FUNDAMENTALS OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS - 2025/6
Module code: EEEM017
Module Overview
Expected prior/parallel learning: It is helpful, but not essential, to take module EEE3006 – Digital Communications, or to have equivalent learning.
Module purpose: This module equips students with fundamental knowledge and skills of mobile/personal communications systems design and forms the basis for the students to conduct further learning of advanced mobile technologies in EEEM018 – Advanced Mobile Communication Systems and EEEM061 – Advanced 5G Wireless Technologies.
Module provider
Computer Science and Electronic Eng
Module Leader
MA Yi (CS & EE)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 90
Lecture Hours: 30
Tutorial Hours: 10
Guided Learning: 10
Captured Content: 10
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None.
Module content
Indicative content includes the following.
Fundamental theory of communications, mobile communications, and wireless networks: modelling point-to-point communications; elements of mobile communication systems; elements of wireless networks which include fundamental problems of multiple access channel, broadcast channel, relay channel, two-way channel. and crosstalk channel. Capacity theorems and outage behaviour of fundamental channel models will be introduced. Application use-cases which relate theory to practice.
Mobile Propagation Channel & Physical Impairments: Large-scale path loss. Small-scale fading (mobility and channel time variation, wideband channel and frequency selectivity, timing, channel diversity), noise temperature. Theory and practice of handling the impact of physical channels.
Interferences and Competition: Four-terminal interference channel; Signal-to-interference noise ratio (SNR/SINR); Fundamentals of interference behaviour; Capacity theorem in competition environments.
Energy efficiency: Energy vs. Spectral Efficiency; modelling cellular system power/energy consumption; energy efficiency - spectral efficiency trade-off in cellular system
Air-Interface, Waveforms & Multiple-access: Common elements of an air interface; fundamentals of 4G waveforms and beyond; from waveform to multiple-access
Resource Allocation & Optimisation: Static vs. dynamic resource allocation; user and power allocations; elements of convex optimisation.
Densification & Heterogeneous Network: Densification process & small cells; fundamental of heterogeneous network; implementing densification (backhauling, cell association, load balancing, handover issues in heterogeneous network)
Cooperative communication: fundamental of relay based (supportive) communication (Amplify and Forward); fundamental of joint processing communication (cooperation vs. coordination); implementing cooperative communication
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Group Assignment | 20 |
| Examination | 2HR CLOSE-BOOK EXAM | 80 |
Alternative Assessment
Alternative assessment (resit) as to the group assignment will be an individual assignment (individual report).
Assessment Strategy
The summative assessment for this module consists of the following.
· Group assignment: joint technical written report on selected topics in wireless communication (20%).
· 2 hrs close-book examination (80%).
Formative assessment and feedback
For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.
· During lectures, by question and answer sessions
· During tutorials/tutorial classes
· Via the marking of written reports
· Via assessed coursework
Module aims
- The aim of the module is to equip the students with the knowledge of mobile/personal communications engineering fundamentals, present the problems and possible solutions as well as familiarise them with the currently operational digital mobile communication systems in and their comparisons, as well as the international standardisation activities on future systems.
- The module also aims to provide opportunities for students to learn about the Surrey Pillars listed below.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Describe the need and main purpose for the basic building blocks in modern mobile communication systems including the mobile propagation channel, relaying channel, interference behaviour, cooperative communications, MIMO, OFDM | KC | M1, M6 |
| 002 | Explain the underlying principles of mobile communication systems | KC | M2, M6 |
| 003 | Analyse, simulate and solve simple problems involved in link-level design | KCT | M2, M3 |
| 004 | Explain the underlying concept and reasons for different design choices and report on them in written form | KCPT | M5, M16, M17 |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the following aims.
- To equip students with deep understanding of the fundamental theory of mobile communications
- To facilitate students with strong capability of devising mobile communication systems and link-level resource planning.
- To develop the students’ ability to work within the mobile communications industry and quickly perform a useful role in analysing, designing or managing mobile communication systems, or to enter an advanced research programme on this topic
Learning and teaching methods include the following.
- Lectures: face to face lecturing
- Seminars: face to face with technical discussions
- Tutorials: online tutorials
- Capture contents: pre-recorded videos of lecture contents
- Independent learning: this includes group assignment and other independent learning activity.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM017
Other information
Digital Capabilities: Through this module students learn to utilise the Virtual Learning Environment @ Surrey (SurreyLearn) and other digital tools including MS-Teams Online Collaborative writing, Poll Everywhere. Students are also introduced to MATLAB SiteViewer 3D Radio Coverage Analyser, which is the state-of-the-art software platform for simulating and analysing radio propagation behaviours and radio coverage. This is unique digital capability students can develop from the University of Surrey as so far; no other universities in the world are offering this opportunity.
Employability: This module has a good combination of theory and practice. It starts from fundamental theory of mobile communications (such as Shannon theory and mobile propagation channels) and gradually moves to relatively advanced topics (such as advanced radio resource management, spectral and energy efficiencies). Through learning of those theoretical parts, students will lay a solid foundation for their future academic development such as entering PhD programme or further academic career development. Moreover, through case studies and group coursework, students will develop strong ability and skills to solve real-world problems in the wireless domain using the theory they have learned from this module. Students will also develop skills of using state-of-the-art software platform (SiteViewer) to solve practical problems that wireless industry is currently facing. All of these will equip our students very competitive capabilities of handling practical wireless problems.
Global and Cultural Capabilities: this module is delivered in an interactive and collaborative way, in a cohort that commonly represents a wealth of nationalities and backgrounds. Students are encouraged to engage with, and learn from, diverse perspectives through in-class group learning and group coursework activity.
Sustainability: one of key topics in this module is on energy efficiencies and green communications. Through seminars and tutorials, students will learn how to optimally use radio resources (spectrum and energy) in mobile networks with guaranteed Quality of Services and/or Quality of Experiences. Through coursework activities, students will learn the sustainable development of future mobile networks.
Resourcefulness and Resilience: this module provides rich learning resources which are made available and accessible through SurreyLearn. Those resources include youtube videos on state-of-the-art or bluesky wireless technology, TED talks, MIT online lectures. SurreyLearn also provided pre-recorded lectures, videos of past tutorials and seminars, past exam papers, case study materials. Moreover, students can have a taste of the world’s largest 4G /5G test network at the University of Surrey, Stag Hill Campus.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| RF and Microwave Engineering MSc | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Communications Networks and Software MSc | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Computer and Internet Engineering MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering MSc | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Space Systems MEng | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Intelligent Communication Systems and Networks MSc | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.