Evolution of Air Interface towards 5G | IIT Kharagpur Online Course
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 180 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Future of Wireless: A Deep Dive into the Evolution of Air Interface towards 5G
The transition from 4G to 5G represents more than just an incremental speed boost; it is a fundamental re-architecture of the wireless air interface to enable a new world of connected applications. Understanding this evolution is critical for engineers, researchers, and students aiming to be at the forefront of telecommunications technology. This detailed blog outlines a comprehensive 8-week course, "Evolution of Air Interface towards 5G," instructed by the renowned Prof. Suvra Sekhar Das from IIT Kharagpur, designed to provide deep insights into the core technologies powering the next generation of mobile networks.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Suvra Sekhar Das
Leading this intellectual journey is Prof. Suvra Sekhar Das, an Associate Professor at the G. S. Sanyal School of Telecommunications, IIT Kharagpur. With a Ph.D. from Aalborg University, Denmark, and prior experience as a Senior Scientist at Tata Consultancy Services, Prof. Das brings a rich blend of academic rigor and industry perspective. His extensive research portfolio includes cross-layer optimization, 5G waveform design (GFDM, FBMC, UFMC), heterogeneous networks, MIMO communications, and green radio networks. A dedicated educator, he has developed freely available interactive web material on fading channels that has garnered nearly 200,000 hits, demonstrating his commitment to accessible learning.
Course Overview: Bridging the Gap to 5G
While 4G revolutionized mobile broadband with OFDMA, 5G demands a more versatile air interface to support diverse requirements: extremely low latency, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). This course demystifies the technological leaps required to meet these goals. It moves beyond mere descriptions to provide fundamental insights into the key components that constitute the 5G New Radio (NR).
Who Should Enroll?
This course is meticulously designed for a broad audience in the telecommunications domain:
- Senior Undergraduate & Postgraduate Students (B.Tech/M.Tech/MS) in ECE.
- Research Scholars (PhD) looking to specialize in 5G and beyond.
- Practicing Engineers in wireless communications seeking to update their knowledge with the latest 5G RAN technologies.
Prerequisites: A solid foundation in Digital Communications and basic Mobile/Wireless Communications is recommended to fully grasp the advanced concepts.
Detailed 8-Week Course Layout
The course is structured to build knowledge progressively, from the overarching vision of 5G down to specific enabling technologies and their performance analysis.
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Overview of 5G: Operating scenarios, introduction to mmWave technology, and relevant propagation models. |
| Week 2 | 5G Waveforms: Genesis and analysis of W-OFDM, F-OFDM, UFMC, FBMC, GFDM, and adaptive OFDM. |
| Week 3 | Modulation and Coding Schemes specific to 5G requirements. |
| Week 4 | Propagation Characteristics: Detailed study of 5G channel models, crucial for mmWave and high-frequency design. |
| Week 5 | MIMO Communication Essentials: Building the foundation for the next step. |
| Week 6 | Massive MIMO: Core technology for capacity & efficiency, covering beamforming, pilot contamination, and design challenges. |
| Week 7 | Heterogeneous Ultra-Dense Networks (HetNets): Integration of Small Cells, Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, and MIMO-NOMA. |
| Week 8 | Ubiquitous QoS Provisioning: Performance characterization for delay-sensitive real-time traffic in RAN. |
Key Technology Modules Explored
The course delves into the seven key pillars that define the 5G air interface evolution:
- 5G NR Waveforms: Moving beyond cyclic-prefix OFDM to more flexible, efficient waveforms for diverse service types.
- Millimeter Wave (mmWave) Technology: Unlocking vast new spectrum bands for multi-Gbps speeds.
- Massive MIMO: Using dozens to hundreds of antennas for unprecedented spatial multiplexing and beamforming gains.
- Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA): Allowing multiple users to share the same resource block, enhancing spectral efficiency and connectivity density.
- Heterogeneous Networks & D2D: Deploying small cells and enabling direct device communication to offload traffic and improve coverage.
- Energy-Efficient RAN Design: Addressing the critical challenge of power consumption through multi-objective optimization.
- Ubiquitous QoS Frameworks: Ensuring consistent quality of service for critical applications like autonomous vehicles and industrial IoT.
Learning Resources & Industry Relevance
Participants will benefit from a wealth of resources, including the textbook "Evolution of Air Interface for 5G" (River Publishers, 2018), alongside curated journal/conference papers and industry white papers. The course content has strong industry support from all major wireless service providers and equipment manufacturers, ensuring its direct relevance to current and future telecom landscapes.
This course is not just an academic exercise; it's a roadmap to the technological engine of the next decade. By its conclusion, participants will possess a comprehensive, foundational understanding of the 5G air interface, empowering them to contribute to research, development, and deployment of these transformative technologies.
Enroll Now →