5G User Research Articles

Improving 4G LTE network quality using the automatic cell planning

The growing demand for network services leads to an increase in traffic load on eNodeB, resulting in decreased network quality and performance, necessitating optimization. This research analyses the results of optimising 4G reference signal received power (RSRP), signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) and throughput parameters using the automatic cell planning (ACP) method. ACP has been shown to significantly improve the performance and quality of 4G LTE networks compared to traditional cell planning methods. Based on the standard parameter RSRP, increased after ACP optimisation which is dominant in the range ≥ -100 s.d ˃ -85 dBm and obtained an average value of -98.59 dBm with good category. The average SINR has increased by 18.23 dB with a good category. The dominant throughput is in the 14,000 Kbps range with an average value of 50,241.08 Kbps with the excellent category. The ACP method can enhance the performance of 4G LTE networks, potentially addressing operator issues of unstable network quality due to poor coverage. The ACP method significantly enhances 4G LTE network performance, coverage, and user experience, potentially addressing unstable network quality due to poor coverage. This research is crucial for both users and the telecoms industry.

A 3.2-3.8 GHz low-noise amplifier for 5G/6G satellite-cellular convergence applications

The rapid evolution of wireless communication systems towards 5G standards has imposed stringent requirements on the performance of radio frequency front-end components. Among these, the Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) plays a pivotal role in determining the overall noise figure and sensitivity of the receiver chain. This paper presents a comprehensive design and analysis of a 3.2-3.8 GHz LNA tailored for 5G applications, employing a 0.3 μmm gate length Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) pseudomorphic high electron transistor (pHEMT) technology process. The proposed LNA design focuses on achieving a low noise figure (NF), high gain, and robust linearity to accommodate the dense signal environment and wide bandwidth of 5G networks. The design leverages advanced matching networks and feedback topologies to enhance stability and reduce the noise contribution from the active devices. Simulation results predict a noise figure of 1.3-1.4 dB, a gain of 20-21 dB across the band of interest, and an input-referred third-order intercept point (IIP3) of 18 dBm. The LNA demonstrates excellent performance in a 5G testbed, showing a significant improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio and the potential to enhance 5G receiver sensitivity. The research substantiates the LNA’s viability for integration into 5G base stations and user equipment, underscoring its potential to contribute to the efficient and reliable operation of next-generation wireless networks. This LNA can be used for 5G New Release (NR) band of n77 and n78 (3.5-3.7 GHz)

Synchronizing TSN Devices via 802.1AS over 5G Networks

The 3GPP release 16 integrates TSN functionality into 5G and standardizes various options for TSN time synchronization over 5G such as transparent mode and bridge mode. The time domains for the TSN network and the 5G network are kept separate with an option to synchronize either of the networks to the other. The TSN time synchronization over 5G is possible either by using the IEEE 1588 generalized Precision Time Protocol (gPTP) based on UDP/IP multicast or via IEEE 802.1AS based on Ethernet PDUs. The INET and Simu5G simulation frameworks, which are both based on the OMNeT++ discrete event simulator, are widely used for simulating TSN and 5G networks. The INET framework comprises the 802.1AS based time synchronization mechanism, and Simu5G provides the 5G user plane carrying IP PDUs. We modified the 802.1AS-based synchronization model of INET so that it works over UDP/IP. With that, it is possible to synchronize TSN slaves (connected to 5G UEs), across a 5G network, with a TSN master clock, present within a TSN network, that is connected to the 5G core network. Our simulation results show that 500 microseconds of synchronization accuracy can be achieved with the corrected asymmetric propagation delay of uplink and downlink between the gNodeB (gNB) and the User Equipment (UE). Furthermore, the synchronization accuracy can be improved if the delay difference between uplink and downlink is known.

Research on 5G User Perception Detection and Experience Improvement Optimization Based on Capsule Network

COVID-19 caused a global public disaster as well as an economic crisis, and other challenges. The fifth-generation network, or 5G, connects practically every machine, person, and thing on the planet. We can analyse the public's opinions and sentiments connected to COVID-19 from 5G user-generated content on social media, which will eventually aid in promoting health intervention strategies and designing successful projects based on public perceptions. The BERT language model is first used to preprocess data that has been obtained from Sina Weibo. Following that, the features of the preprocessed data are chosen using a class-wise information technique. Finally, a capsule network (CapsNet) approach is used to identify the 5G user perception and experience optimization. Dynamic routing algorithm is used for optimizing the capsule network. By comparing the suggested framework's performance with certain existing approaches, its effectiveness is evaluated. Simulation results show that the proposed method is more accurate than previous approaches at identifying 5G user experiences.

