1.
Mohammadi, Mohammadali; Mobini, Zahra; Ngo, Hien Quoc; Matthaiou, Michail
Ten Years of Research Advances in Full-Duplex Massive MIMO Journal Article
In: IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 1756–1786, 2025, ISSN: 1558-0857.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), energy efficiency (EE), Full-duplex system, in-band full-duplex (IBFD), Interference cancellation, Massive MIMO, network-assisted IBFD CF-mMIMO (NAFD CF-mMIMO), self-interference (SI), spectral efficiency (SE), Surveys, Transceivers, Wireless networks, Wireless sensor networks
@article{mohammadi_ten_2025,
title = {Ten Years of Research Advances in Full-Duplex Massive MIMO},
author = {Mohammadali Mohammadi and Zahra Mobini and Hien Quoc Ngo and Michail Matthaiou},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10684260},
doi = {10.1109/TCOMM.2024.3464414},
issn = {1558-0857},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-03-01},
urldate = {2025-10-08},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Communications},
volume = {73},
number = {3},
pages = {1756–1786},
abstract = {We present an overview of ongoing research endeavors focused on in-band full-duplex (IBFD) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and their applications. In response to the unprecedented demands for mobile traffic in concurrent and upcoming wireless networks, a paradigm shift from conventional cellular networks to distributed communication systems becomes imperative. Cell-free massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO) emerges as a practical and scalable implementation of distributed/network MIMO systems, serving as a crucial physical layer technology for the advancement of next-generation wireless networks. This architecture inherits benefits from co-located massive MIMO and distributed systems and provides the flexibility for integration with the IBFD technology. We delineate the evolutionary trajectory of cellular networks, transitioning from conventional half-duplex multi-user MIMO networks to IBFD CF-mMIMO. The discussion extends further to the emerging paradigm of network-assisted IBFD CF-mMIMO (NAFD CF-mMIMO), serving as an energy-efficient prototype for asymmetric uplink and downlink communication services. This novel approach finds applications in dual-functionality scenarios, including simultaneous wireless power and information transmission, wireless surveillance, and integrated sensing and communications. We highlight various current use case applications, discuss open challenges, and outline future research directions aimed at fully realizing the potential of NAFD CF-mMIMO systems to meet the evolving demands of future wireless networks.},
keywords = {Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), energy efficiency (EE), Full-duplex system, in-band full-duplex (IBFD), Interference cancellation, Massive MIMO, network-assisted IBFD CF-mMIMO (NAFD CF-mMIMO), self-interference (SI), spectral efficiency (SE), Surveys, Transceivers, Wireless networks, Wireless sensor networks},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We present an overview of ongoing research endeavors focused on in-band full-duplex (IBFD) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and their applications. In response to the unprecedented demands for mobile traffic in concurrent and upcoming wireless networks, a paradigm shift from conventional cellular networks to distributed communication systems becomes imperative. Cell-free massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO) emerges as a practical and scalable implementation of distributed/network MIMO systems, serving as a crucial physical layer technology for the advancement of next-generation wireless networks. This architecture inherits benefits from co-located massive MIMO and distributed systems and provides the flexibility for integration with the IBFD technology. We delineate the evolutionary trajectory of cellular networks, transitioning from conventional half-duplex multi-user MIMO networks to IBFD CF-mMIMO. The discussion extends further to the emerging paradigm of network-assisted IBFD CF-mMIMO (NAFD CF-mMIMO), serving as an energy-efficient prototype for asymmetric uplink and downlink communication services. This novel approach finds applications in dual-functionality scenarios, including simultaneous wireless power and information transmission, wireless surveillance, and integrated sensing and communications. We highlight various current use case applications, discuss open challenges, and outline future research directions aimed at fully realizing the potential of NAFD CF-mMIMO systems to meet the evolving demands of future wireless networks.
2.
