Next-generation Mobile Research Articles

Towards sustainable 6G: A collaborative call to action for addressing environmental challenges in (and thanks to) future mobile networks

As mobile networks evolve towards 6G, sustainability must be a central focus to address the environmental impacts of increasing energy consumption and resource use. This open letter highlights insights from the "Towards Sustainable 6G" workshop, where seven EU-funded projects - 6G4Society, BeGREEN, COALESCE, IN2CCAM, CENTRIC, 6Green, and 6G-TWIN - showcased innovative solutions for integrating energy efficiency, renewable energy, and ecological resilience into next-generation mobile networks. The projects emphasize AI-driven optimisation, sustainable infrastructure design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration as key strategies for reducing the ecological footprint of 6G systems. A joint statement underscores the necessity of embedding sustainability into 6G design, with follow-up activities planned to advance green telecommunications.

Software Defined Network Based Next Generation Mobile Communication Network Architecture

As mobile networks and network speeds become more prevalent, the demand for marketing strategies increases. The operators are thinking about this, and the development of 5G communication networks is one of their main concerns. As the need for higher transmission speeds increases, 5G networks face challenges of scalability and adaptability. The nextgeneration mobile network (NMCN-SDN) architecture proposed in this study is based on Software-Defined Networks (SDN). A new network model called computer-defined networking allows for dynamic network definition and programming. A network simulator is created to examine the efficiency of the built infrastructure under different network conditions, including throughput, latency, and resource consumption. In this paper, the comparison of end-toend latency between the standard communication architecture and the proposed NMCN-SDN architecture is done. The results show that the proposed architecture has less space in various conditions compared to existing communication architectures in various conditions.

Clustered temporal memory networks: A hybrid approach for signal strength prediction

The rapid expansion of 5G networks has revolutionized mobile communication by offering unprecedented speed, low-latency connections, and the ability to support vast numbers of connected devices. However, these advancements bring new challenges in maintaining consistent and reliable signal strength, critical for ensuring optimal Quality of Service (QoS). Traditional models, such as ARIMA, Random Forest (RF), and K-means clustering, struggle to capture the complex, nonlinear, and dynamic behaviour of 5G networks, leading to suboptimal prediction accuracy. In this study, we propose a novel hybrid model, Clustered Temporal Memory Networks (CTMN), which integrates DBSCAN clustering with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to improve signal strength prediction in mobile networks. The CTMN model combines DBSCAN's ability to handle spatial variability and outliers in 5G data, combined with LSTM's capacity for modelling long-term dependencies and nonlinear time-series patterns. Our empirical analysis demonstrates that CTMN outperforms traditional methods, achieving up to a 20.82% improvement in prediction accuracy across key performance metrics, including Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). These findings indicate that CTMN provides a scalable, robust solution for enhancing signal strength prediction and optimizing network performance in next-generation mobile networks.

Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient-Based Resource Allocation Considering Network Slicing and Device-to-Device Communication in Mobile Networks.

Next-generation mobile networks, such as those beyond the 5th generation (B5G) and 6th generation (6G), have diverse network resource demands. Network slicing (NS) and device-to-device (D2D) communication have emerged as promising solutions for network operators. NS is a candidate technology for this scenario, where a single network infrastructure is divided into multiple (virtual) slices to meet different service requirements. Combining D2D and NS can improve spectrum utilization, providing better performance and scalability. This paper addresses the challenging problem of dynamic resource allocation with wireless network slices and D2D communications using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) techniques. More specifically, we propose an approach named DDPG-KRP based on deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) with K-nearest neighbors (KNNs) and reward penalization (RP) for undesirable action elimination to determine the resource allocation policy maximizing long-term rewards. The simulation results show that the DDPG-KRP is an efficient solution for resource allocation in wireless networks with slicing, outperforming other considered DRL algorithms.