IMPACT OF 5G NETWORK PERFORMANCE ON USERS LOYALTY

Every year people consume more and more data. This review contains a description of promising areas of 5G application and user loyalty in this area. Existing spectrum bands become congested, leading to service disruptions, especially when many people try to access network services at the same time. 5G is much better at handling thousands of syn-chronously connected devices. In smart cities, ultra-low latency in 5G networks critical for smart grids and connected infrastructure. Revolutionary areas for which 5G offers great promise include robotic surgery. The development of 5G help bring virtual and augmented reality to the masses, making technologies accessible to a wide range of users. Fast speeds and low latency will allow to fully immerse in VR/AR. Virtual reality is successfully used also in education, medicine, industry, military and aviation training. Issues of the сonsumer market evolution are always relevant, and the development of 5G networks will be no exception. In article we look at this topic from different points of view and also use data from Ericsson ConsumerLab, an exclusive research series tracking 5G consumer market evolution. The significance of 5G is not limited to technical specifications. This technology promises to be a driving force in the new industrial revolution, providing the basis for the digital renewal of industry and business, changes in the way big data is processed and the creation of new, innovative services and applications.

Comparison of Current Consumption and Data Rates in 5G NSA over FR2 and FR1 Bands

This paper presents a comparison of current consumption in a 5G User Equipment (UE) under NonStandAlone (NSA) deployment when submitted to different scenarios, such as the number of antennas (MIMO), Carrier Aggregation (CA), and modulation schemes. The comparison will occur over the same network parameters but for Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2) bands. Measurements were taken in laboratory using a setup with test stations for the simulation of LTE and NR Cells and a Control PC with Rapid Test Design (RTD) for the communication between the UE and the test stations, as well as the measurements itself. The results obtained through laboratory measurements show that FR1 scenarios cause less current consumption than FR2 scenarios. Also, the relationship between the electric current consumption and data rates is presented in both scenarios when the UE is connected over FR1 and FR2 network bands.

The Potential Impact of a High-Frequency Telecommunication Network on Cognitive Functions: A Review

The latest cellular technology, known as 5G-NR, is intended to significantly speed up and improve the effectiveness of wireless systems. A revolution in the telecom industry has been sparked by the widespread use of and increased reliance on cellular communication technology. Moreover, 5G and B5G technologies are expected to utilize an even higher-frequency range to achieve faster data transmission and lower latency communication. Consequently, while transmitting signals across various types of equipment and infrastructure, the general public is exposed to much higher frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The increasing need for 5G NR base stations (gNodeB) has heightened public anxiety over potential negative health impacts. This study reviews recent research on the effects of electromagnetic waves on humans, particularly focusing on how these effects influence cognitive functions. Most research to date has not found significant differences in cognitive performance due to ubiquitous mobile communications. However, current research has largely been limited to 4G technologies, and the health effects of exposure to 5G user equipment (UE) and base stations in higher-frequency bands remain unexplored. If subsequent research suggests that exposure to high-frequency wireless networks significantly impacts cognitive functions, the deployment and acceptance of these technologies may face challenges and constraints. Therefore, such investigations are crucial for determining whether next-generation technologies pose no risk to individuals.

Quantifying the Dynamic Factors Influencing New-Age Users’ Adoption of 5G Using TAM and UTAUT Models in Emerging Country: A Multistage PLS-SEM Approach

Objectives. The 5G has ushered in a new age of life-changing breakthroughs and advancements due to faster speeds, greater bandwidth, and ultra-high expectancy. The study proposes a multistage approach for quantifying the dynamic factors affecting users’ adoption of 5G in emerging countries. Method. This study integrated the technology acceptance model (TAM) and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to recommend a comprehensive model that the industry–academia can adopt. In the proposed model, various core hypotheses and subhypotheses were tested by employing 510 5G users of the metro cities of India. An online questionnaire was used to collect the facts, and the data were framed in the conceptual model to test the validation using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results. The findings suggest that users’ perceptions of adopting 5G are overwhelming in that perceived trust was discovered as a mediating enabler between behavioral intention (BI) and selected manifest. Performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social factors (SF), facilitating factors (FF), hedonic motivation (HM), perceived benefits (PB), price value (PV), and habit (HB). Contribution. By identifying key enablers in the suggested model, service providers may better evaluate these aspects, particularly in ensuring reliable infrastructure for 5G service stands. The study is undoubtedly a novel attempt to assist the telecom industry and policymakers in accelerating the adoption of 5G in emerging economies of Asian continents.