Chien, Trinh Van; Viet, Nguyen Hoang; Chatzinotas, Symeon; Hanzo, Lajos
Improved Differential Evolution for Enhancing the Aggregated Channel Estimation of RIS-Aided Cell-Free Massive MIMO Journal Article
In: IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, pp. 1–6, 2025, ISSN: 1939-9359.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell-free massive MIMO, Channel estimation, Closed-form solutions, Contamination, Correlation, differential evolution, Massive MIMO, Optimization, Rayleigh channels, reconfigurable intelligent surface, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, Training, Vectors
@article{chien_improved_2025,
title = {Improved Differential Evolution for Enhancing the Aggregated Channel Estimation of RIS-Aided Cell-Free Massive MIMO},
author = {Trinh Van Chien and Nguyen Hoang Viet and Symeon Chatzinotas and Lajos Hanzo},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11080325},
doi = {10.1109/TVT.2025.3589240},
issn = {1939-9359},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-10-08},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology},
pages = {1–6},
abstract = {Cell-Free Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are investigated with the support of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS phase shifts are designed for improved channel estimation in the presence of spatial correlation. Specifically, we formulate the channel estimate and estimation error expressions using linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimation for the aggregated channels. An optimization problem is then formulated to minimize the average normalized mean square error (NMSE) subject to practical phase shift constraints. To circumvent the problem of inherent nonconvexity, we then conceive an enhanced version of the differential evolution algorithm that is capable of avoiding local minima by introducing an augmentation operator applied to some high-performing Diffential Evolution (DE) individuals. Numerical results indicate that our proposed algorithm can significantly improve the channel estimation quality of the state-of-the-art benchmarks.},
keywords = {Cell-free massive MIMO, Channel estimation, Closed-form solutions, Contamination, Correlation, differential evolution, Massive MIMO, Optimization, Rayleigh channels, reconfigurable intelligent surface, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, Training, Vectors},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Cell-Free Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are investigated with the support of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The RIS phase shifts are designed for improved channel estimation in the presence of spatial correlation. Specifically, we formulate the channel estimate and estimation error expressions using linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimation for the aggregated channels. An optimization problem is then formulated to minimize the average normalized mean square error (NMSE) subject to practical phase shift constraints. To circumvent the problem of inherent nonconvexity, we then conceive an enhanced version of the differential evolution algorithm that is capable of avoiding local minima by introducing an augmentation operator applied to some high-performing Diffential Evolution (DE) individuals. Numerical results indicate that our proposed algorithm can significantly improve the channel estimation quality of the state-of-the-art benchmarks.
3.
Nguyen, Doan Hieu; Nguyen, Xuan Tung; Jeong, Seon-Geun; Chien, Trinh Van; Hanzo, Lajos; Hwang, Won-Joo
Hybrid Quantum Convolutional Neural Network-Aided Pilot Assignment in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems Journal Article
In: IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, pp. 1–6, 2025, ISSN: 1939-9359.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell-free massive MIMO, Convergence, Convolutional neural networks, Integrated circuit modeling, Massive MIMO, Pilot Allocation, Quantum circuit, Quantum Machine Learning, Quantum state, Qubit, Throughput, Training, Vectors
@article{nguyen_hybrid_2025,
title = {Hybrid Quantum Convolutional Neural Network-Aided Pilot Assignment in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems},
author = {Doan Hieu Nguyen and Xuan Tung Nguyen and Seon-Geun Jeong and Trinh Van Chien and Lajos Hanzo and Won-Joo Hwang},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11091511},
doi = {10.1109/TVT.2025.3588212},
issn = {1939-9359},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-10-08},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology},
pages = {1–6},
abstract = {A sophisticated hybrid quantum convolutional neural network (HQCNN) is conceived for handling the pilot assignment task in cell-free massive MIMO systems, while maximizing the total ergodic sum throughput. The existing model-based solutions found in the literature are inefficient and/or computationally demanding. Similarly, conventional deep neural networks may struggle in the face of high-dimensional inputs, require complex architectures, and their convergence is slow due to training numerous hyperparameters. The proposed HQCNN leverages parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) relying on superposition for enhanced feature extraction. Specifically, we exploit the same PQC across all the convolutional layers for customizing the neural network and for accelerating the convergence. Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed HQCNN offers a total network throughput close to that of the excessive-complexity exhaustive search and outperforms the state-of-the-art benchmarks.},
keywords = {Cell-free massive MIMO, Convergence, Convolutional neural networks, Integrated circuit modeling, Massive MIMO, Pilot Allocation, Quantum circuit, Quantum Machine Learning, Quantum state, Qubit, Throughput, Training, Vectors},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A sophisticated hybrid quantum convolutional neural network (HQCNN) is conceived for handling the pilot assignment task in cell-free massive MIMO systems, while maximizing the total ergodic sum throughput. The existing model-based solutions found in the literature are inefficient and/or computationally demanding. Similarly, conventional deep neural networks may struggle in the face of high-dimensional inputs, require complex architectures, and their convergence is slow due to training numerous hyperparameters. The proposed HQCNN leverages parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) relying on superposition for enhanced feature extraction. Specifically, we exploit the same PQC across all the convolutional layers for customizing the neural network and for accelerating the convergence. Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed HQCNN offers a total network throughput close to that of the excessive-complexity exhaustive search and outperforms the state-of-the-art benchmarks.
