, E. Björnson and B. Ai, “Local Partial Zero-Forcing Combining for Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems,” in IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 8459-8473, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2021.3110214.
Tongzhou Han, Danfeng Zhao, “Downlink channel estimation in FDD cell-free massive MIMO”, Physical Communication, Volume 52, 2022, 101614, ISSN 1874-4907, doi.org/10.1016/j.phycom.2022.101614.
Obakhena, H.I., Imoize, A.L., Anyasi, F.I. et al. Application of Cell-free Massive MIMO in 5G and Beyond 5G Wireless Networks: a Survey. J. Eng. Appl. Sci. 68, 13 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-021-00014-y
Amadid, Jamal, et al., “On Channel Estimation in Cell-Free Massive MIMO for Spatially Correlated Channels with Correlated Shadowing under Rician Fading”, October 14, 2021, doi:10.1002/dac.5011.
J. Zheng, J. Zhang, E. Björnson and B. Ai, “Impact of Channel Aging on Cell-Free Massive MIMO Over Spatially Correlated Channels,” in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 20, no. 10, pp. 6451-6466, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TWC.2021.3074421.
Zhang, Y., Zhang, J., Jin, Y., Buzzi, S., Ai, B., “Deep Learning-Based Power Control for Uplink Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems”, IEEE Globecom 2021, October 18, 2021, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2110.09001.
Han, Tongzhou, and Danfeng Zhao. 2021. “The Downlink Performance for Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Instantaneous CSI in Slowly Time-Varying Channels,” Entropy 23, no. 11: 1552, https://doi.org/10.3390/e23111552.
L. Miretti, E. Björnson and D. Gesbert, “Team MMSE Precoding with Applications to Cell-free Massive MIMO,” November 2, 2021, in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications,doi: 10.1109/TWC.2022.3147895.
J. Zhang, J. Zhang, D. W. K. Ng, S. Jin and B. Ai, “Improving Sum-Rate of Cell-Free Massive MIMO With Expanded Compute-and-Forward,” in IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 70, pp. 202-215, 2022, November 19, 2021, doi: 10.1109/TSP.2021.3129337.
Amadid, J., Boulouird, M., Belhabib, A. et al. “On Channel Estimation for Rician Fading with the Phase-Shift in Cell-Free Massive MIMO System,” November 21, 2021, Wireless Pers Commun (2021), doi.org/10.1007/s11277-021-09436-6.
He, Hangtao, et al., “Cell-Free Massive MIMO Detection – A Distributed Expectation Propagation Approach”, November 28, 2021, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2111.14022.
Shuaifei Chen, Jiayi Zhang, Jing Zhang, Emil Björnson, Bo Ai, “A Survey on User-centric Cell-free Massive MIMO Systems”, Digital Communications and Networks, December 30, 2021, ISSN 2352-8648, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcan.2021.12.005.
Guangyao Peng et al, “Application of Deep Learning in Wireless Networks for Channel Estimation: A Survey”, 2022 J.Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2203, doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2203/1/012044.
He, Hangtao, et al., “Cell-Free Massive MIMO for 6G Wireless Communication Networks”, December 1, 2021, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2100.07309.
H. Yu, X. Yi and G. Caire, “Topological Pilot Assignment in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Networks,” 2021 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2021, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/GLOBECOM46510.2021.9685876.
Ammar, Hussein A., et al.,”User-centric Cell-free Massive MIMO Networks – A Survey of Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions”, December 10, 2021, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2104.14589.
Gholami, Roya, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO Receiver Design and Channel Estimation”, December 17, 2021, Eurecom, eurecom.fr/index.php/en/publication/6644.
Omid Abbasi and Halim Yanikomeroglu, “UxNB-Enabled Cell-Free Massive MIMO with HAPS-Assisted Sub-THz Backhauling”, January 19, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.07379.
Mai, Trang C., et al., “Energy Efficiency Maximization in Large-Scale Cell-Free Massive MIMO – A Projected Gradient Approach”, January 20, 2022, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2201.08136.
Zheng, J., Zhang, J., Ai, B., “Team-Optimal MMSE Combining for Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems,” IEEE ICC 2022, January 24, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.09618.
Shi, E., Zhang, J., Chen, S., Zheng, J., Zhang, Y., Ng, D. W. K., Ai, B., “Uplink Performance of High-Mobility Cell-Free Massive MIMO-OFDM Systems,” IEEE ICC 2022, January 24, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.09622.
Zheng, J., Zhang, J., Shi, E., Jiang, J., Ai, B., “Wireless Energy Transfer in RIS-Aided Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems: Opportunities and Challenges,” IEEE ComMag, January 27, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.11302.
Wang, Z., Zhang, J., Ngo, H. Q., Ai, B., Debbah, M., “Iteratively Weighted MMSE Uplink Precoding for Cell-Free Massive MIMO,” IEEE ICC 2022, January 27, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.11299.
Yunlu Xiao, Petri Mähönen, Ljiljana Simić, “Mobility Performance Analysis of Scalable Cell-Free Massive MIMO”, February 3, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.01488.
Han, Tongzhou, and Danfeng Zhao. 2022. “Energy Efficiency of User-Centric, Cell-Free Massive MIMO-OFDM with Instantaneous CSI,” Entropy 24, no. 2: 234, doi.org/10.3390/e24020234.
Giovanni Interdonato, S. Buzzi, “The Promising Marriage of Mobile Edge Computing and Cell-Free Massive MIMO,” February 15, 2022, Paper accepted for presentation in IEEE ICC 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.07775.
Özlem Tuğfe Demir and Meysam Masoudi and Emil Björnson and Cicek Cavdar, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO in Virtualized CRAN: How to Minimize the Total Network Power?” February 18, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.09254.
Priyabrata Parida and Harpreet S. Dhillon, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Finite Fronthaul Capacity: A Stochastic Geometry Perspective,” February 21, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.10542.
Zheng, J., Zhang, J., Björnson, E., Li, Z., Ai, B., “Cell-Free Massive MIMO-OFDM for High-Speed Train Communications,” IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, March 5, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2205.02733.
Z. H. Shaik, “Cell-Free Massive MIMO: Distributed Signal Processing and Energy Efficiency”, March 11, 2022, Licentiate dissertation, Linköping University Electronic Press, Linköping, 2022, doi.org/10.3384/9789179292232.
Xiong, Youzhi; Sun, Sanshan; Liu, Li; Zhang, Zhongpei; Wei, Ning (2022): Performance Analysis and Bit Allocation of Cell-Free Massive MIMO Network With Variable-Resolution ADCs. TechRxiv, April 21, 2022. Preprint. doi.org/10.36227/techrxiv.19604398.v1
Y. Zhang, H. Zhao, W. Xia, J. Zhang, L. Yang and H. Zhu, “Wireless-Powered Cell-Free Massive MIMO with Superimposed Pilot Transmission,” in IEEE Communications Letters, April 21, 2022, doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2022.3169282.
Chen, S., Zhang, J., Björnson, E., Demir, O. T., Ai, B., “Sparse Large-Scale Fading Decoding in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems,” IEEE SPAWC 2022, May 5, 2022, doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2205.02733