A 5G Coverage Calculation Optimization Algorithm Based on Multifrequency Collaboration

The fifth–generation (5G) network is developing rapidly. The network coverage directly influences the quality of service (QoS) of vertical industries. Coverage capability is a crucial and indispensable indicator when evaluating the performance of a network. However, the results of the current algorithm fall short in terms of accuracy. To restore the current status of 5G network coverage more realistically, in this study, we design a new optimization algorithm for coverage calculation based on the traditional coverage algorithm combined with fourth–generation (4G) coverage reference signal receiving power (RSRP) in management report (MR) and adopt a multisystem collaborative analysis method. The algorithm corrects the coverage results and restores the true value of 5G coverage. Based on this, we provide a practical analysis of the largest standalone (SA) commercial network in the world, which confirms the viability of the algorithm. Both theoretical and practical analyses show that the algorithm can effectively detect hidden weak coverage areas, providing a further reference for future 5G construction and improving the 5G user experience. The proposed approach can be broadly generalized and applied to multifrequency, multioperator, or even sixth–generation (6G) networks.

An intelligent scheduling for 5G user plane function placement and chaining reconfiguration

Services and use cases in 5G and beyond networks are characterized by strict requirements such as ultra-low latency, increased capacity, and high user mobility. Moreover, these networks must be capable of satisfying these ambitious demands as well as anticipating and adapting to dynamically changing conditions in a quick and feasible manner. This study deals with the problem of determining the best time to readjust the user plane function (UPF) placement and session mapping configuration to avoid quality of service (QoS) degradation in the system due to user mobility. To this aim, we rely on machine learning (ML) techniques to anticipate poor QoS events and decide whether a reconfiguration procedure is required based on a pre-established QoS tolerance threshold. Specifically, an ML-based framework, called intelligent scheduling of the reconfiguration (ISR), is proposed to automate the reconfiguration process. This framework applies supervised ML methods, either regressors or classifiers, to predict the QoS values/status at a given time horizon. The simulation experiments revealed the proposed mechanism’s superiority compared to the established scheduling baseline. The ISR solution could not only keep the system QoS under desired values most of the time but also reduce the number of readjustment events by at least 50% compared to the baselines.

A Novel Access and Handover Authentication Scheme in UAV-Aided Satellite-Terrestrial Integration Networks Enabling 5G

As an outlook of the terrestrial network, the flexible Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-aided satellite-terrestrial integration network would have numerous prospective applications such as service enhancement, maritime communication, military, and emergency communication, which is getting significant attention. However, the public and open-access network must result in various imperative risks including impersonation, sensitive data, and privacy disclosure. Due to several unique characteristics including long transmission distance, unstable communication environment, resource-limited and highly dynamic characteristics of UAVs, diversified terminals that lack the ability of accessing the satellite and may be resource-limited, there are new challenges for the access authentication process in the UAV-Aided Satellite-Terrestrial Integration Networks with 5G. In this paper, we present a novel Physically Unclonable Function (PUF)-based access authentication scheme consisting of two access authentication protocols for the UAV and the ground terminals like 5G User Equipments (UEs), respectively. Two access authentication protocols for the drone and the terminals can both achieve mutual authentication, key agreement, and privacy protection with distinct advantages of no need to store secret key and supporting physical attack resistance. Finally, we propose an efficient handover authentication protocol executed by the ground terminals when the UAV is required to switch. We employ different security analysis tools to analyze the security of all proposed protocols, as well as present informal security analysis on various security properties. The performance comparison and evaluations show our protocols have better advantages.

Terahertz Communication with MIMO-OFDM in FANETs for 6G

Background: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are envisioned in several intelligent transport system (ITS) application fields due to their autonomous operation, mobility, and communication/processing capabilities. Methods: In order to increase performance, dependability, and customer satisfaction, wireless communications are being used for essential and noncritical services in a variety of transportation systems. Terahertz (THz) communication aims to raise the wireless communication frequency band to the terahertz level and is one of the technologies that shows the most promise in addressing needs like the exponential increase in the number of devices, the necessity for higher data rates, and the need for larger channel capacity. For meeting the demands of 5G and 6G users, the hybrid combination of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) appears to be an excellent technology. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the performance of THz communication with MIMO-OFDM in flying ad hoc networks (FANETs) for 6G. FANETs are multi-UAV systems arranged in an ad hoc way. Results: In this paper, the performance of the THz communication with MIMO-OFDM in FANETs for 6G is evaluated. The Markov chain model-based analytical study is used to derive how parameters and performance measures relate to one another. Conclusion: The equations for path loss, outage probability, bit error rate, and throughput are attained. Moreover, numerical results are shown to justify the outcomes of the analytical studies.

