/ˈmaɪ.moʊ/
noun — "multiple antennas, one link, supercharged throughput."
MIMO, short for Multiple Input Multiple Output, is a wireless communication technique that uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve data throughput, reliability, and spectral efficiency. By transmitting and receiving multiple data streams simultaneously, MIMO exploits spatial diversity and multipath propagation, making it a cornerstone of modern wireless standards like LTE (LTE), 5G-NR (5G-NR), and Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN).
Technically, MIMO splits data into multiple parallel streams and maps them across multiple antennas. At the receiver, signal processing algorithms reconstruct the original data streams by separating overlapping signals based on channel characteristics. Key MIMO schemes include spatial multiplexing, which increases throughput; transmit diversity, which improves reliability; and beamforming, which directs energy toward intended receivers for better signal quality.
Key characteristics of MIMO include:
- Spatial multiplexing: increases data rates by sending independent streams simultaneously.
- Diversity gain: reduces errors by exploiting multiple propagation paths.
- Beamforming: focuses signal energy for stronger reception and reduced interference.
- Scalability: performance improves with more antennas.
- Compatibility: integrates with OFDMA and SC-FDMA systems for modern cellular networks.
In practical workflows, MIMO enables faster downloads, more reliable mobile and Wi-Fi connections, and efficient spectrum usage. Network engineers optimize antenna configurations, channel estimation, and signal processing to maximize throughput and coverage.
Conceptually, MIMO is like opening multiple lanes on a highway, allowing cars (data streams) to travel simultaneously without interference.
Intuition anchor: MIMO multiplies wireless capacity and reliability by turning one connection into many parallel streams.