Joint wireless energy transmission and dynamic power management for full-duplex relay system

The rapid deployment of fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems demands sustainable power solutions. This paper introduces a novel joint design for wireless energy transmission and dynamic power management in full-duplex relay systems, aiming to ensure a continuous power supply for relay nodes. Our approach integrates energy harvesting from RF signals and dynamic battery management, focusing on optimizing throughput via energy allocation and precoding design. Simulation results demonstrate that our scheme significantly outperforms conventional non-battery half-duplex schemes in system throughput. Notably, we observe performance increments in throughput compared to all mentioned traditional methods, highlighting the efficacy of our design in enhancing 5G network sustainability and efficiency. This innovative approach presents a promising solution for effective power management in next-generation mobile networks.

Modular MPS3-Based Frameworks for Superionic Conduction of Monovalent and Multivalent Ions.

Next-generation batteries based on more sustainable working ions could offer improved performance, safety, and capacity over lithium-ion batteries while also decreasing the cost. Development of next-generation battery technology using "beyond-Li" mobile ions, especially multivalent ions, is limited due to a lack of understanding of solid state conduction of these ions. Here, we introduce ligand-coordinated ions in MPS3-based (M = Mn, Cd) solid host crystals to simultaneously increase the size of the interlayer spacing, through which the ions can migrate, and screen the charge-dense ions. The ligand-assisted conduction mechanism enables ambient temperature superionic conductivity of various next-generation mobile ions in the electronically insulating MPS3-based solid. Without the coordinating ligands, all of the compounds show little to no ionic conductivity. Pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggests that the ionic conduction occurs through a hopping mechanism, where the cations are moving between H2O molecules, instead of a vehicular mechanism which has been observed in other hydrated layered solids. This modular system not only facilitates tailoring to different potential applications but also enables us to probe the effect of different host structures, mobile ions, and coordinating ligands on the ionic conductivity. This research highlights the influence of cation charge density, diffusion channel size, and effective charge screening on ligand-assisted solid state ionic conductivity. The insights gained can be applied in the design of other ligand-assisted solid state ionic conductors, which will be especially impactful in realizing solid state multivalent ionic conductors. Additionally, the ion-intercalated MPS3-based frameworks could potentially serve as a universal solid state electrolyte for various next-generation battery chemistries.

6G-RUPA: A Flexible, Scalable, and Energy-Efficient User Plane Architecture for Next-Generation Mobile Networks

As the global deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) is being well consolidated, the exploration of Sixth Generation (6G) wireless networks has intensified, focusing on novel Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Value Indicators (KVIs) that extend beyond traditional metrics like throughput and latency. As 5G begins transitioning to vertical-oriented applications, 6G aims go beyond, providing a ubiquitous communication experience by integrating diverse Radio Access Networks (RANs) and fixed-access networks to form a hyper-converged edge. This unified platform will enable seamless network federation, thus realizing the so-called network of networks vision. Emphasizing energy efficiency, the present paper discusses the importance of reducing telecommunications’ environmental impact, aligning with global sustainability goals. Central to this vision is the proposal of a novel user plane network protocol architecture, called 6G Recursive User Plane Architecture (6G-RUPA), designed to be scalable, flexible, and energy-efficient. Briefly, 6G-RUPA offers superior flexibility in network adaptation, federation, scalability, and mobility management, aiming to enhance overall network performance and sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of 6G’s potential, from its conceptual framework to the high-level design of 6G-RUPA, addressing current challenges and proposing actionable solutions for next-generation mobile networks.

Cyber Security Challenges: Safeguarding Data in the Digital Era

The Internet is one of the fastest-growing areas of technical infrastructure development. In today’s business environment, disruptive technologies such as cloud computing, social computing, and next-generation mobile computing are fundamentally changing how organizations utilize information technology for sharing information and conducting commerce online. Today more than 80 percent of total commercial transactions are done online, so this field required a high quality of security for transparent and best transactions. The scope of Cyber Security extends not only to the security of IT systems within the enterprise, but also to the broader digital networks upon which they rely including cyber space itself and critical infrastructures. Cyber Security plays an important role in the development of information technology as well as Internet services. Our attention is usually drawn on “Cyber Security” when we hear about “Cyber Crimes”. Our first thought on “National Cyber Security” therefore starts on how good is our infrastructure for handling “Cyber Crimes”. This paper focus on cyber laws and security emerging trends, issues and challenges while adopting new technologies such as mobile computing, e-commerce, and social networking.