SecChecker: Inspecting the security implementation of 5G Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) mobile devices

Although 5G security has been further improved with the evolution of the standard, it remains to be checked whether 5G cellular devices (i.e., User Equipment or UE) have correctly implemented the designed security features following the specification. In this work, we present SecChecker, a security inspection system, to examine the security implementation of 5G devices. Firstly, to determine which security items to check, we extract 11 general Security Requirements (SRs) for 5G UEs after a comprehensive study of the 3GPP standard. Then we design corresponding Inspection Cases (ICs) for testing the UE implementation of these SRs. We implemented a prototype of SecChecker based on open-source 5G projects and utilized it to inspect 7 Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) devices using 5G baseband chips from the top five vendors. The results indicate that most of the required key security features in the specification are securely implemented by the tested 5G devices. However, we also found several UE security implementations that do not meet the extracted SRs or that are vulnerable to exploits, as well as some protocol mismatches. To show the implications on mobile users using the affected 5G devices, we implement two proof-of-concept attacks including the 5G redirection attack and the 5G user plane Man-in-the-Middle attack, to exploit the identified security flaws. Finally, the mitigations are discussed.

A Time Delay Prediction Model of 5G Users Based on the BiLSTM Neural Network Optimized by APSO-SD

To address the problems of 5G network planning and optimization, a 5G user time delay prediction model based on the BiLSTM neural network optimized by APSO-SD is proposed. First, a channel generative model based on the ray-tracing model and the statistical channel model is constructed to obtain a large amount of time delay data, and a 5G user ray data feature model based on three-dimensional stereo mapping is proposed for input feature extraction. Then, an adaptive particle swarm optimization algorithm based on a search perturbation mechanism and differential enhancement strategy (APSO-SD) is proposed for the parameters’ optimization of BiLSTM neural networks. Finally, the APSO-SD-BiLSTM model is proposed to predict the time delay of 5G users. The experimental results show that the APSO-SD has a better convergence performance and optimization performance in benchmark function optimization compared with the other PSO algorithms, and the APSO-SD-BiLSTM model has better user time delay prediction accuracy in different scenarios.

Technology Diffusion System Model of China's Communication Industry

This paper hopes to describe the technology diffusion of 5G in China's communication industry at a point in time almost two years after the commercialization, and to explore and verify the factors affecting its diffusion. Based on the data published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, the model is established by using STELLA as a tool. Simulations are conducted by profiling the system from both the Chinese government and communication operators' perspectives to predict the change in the number of 5G adopters over time. The results show that two factors, namely the Chinese government increasing the construction of communication infrastructure, and the operators increasing the types of 5G technology services, have a more significant effect on increasing the rate of 5G user adoption in China during the early stage of 5G technology into the individual consumer market.

Experimental studies of communication channel bandwidth of millimeter wave range indoors

There is a rapid development of technologies worldwide that have access to the Internet, independently exchange data, and upload collected information to cloud storage. Every year, the amount of data transmitted from things and people on the Internet is approximately two zettabytes. The volume of data on the Internet is constantly growing. According to the Internet Live Stats service, more than 50,000 search queries are made on Google every second, 120,000 videos are viewed on YouTube, and almost 2.5 million e-mails are sent. Therefore, it is expedient to implement the fifth generation of communication, which will work in the millimeter range. Promising technologies for building 5G and its implementation include small base stations, which are analogs of conventional mobile network base stations. Within settlements, small base stations should be located short distances from each other (approximately 250 meters). From such parameters, it can be concluded that it will be necessary to use thousands of such stations to cover even a small city, forming a single network that will transmit data to 5G users. Among the advantages, it can be noted that due to the small size of the antennas, they can be placed on any elements of structures and buildings (for example, on the walls of buildings, pillars, etc.) without additional obstacles. The paper presents and investigates the bandwidth of the millimeter wave range indoor communication channel. The structure of the modem and the format of the control command, the dependence of the transmission speed C on the length of the radio line of the IEEE 802.11ad 60 GHz communication system in point-to-point mode (Indoor LOS) and (Indoor NLOS) are presented. In work, there are theoretical assessments of the achievable data transfer rates based on the bandwidth of the Shannon communication channel and practically possible data transfer rates for various segments of the information transfer network for the IEEE 802.11ad standard equipment using different modulation and coding schemes (MCS).