4.
Mobini, Zahra; Ngo, Hien Quoc; Matthaiou, Michail; Hanzo, Lajos
Cell-Free Massive MIMO Surveillance of Multiple Untrusted Communication Links Journal Article
In: IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 20, pp. 33010–33026, 2024, ISSN: 2327-4662.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Cell-free massive multiple-input-multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), Communication system security, Interference, Jamming, Massive MIMO, monitoring node (MN) mode assignment, monitoring success probability (MSP), Power control, proactive monitoring, Surveillance, Technological innovation, Wireless communication, wireless information surveillance
@article{mobini_cell-free_2024,
title = {Cell-Free Massive MIMO Surveillance of Multiple Untrusted Communication Links},
author = {Zahra Mobini and Hien Quoc Ngo and Michail Matthaiou and Lajos Hanzo},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10584102},
doi = {10.1109/JIOT.2024.3422676},
issn = {2327-4662},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-10-01},
urldate = {2025-10-08},
journal = {IEEE Internet of Things Journal},
volume = {11},
number = {20},
pages = {33010–33026},
abstract = {A cell-free massive multiple-input-multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) system is considered for enhancing the monitoring performance of wireless surveillance, where a large number of distributed multiantenna aided legitimate monitoring nodes (MNs) proactively monitor multiple distributed untrusted communication links. We consider two types of MNs whose task is to either observe the untrusted transmitters or jam the untrusted receivers. We first analyze the performance of CF-mMIMO surveillance relying on both maximum ratio (MR) and partial zero-forcing (PZF) combining schemes and derive closed-form expressions for the monitoring success probability (MSP) of the MNs. We then propose a joint optimization technique that designs the MN mode assignment, power control, and MN-weighting coefficient control to enhance the MSP based on the long-term statistical channel state information knowledge. This challenging problem is effectively transformed into tractable forms and efficient algorithms are proposed for solving them. Numerical results show that our proposed CF-mMIMO surveillance system considerably improves the monitoring performance with respect to a full-duplex co-located massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) proactive monitoring system. More particularly, when the untrusted pairs are distributed over a wide area and use the MR combining, the proposed solution provides nearly a thirty-fold improvement in the minimum MSP over the co-located massive MIMO baseline, and forty-fold improvement, when the PZF combining is employed.},
keywords = {Cell-free massive multiple-input-multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), Communication system security, Interference, Jamming, Massive MIMO, monitoring node (MN) mode assignment, monitoring success probability (MSP), Power control, proactive monitoring, Surveillance, Technological innovation, Wireless communication, wireless information surveillance},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A cell-free massive multiple-input-multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) system is considered for enhancing the monitoring performance of wireless surveillance, where a large number of distributed multiantenna aided legitimate monitoring nodes (MNs) proactively monitor multiple distributed untrusted communication links. We consider two types of MNs whose task is to either observe the untrusted transmitters or jam the untrusted receivers. We first analyze the performance of CF-mMIMO surveillance relying on both maximum ratio (MR) and partial zero-forcing (PZF) combining schemes and derive closed-form expressions for the monitoring success probability (MSP) of the MNs. We then propose a joint optimization technique that designs the MN mode assignment, power control, and MN-weighting coefficient control to enhance the MSP based on the long-term statistical channel state information knowledge. This challenging problem is effectively transformed into tractable forms and efficient algorithms are proposed for solving them. Numerical results show that our proposed CF-mMIMO surveillance system considerably improves the monitoring performance with respect to a full-duplex co-located massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) proactive monitoring system. More particularly, when the untrusted pairs are distributed over a wide area and use the MR combining, the proposed solution provides nearly a thirty-fold improvement in the minimum MSP over the co-located massive MIMO baseline, and forty-fold improvement, when the PZF combining is employed.
