Channel models for ultra-wideband communications: an overview

This paper presents an overview of ultra-wideband (UWB) channel modeling. After outlining the enormous potentialities of UWB systems and the benefits in terms of capacity and flexibility coming from their large bandwidth, we illustrate the state of the art on UWB channel models based on both empirical and statistical approaches. Finally, we underline the need of further research work and measurement campaigns in this area; this should aim at capturing the specificity of UWB propagation, leading to the derivation of more accurate channels models to be employed in both system design and performance optimization.