Field Trial of Network Slicing in 5G and PON-Enabled Industrial Networks

Driven by recent technology advances in fifth generation (5G) wireless networks and optical communications, fundamental changes are taking place in traditional industrial networks to evolve with enhanced automation, improved monitoring, and smart interconnectivity. These changes call for updating the current network to provide service agility, intelligence, and scalability. Network slicing creates independent and logical networks on the same physical network to meet the requirements of various services. It enables an industrial network to offer tailored services as the business evolves to stay competitive. In this article, we propose a novel abstraction model of end-to-end network slicing for future industrial networks. The model enables multi-service applications over a converged industrial network with access from both 5G and passive optical network (PON) users. Performance of this model is investigated via a field trial in China Telecom's deployed 5G and PON networks for a manufacturing company. Field trial results demonstrate that the 5G and PON technologies can jointly meet the service requirements of industrial network services. The proposed network slicing model improves service quality.

A Distributed Fuzzy Optimal Decision Making Strategy for Task Offloading in Edge Computing Environment

With the technological evolution of mobile devices, 5G and 6G communication and users’ demand for new generation applications viz. face recognition, image processing, augmented reality, etc., has accelerated the new computing paradigm of Mobile Edge Computing (MEC). It operates in close proximity to users by facilitating the execution of computational-intensive tasks from devices through offloading. However, the offloading decision at the device level faces many challenges due to uncertainty in various profiling parameters in modern communication technologies. Further, with the increase in the number of profiling parameters, the fuzzy-based approaches suffer inference searching overheads. In this context, a fuzzy-based approach with an optimal inference strategy is proposed to make suitable offloading decision. The proposed approach utilizes Classification and Regression Tree (CART) mechanism at the inference engine with reduced time complexity of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">O</i> (| <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">V</i> | <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">log</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> | <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</i> |)), as compared to <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">O</i> (| <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">L</i> | <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">|V |</sup> ) of state-of-the-art, conventional fuzzy-based offloading approaches, and has been proved to be more efficient. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated and compared with contemporary offloading algorithms in a python-based fog and edge simulator, YAFS. The simulation results show the reduction in average task processing time, average task completion time, energy consumption, improved server utilization, and tolerance to latency and delay sensitivity for the offloaded tasks in terms of reduced task failure rates.

Exploiting On-Demand 5G Downlink Signals for Opportunistic Navigation

This letter presents the first user equipment (UE)-based 5G navigation framework that exploits the “on-demand” 5G downlink signals. In this framework, the entire system bandwidth of incoming 5G signals is utilized in an opportunistic fashion. The proposed framework involves a cognitive approach to acquire the so-called ultimate reference signal (URS), which includes the “on-demand” as well as “always-on” reference signals (RSs). Experimental results are presented showing that the acquired URS: (i) spans the entire 5G downlink bandwidth, (ii) increases the carrier-to-noise ratio by 10 dB compared to state-of-the-art 5G user equipment (UE)-based opportunistic navigation receiver, and (iii) reduces significantly the carrier and code phase errors. A ranging error standard deviation of 2.75 m was achieved with proposed framework with a stationary receiver placed 290 m away from a 5G gNB in a clear line-of-sight environment, which is lower than the 5.05 m achieved when using the “always-on” 5G downlink signals.

Evaluation of Interference Analysis from 5G NR Networks to Aeronautical and Maritime Mobile Systems in the Frequency Band 4800–4990 MHz

The current deployment of 5G NR in the frequency band 4800–4990 MHz in multiple countries near the coastlines indicated that there might be a potential risk of harmful interference impacting aeronautical and maritime systems located in international airspace and international waters. This raised numerous concerns about whether 5G NR system rollouts in that band need to be restricted by the power flux density limits created at the border of the territorial waters, which equals 12 nautical miles from the coastline. This work contains a case study based on the example of the Pacific region, where a simulation of aggregate interference from 5G NR base stations and user equipment deployed in the cities near the coastline using Monte Carlo analysis was conducted. The results of the study show that no harmful interference to the aeronautical and maritime services operating in international airspace and waters is expected even when the aircraft or vessels are located at the border of the territorial airspace and waters from the coastline. Therefore, no restriction to the 5G NR deployment in the coastline regions in the frequency band 4800–4990 MHz is required.