Deployment of Edge Computing for Smart Healthcare Systems on Cloud Computing Platform

Improving the productivity of health services is a prime concern for authorities all over the country. Yet, offering patients with scalable healthcare services while cutting costs is a complicated matter. Edge computing technologies and next-generation mobile computing infrastructure are one of the most effective alternatives for integrating efficient healthcare since they can provide real-time and cost-effective patient monitoring systems. Edge computing enables doctors to deliver care to remote areas where connectivity could not be great and skilled healthcare personnel may not be available. The proposed paper discuss the past research work and contribution in the field of smart Healthcare. The Paper further depicts general edge computing architecture for smart Healthcare system and trade-offs of Edge computing. The paper also discuss use cases of smart Healthcare system based on edge computing advantages of Smart- health and the challenges associated with the deployment.

Upgraded architecture of TWDM-PON with type B protection for capacity and budget improvement

The next-generation mobile fronthaul system based on technologies beyond 5G requires optical access networks with excellent disaster resistance. For passive optical networks (PONs), also known as economical optical access networks, the Type B protection method that considers disaster resistance is a practical conventional approach to address transceiver and link failure. However, the transmission capacity upgrade and effective utilization of optical power of time wavelength division multiplexing (TWDM)-based-PON with Type B protection have not been extensively studied. In this study, we intend to upgrade the architecture by applying Type B protection to a 40 Gbit/s-class TWDM-PON that uses the uplink C band/downlink L band specified by NG-PON2. To improve the downlink capacity, we have considered a bidirectional asymmetric modulation transmission system to introduce a dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying system for the downlink C band. The downlink coherent signal is transmitted by selecting either the primary or secondary link using the optical switch. There are no major drawbacks with either the primary or secondary link. Moreover, we have numerically and experimentally clarified the impact of improving the reception power by receiving a burst single-input multi-output in the uplink under the condition of no link failure. Additionally, we describe the bidirectional transmission feasibility of C-band asymmetric modulation under link failure and reflection. We have found that bidirectional transmission at the same wavelength is possible by allowing a specific penalty even for asymmetric symbol rate/polarization/modulation formats. A principle verification experiment revealed that SIMO reception could be improved by a 1.5 dB budget on the uplink. The method of upgrading the TWDM-PON system can be changed while effectively using NG-PON2 technology until the future coherent PON method is completely introduced.

Dual wavelength signal generation with four wave mixing based on directly modulated laser

Dual wavelength (DW) lasers are crucial for producing petahertz (PHz) signals, which are higher value terahertz (THz) signals. The infrared and visible light sub-bands are valuable frequency range for a number of applications, including networking, multiple access techniques, next-generation mobile networks (6G), future wireless networks, and new PHz communication systems. The importune need to the high frequency signal such as THz and PHz signal for 5 and 6 next generation wireless cellular mobile networks motivate us to design an optical system to provide these signals rather than an electronic circuits. They are also beneficial for a variety of medical testing. The wavelength spacing ranging from 14 nm to 7 nm is proposed and demonstrated a dual-wavelength generation with FWM based on DML is realized at 1554 and 1548 nm. It is essential to make use of the fiber's non-linearity characteristics to ensure synchronization for continuous wave (CW) laser and directly modulated laser (DML) signals and the creation of the four wave mixing (FWM) components. With the help of OptiSystem version 14.0, the system is designed and investigated then, the desired THz signal is created as pulse amplitude modulation. The position of the FWM components within the frequency range between the spectrums of the two lasers affects the synthesis of the required signal. At the DML frequency equal to or below the CW Laser (1520 nm), neither FWM frequency components nor dual wavelength pulses exist. On the other hand, the FWM frequency components and dual wavelength pulses can only be seen when the DML frequency is greater than 1520 nm. The CW laser frequency is the main controlling factor in the generation THz signal. If the CW laser frequency is set at or below 1520 nm, the dual wavelength and THz signal are accessible. Because these frequencies are so far from the reference fiber frequency, it is impossible to produce dual wavelength pulses at frequencies higher than those mentioned above.

