MU-MIMO (Multi-user multiple-input multiple-output) is a feature introduced midway through the WiFi 5 generation as part of the IEEE 802.11ac standard. MU-MIMO operates in the downstream direction and allows a WiFi router or access point to transmit to multiple client devices simultaneously.
MU-MIMO can reduce latency and improve performance during data-intense activities such as streaming video, video conferencing, or viewing webinars. Because the broadcast device never interrupts its connection to the client to communicate with other clients, MU-MIMO can minimize jittery video, freezes, and buffering. MU-MIMO can also help to reduce network congestion and improve download speeds.
MU-MIMO leverages multiple users as spatially distributed transmission resources, at the cost of somewhat more expensive signal processing. In comparison, conventional single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) involves solely local-device multiple-antenna dimensions. MU-MIMO algorithms enhance MIMO systems where connections among users count greater than one. MU-MIMO may be generalized into two categories: MIMO broadcast channels (MIMO BC) and MIMO multiple-access channels (MIMO MAC) for downlink and uplink situations, respectively. Again in comparison, SU-MIMO may be represented as a point-to-point, pairwise MIMO.
