Mobile Communications (826H1)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

Mobile and wireless communications have become an essential utility of our everyday lives. They provide wireless connectivity for a wide range of uses, from mobile broadband communications to smart devices and the Internet of Things.

On this module, you'll look at the fundamental principles of mobile communications and develop up-to-date knowledge and skills that are important in the design and analysis of mobile wireless communication systems.

You'll start with an overview of mobile communication technologies, followed by the cellular concept and mobile communication fading channels. You'll then look at advanced digital communication techniques, including:

  • modulation
  • channel coding
  • multiple access
  • multiple antenna technologies. 

Topics include:

  • overview of mobile communication technologies
  • cellular mobile communications concept
  • mobile communications impairments and fading channels 
  • digital modulation and adaptive techniques
  • channel coding techniques 
  • orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) 
  • multiple access techniques (FDMA/TDMA/CDMA/OFDMA) 
  • spatial diversity and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems
  • millimetre wave communications 
  • modelling and simulations using MATLAB software tools.

Project work involves research, simulations, and performance analysis using MATLAB software tools.

Teaching

52%: Lecture
48%: Practical (Laboratory)

Assessment

100%: Coursework (Presentation, Report)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 40 hours of contact time and about 110 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.