Autonomous Driving System Architecture with Integrated ROS2 and Adaptive AUTOSAR

In the automotive industry, research is now underway to apply Adaptive Automotive Open System Architecture (AUTOSAR) to the development of next-generation mobility, such as autonomous driving and connected cars. However, research on autonomous driving is being predominantly conducted on the robotics platform ROS2 (Robot Operating System 2). This demonstrates a considerable distance between autonomous driving research and its application in actual vehicles. To bridge this gap, interoperability that leverages the strengths of the Adaptive AUTOSAR and ROS2 platforms and compensates for their weaknesses is required. Therefore, this study proposes an architecture for interoperability between the two platforms, named Autonomous Driving System with Integrated ROS2 and Adaptive AUTOSAR (ASIRA). The proposed architecture enables communication between each of the two platforms through the ROS2 SOME/IP Bridge and allows for the necessary data exchange. It validates them in autonomous driving scenarios and goes beyond vehicle development, testing, and prototyping to exploit the advantages of each platform. Additionally, the simulation of autonomous vehicles within the ASIRA architecture is demonstrated by interoperating the ROS2 representative open-source autonomous driving project, Autoware, with the Adaptive AUTOSAR simulator. This study contributes to the assimilation of ROS2 into the automotive industry and its application in real vehicles by linking ROS2 and Adaptive AUTOSAR.

Quantum-Secure Signalling Model for L1/L2 Next-Gen Interconnect and Roaming Networks Over IPX for NB-IoT Traffic: A Review

Signalling security is critical for next-generation mobile (NGN) networks to ensure integrity, privacy, and confidentiality of communication protocols. However, recent research on existing 5G standards has uncovered vulnerabilities that could be exploited by emerging surveillance threats such as HiddenArt and Harvest Now Decrypt Later (HNDTL), as well as the prospect of quantum computing threatening to break classical cryptographic techniques. This systematic literature review (SLR) investigates quantum-based signalling solutions to mitigate these threats in interconnect and roaming 5G networks (IRN) over IP eXchange for Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) traffic. A database search was conducted, studies were selected and compared based on methods, approaches, techniques, and limitations. The SLR found that quantum key distribution (QKD) combined with quantum teleportation (QT) can protect and mitigate threats and attacks on signalling networks when protocols interact and interoperate in carrier networks. QKD techniques can be used for L1 protocols, while secure direct quantum communication can be used for L2 protocols. This study concludes that further studies are needed to integrate different techniques and protocols for L1/L2 signalling networks to create a robust quantum-secure signalling model for global interconnect and roaming NGN.

Digital twin framework for smart greenhouse management using next-gen mobile networks and machine learning

Due to the increase in world population, arable land has been reduced. Consequently, the concept of urban greenhouses is on the rise. Smart greenhouses need to monitor physical parameters for the healthy growth of plants from remote locations. A digital twin is a representation of physical assets in the digital world, and this emerging technology has opened up opportunities for efficient system development for Industry 4.0. The digital twin receives real-time operational data to monitor the asset in the digital domain. It performs real-time processing, data analysis, and machine learning to predict optimized decisions. In the era of next-generation mobile networks, IoT devices can communicate and perform their remote operations in a timely manner. In smart greenhouse technology, the digital twin could be a revolutionary substitute for real-time remote monitoring and process management. However, there has been limited work on digital twin-driven smart greenhouse technology. In this paper, a process management framework is developed that can be interpreted as a machine learning and cloud-based data-driven digital twin for smart greenhouses. The proposed framework consists of three layers: the physical, fog, and cloud layers. The physical greenhouse measurements are monitored using a highly immersive cloud-based, real-time 3D environment. We present an example architecture using commercial cloud and open-source tools to verify the proof of concept. Additionally, different ML techniques are utilized to predict the operational requirements for smart greenhouses.

