Skip to main content
Till KTH:s startsida

IK1330 Wireless Systems 7.5 credits

Course memo Autumn 2025-50416

Version 1 – 10/24/2025, 2:10:20 PM

Course offering

Autumn 2025-50416 (Start date 27 Oct 2025, English)

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

EECS/Computer Science

Course memo Autumn 2025

Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Autumn 2022

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Channel capacity, transmission, multiplexíng,

Antennas, wave propagation, spectrum, fading,

Digital modulation, spread spectrum FHSS, DSSS,

Multiple access methods FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, OFDMA,

Error detection and error correcting codes,

Wireless networks using standards for cellular mobile broadband systems, wireless LAN, sensor networks and PAN,

Environmental aspects, social, market and economic factors concerning wireless systems.

Intended learning outcomes

To pass, the student should be able to:

  • describe, at a general level, how fading (variation of the field strength of a radio signal) in a radio channel influences link-performance in wireless communication systems.
  • dimensioning a radio link in terms of range and channel capacity based on given conditions
  • estimate the capacity of a radio network and describe the relation between system capacity, deployment strategy, cost and available spectrum
  • describe structure and actors on a telecom market
  • explain how multiple access-methods works
  • describe at a general level system architecture for different existing systems for wireless communication
  • explain, in a wide sense, the environmental and sustainability challenge of the ICT-industry. (Electromagnetic radiation, energy, limited natural resources, environmentally harmful effects)

For higher grades, the student should furthermore be able to:

  • explain wave propagation mechanisms and make judgments based on how these mechanisms affect the wave propagation
  • Solve a general design problem for the radio links and radio networks by using simple formulas
  • In a telecom market, be able to explain, the main actors business model and how the make money
  • explain, at a general level, the functionality of different existing systems for wireless communication and compare their capacity, performance and environmental aspects
  • Be able to judge the economic and social advantages of providing affordable telecommunication in relation to its environmental effects.

Learning activities

The course consists of lectures, seminars, and laboratory exercises with supervision. The lectures consist of a combination of theory and problem-solving. Difficult parts of the course are presented during the lectures, and other parts of the course must be studied on your own.

The seminars consist of discussion and review of problems. For each seminar there are a set of problems to be studied. Before the seminar, you will try to solve all the problems and bring your suggested solutions. During the seminar, you will review the solutions in a group of students. After your group has reviewed all the solutions for all the problems, one member in each group presents a selection of the problems for the class.

Attendance at the seminars is mandatory.

Missed seminars can be completed by a home exam at the end of the course. The kind of tasks at the home exam is depended on the ones missed at the seminars.

You will also make two case studies in the course, one technical on radio links and radio networks and one about techno-economy and deployment of mobile networks. The technical case study consists of several problems covering the design of radio links and radio networks. The solutions should be reported in a short report. The case studies are made in groups. You should also (individually) critically review other students' case studies and write a review report (1 page per assignment). 

Case studies determine the grade of the course. You get an individual grade based on your part of the case studies and your own review reports.

The laboratory sessions shall provide an opportunity to practice newly acquired knowledge of wireless systems, as well as demonstrate different aspects of wireless communication and the handling of hardware.

Attendance on laboratory work is mandatory.

