Cell-free massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) has recently attracted much attention, attributed to its potential to deliver uniform service quality. However, the adoption of a cell-free architecture raises concerns about the high implementation costs associated with deploying numerous distributed access points (APs) and the need for fronthaul network installation. To ensure the sustainability of next-generation wireless networks, it is crucial to improve cost-effectiveness, alongside achieving high performance. To address this, we conduct a cost analysis of cell-free massive MIMO and build a unified model with varying numbers of antennas per AP. Our objective is to explore whether employing multi-antenna APs could reduce system costs while maintaining performance. The analysis and evaluation result in the identification of a cost-effective design for cell-free massive MIMO, providing valuable insights for practical implementation.

翻译：无蜂窝大规模多输入多输出（MIMO）技术近年来备受关注，这归因于其提供均匀服务质量的潜力。然而，采用无蜂窝架构引发了人们对高实施成本的担忧，包括部署大量分布式接入点（AP）以及需要安装前传网络。为确保下一代无线网络的可持续性，在实现高性能的同时提高成本效益至关重要。为此，我们对无蜂窝大规模MIMO进行了成本分析，并建立了具有不同每AP天线数量的统一模型。我们的目标是探索采用多天线AP是否能在保持性能的同时降低系统成本。分析与评估结果确定了一种成本高效的无蜂窝大规模MIMO设计方案，为实际实施提供了有价值的见解。