5.
Mohammadi, Mohammadali; Mobini, Zahra; Ngo, Hien Quoc; Matthaiou, Michail
Next-Generation Multiple Access With Cell-Free Massive MIMO Journal Article
In: Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 112, no. 9, pp. 1372–1420, 2024, ISSN: 1558-2256.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 5G mobile communication, 6G mobile communication, Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), Channel estimation, Energy Efficiency, energy efficiency (EE), Massive MIMO, Millimeter wave communication, Next generation networking, Signal to noise ratio, sixth-generation (6G) wireless, Spectral efficiency, spectral efficiency (SE), Surveys, Telecommunication traffic, Wireless networks
@article{mohammadi_next-generation_2024,
title = {Next-Generation Multiple Access With Cell-Free Massive MIMO},
author = {Mohammadali Mohammadi and Zahra Mobini and Hien Quoc Ngo and Michail Matthaiou},
url = {https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10684238},
doi = {10.1109/JPROC.2024.3451372},
issn = {1558-2256},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-09-01},
urldate = {2025-10-08},
journal = {Proceedings of the IEEE},
volume = {112},
number = {9},
pages = {1372–1420},
abstract = {To meet the unprecedented mobile traffic demands of future wireless networks, a paradigm shift from conventional cellular networks to distributed communication systems is imperative. Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) represents a practical and scalable embodiment of distributed/network MIMO systems. It inherits not only the key benefits of co-located massive MIMO systems but also the macro-diversity gains from distributed systems. This innovative architecture has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing network performance from various perspectives, outperforming co-located mMIMO and conventional small-cell systems. Moreover, CF-mMIMO offers flexibility in integration with emerging wireless technologies such as full-duplex (FD), nonorthogonal transmission schemes, millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications, ultrareliable low-latency communication (URLLC), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided communication, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). In this article, we provide an overview of current research efforts on CF-mMIMO systems and their promising future application scenarios. We then elaborate on new requirements for CF-mMIMO networks in the context of these technological breakthroughs. We also present several current open challenges and outline future research directions aimed at fully realizing the potential of CF-mMIMO systems in meeting the evolving demands of future wireless networks.},
keywords = {5G mobile communication, 6G mobile communication, Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO), Channel estimation, Energy Efficiency, energy efficiency (EE), Massive MIMO, Millimeter wave communication, Next generation networking, Signal to noise ratio, sixth-generation (6G) wireless, Spectral efficiency, spectral efficiency (SE), Surveys, Telecommunication traffic, Wireless networks},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
To meet the unprecedented mobile traffic demands of future wireless networks, a paradigm shift from conventional cellular networks to distributed communication systems is imperative. Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) represents a practical and scalable embodiment of distributed/network MIMO systems. It inherits not only the key benefits of co-located massive MIMO systems but also the macro-diversity gains from distributed systems. This innovative architecture has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing network performance from various perspectives, outperforming co-located mMIMO and conventional small-cell systems. Moreover, CF-mMIMO offers flexibility in integration with emerging wireless technologies such as full-duplex (FD), nonorthogonal transmission schemes, millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications, ultrareliable low-latency communication (URLLC), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided communication, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). In this article, we provide an overview of current research efforts on CF-mMIMO systems and their promising future application scenarios. We then elaborate on new requirements for CF-mMIMO networks in the context of these technological breakthroughs. We also present several current open challenges and outline future research directions aimed at fully realizing the potential of CF-mMIMO systems in meeting the evolving demands of future wireless networks.