Performance Evaluation of WLAN 802.11x and LTE Network for 5G Handover

Abstract

Random Access Network (RAN) on IEEE 802.11x works based on Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA). Each frame on Wireless Local Network (WLAN) depends on data size. Long Term Evolution (LTE) network uses a preamble signature to access network via Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). In order to access network, both WLAN and LTE operate based on the ALOHA mechanism. The advantage of CSMA/CA is that all stations can access network by waiting an idle channel. On the other hand, if the number of station is increased, collision may induce. On LTE network, it was designed to support a hug number of User Equipment (UE). All UEs can access network by using the preamble signature simultaneously in a preamble slot on contention based random access procedure. Data frame on LTE network can be very by Modulation Coding Scheme (MCS). In order to support fifth Generation (5G) mobile data technology in term of handover between cellular network and WLAN. In this paper, WLAN and LTE network technology are compared in order to show its performance in terms of delay, and throughput. The result shows that delay on WLAN is slightly increased when increases the number of station. LTE throughput can be varied by the MCS that makes the LTE network more flexible than WLAN technology.