Measuring and Assessing Performance of Mobile Broadband Networks and Future 5G Trends

Ayman A El-Saleh,Nizar Alsharif,Osamah Ibrahim Khalaf,Nouf M Alzahrani,Abdulraqeb Alhammadi,Theyazn H H Aldhyani,Ibraheem Shayea

doi:10.3390/su14020829

Abstract

Mobile broadband (MBB) is one of the critical goals in fifth-generation (5G) networks due to rising data demand. MBB provides very high-speed internet access with seamless connections. Existing MBB, including third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) networks, also requires monitoring to ensure good network performance. Thus, performing analysis of existing MBB assists mobile network operators (MNOs) in further improving their MBB networks’ capabilities to meet user satisfaction. In this paper, we analyzed and evaluated the multidimensional performance of existing MBB in Oman. Drive test measurements were carried out in four urban and suburban cities: Muscat, Ibra, Sur and Bahla. This study aimed to analyze and understand the MBB performance, but it did not benchmark the performance of MNOs. The data measurements were collected through drive tests from two MNOs supporting 3G and 4G technologies: Omantel and Ooredoo. Several performance metrics were measured during the drive tests, such as signal quality, throughput (downlink and unlink), ping and handover. The measurement results demonstrate that 4G technologies were the dominant networks in most of the tested cities during the drive test. The average downlink and uplink data rates were 18 Mbps and 13 Mbps, respectively, whereas the average ping and pong loss were 53 ms and 0.9, respectively, for all MNOs.

Highlights

Mobile broadband (MBB) networks are growing very fast, as they provide high-speed internet access
The findings indicated that the mobile network operators (MNOs) had managed their network performance during the pandemic period, some short-term performance degradations were observable
The statistics demonstrated that over 90% of mobile subscriptions were for MBB at the end of 2020

Summary

Introduction

Mobile broadband (MBB) networks are growing very fast, as they provide high-speed internet access. The demand for data is rapidly increasing due to a huge number of users accessing data through several cellular technologies and various types of internet services. Spectrum demand for mobile communication systems is growing due to the increase in the number of wireless technologies and applications. Intelligent technologies are required to fully utilize and monitor current spectrums [1,2]. Dynamic spectrum access uses increase spectrum efficiency (SE) by adjusting radio resources. Performance and quality measurements become essential for all of the concerned mobile network operators to maintain and monitor the quality of service (QoS) of their existing networks. Fifth-generation (5G) networks provide enhanced MBB which supports high-speed data, Sustainability 2022, 14, 829.

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