Detailed plan

Weekday Date Time Activity Room Description Reading Problems
Monday 2025-10-27 10:00-12:00 Lecture 1 D32 Introduction and overview of the course textbook: Chapter 1, 2.4(-)  
Wednesday 2025-10-29 10:00-12:00 Lecture 2 D32 Introduction to transmission textbook: Sections 2.1, 2.2, Appendix 2A, Offprint: Appendix B 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17
Friday 2025-10-31 10:00-12:00 Lecture 3 E31 Introduction to Radio-links 1 textbook: Sections 6.1-6.6 6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16
Monday 2025-11-03 10:00-12:00 Lecture 4 D32 Introduction to Radio-links 2 See Lecture 3 See Lecture 3
Wednesday 2025-11-05 10:00-12:00 Lecture 5 D32 Modulation textbook: Chapter 7 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.13, 7.17
Friday 2025-11-07 13:00-15:00 Lecture 6 E31 Channel capacity, multiplexing and spread spectrum technology textbook: Sections 2.3, 2.5, Chapter 8 and 9 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 
Monday 2025-11-10 10:00-12:00 Seminar 1 D32 Radio-links Offprint  
Wednesday 2025-11-12 10:00-12:00 Lecture 7 E31 Coding and Error Control textbook: Chapter 10 10.2, 10.5, 10.6, 10.9, 10.16, 10.20, 10.21, 10.26
Friday 2025-11-14 13:00-15:00 Lecture 8 D34 Radio Networks 1 textbook:  Chapter 13.1. Offprint Appendix A 13.1, 13.2. 13.6, 13.7, 13.9, 13.10, 13.11
Monday 2025-11-17 10:00-12:00 Seminar 2 D32 Modulation and Coding  Offprint  
Tuesday 2025-11-18 08:00-12:00 Lab 1   Measurement of signal strength from base-station Lab 1 Instructions  
Wednesday 2025-11-19 08:00-12:00 Lab 1   Measurement of signal strength from base-station Lab 1 Instructions  
Friday 2025-11-21 13:00-15:00 Lecture 9 Q15 Radio Networks 2 textbook:  Chapter 13.2-13.6, Chapter 14  
Monday 2025-11-24 10:00-12:00 Lecture 10 D32 Wireless Communication Systems 1 textbook: Chapter 11, 12 1.3, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.8
Wednesday 2025-11-26 10:00-12:00 Lecture 11 U61 Intro to wireless economics, telecom markets and student task See list of readings  
Thursday 2025-11-27 13:00-15:00 Lecture 12 D32 Wireless Communication Systems 2 textbook: Chapter 11, 12, 16.1-16.3 16.3, 16.4, 16.6
Friday 2025-11-28 13:00-15:00 Seminar 3 D41 Seminar 3 Offprint  
Monday 2025-12-01 10:00-12:00 Seminar U61 Case study supervision    
Wednesday 2025-12-03 10:00-12:00 Lecture 13 E31 Mobile network dimensioning and deployment, spectrum allocation See list of readings  
Friday 2025-12-05 13:00-15:00 Lecture 14 D32 More on network dimensioning, deployment options and cost structure, Q&A See list of readings  
Monday 2025-12-08 08:00-12:00 Lab 2   Cell Planning Lab 2 Instructions  
Wednesday 2025-12-10 08:00-12:00 Lab 2   Cell Planning Lab 2 Instructions  
Monday 2026-01-12 08:00-12:00 Examination E2 Case study 1    
Monday 2026-01-12 13:00-17:00 Examination E2 Case study 2    

Preparations before course start

Literature

Wireless Communications & Networks, Beard, Cory, and William Stallings Edition: 1:st, Publisher: Pearson: 2015 or similar book.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • SEM1 - Seminars, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • INL1 - Problem Assignments, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
  • LABA - Laborative Work, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading criteria/assessment criteria

The course consists of three parts, LABA, 1,5 HEC, SEM1, 1,5 HEC and INL1 , 4,5 HEC.

INL1 consists of two case studies and two opposition reports combined for a final A-F grade. The grade of the course is dependent on the grade of INL1 (provided that all the other parts have the grade P).  Each of the case studies is graded Fail, Pass (E), Pass with distinction (C), Pass with particular distinction (A). The different case studies are then combined according to table 1 below.

Table 1: Course grading criteria

Course Component E D C B A
SEM1 P P P P P
LABA P P P P P
INL1 Case study 1a: Radio Link At least E At least E and at least one C At least C At least C and at least on A At most one C and the rest A
INL1 Case study 1b: Radio network At least E At least E and at least one C At least C At least C and at least on A At most one C and the rest A
INL2 Case study 2: Deployment scenarios At least E At least E and at least one C At least C At least C and at least on A At most one C and the rest A

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

INL1 can be completed by revising the case studies

Alternatives to missed activities or tasks

Missed seminar can be completed by a home exam at the end of the course

LABA can be completed during the next course round

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

No information inserted

Round Facts

Start date

27 Oct 2025

Course offering

  • Autumn 2025-50416

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

EECS/Computer Science

Contacts