New developments and trends in 5G technologies: applications and concepts

Fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology is the most up-to-date iteration of mobile data networks. This research analyzes the effectiveness of next-generation mobile networks in tandem with mobile communication technologies. Various difficulties encountered at each stage are discussed. With the advent of 5G networks, users may connect to the internet at lightning speeds from almost any location. 5G is one of a kind because of its new characteristics, which allow it to link people and enable them to operate gadgets, machines, and things. 5G mobile technology’s varying speed and capabilities will allow for new user experiences and link new businesses. Companies must know where they can best put 5G to use. This research paper examines and analyzes various topics in great detail, demonstrating how mmWave, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (massive MIMO), microcells, mobile edge computing (MEC), beamforming, diverse antenna technologies, and so on can all work together to improve cellular networks. The primary goals of this article are to demonstrate some of the most recent technical developments and to analyze potential future research directions for the 5G mobile system.

Hybrid radio-over-fiber transport system to support heterogeneous indoor mobile network environments

The recent advances in mobile network technologies are based on pioneering higher radio frequency ranges such as millimeter wave and (sub-)terahertz bands. Most likely, the simultaneous use of multiple bands of such high frequency as well as mid/low frequency ranges should be considered to implement heterogeneous mobile environments where diverse conventional and emerging applications can coexist. This study aims to propose, demonstrate, and evaluate a radio-over-fiber (RoF)-based optical transport system that meets the aforementioned future indoor network’s requirements. In particular, we suggest a novel distributed antenna system architecture that can support next-generation mobile services such as millimeter wave 5G and terahertz 6G as well as commercial 5G systems employing low/mid bands. Following the experimental validation of the downlink and uplink transmission of radio signals, we investigate the cost reductions obtained by implementing the proposed system in comparison to conventional topologies such as point-to-point and wavelength division multiplexing-based point-to-multipoint connections.

Multi-Slice Privacy-Aware Traffic Forecasting at RAN Level: A Scalable Federated-Learning Approach

Next-generation mobile networks are expected to meet the requirements of a wide range of new vertical services. Hence, the network slicing concept has been introduced, in which Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are allowed to provide various types of services over the same physical infrastructure, owned by an Infrastructure Provider (InP). To cope with an ever-changing traffic demand, MVNOs seek to pre-allocate/reconfigure the resources at the base stations in an anticipatory manner, based on traffic demand predictions. Ideally, conducting per-slice traffic forecasting requires information that is likely to disclose MVNO confidential information (i.e., business strategy or private user data). To secure data ownership while conducting traffic forecasting, we propose the Federated Proximal Long Short-Term Memory (FPLSTM) framework, which allows MVNOs to train their local models with their private dataset at each base station; subsequently, an associated InP global model can be updated through the aggregation of the local models. The results obtained by training the models on a real-world dataset indicate that the forecasting performance of our proposed approach is as accurate as state-of-the-art centralized solutions, while improving data privacy. To enable scalability, we further propose the Information-based Clustering FPLSTM (IC-FPLSTM) and Random Clustering FPLSTM (RC-FPLSTM) frameworks, dealing with large-scale cellular networks. These solutions demonstrate computation and communication cost efficiency significantly above the state-of-the-art.

Fundamental Detection Probability vs. Achievable Rate Tradeoff in Integrated Sensing and Communication Systems

Integrating sensing functionalities is envisioned as a distinguishing feature of next-generation mobile networks, which has given rise to the development of a novel enabling technology – <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)</i> . Portraying the theoretical performance bounds of ISAC systems is fundamentally important to understand how sensing and communication functionalities interact (e.g., competitively or cooperatively) in terms of resource utilization, while revealing insights and guidelines for the development of effective physical-layer techniques. In this paper, we characterize the fundamental performance tradeoff between the detection probability for target monitoring and the user’s achievable rate in ISAC systems. To this end, we first discuss the achievable rate of the user under sensing-free and sensing-interfered communication scenarios. Furthermore, we derive closed-form expressions for the probability of false alarm (PFA) and the successful probability of detection (PD) for monitoring the target of interest, where we consider both communication-assisted and communication-interfered sensing scenarios. In addition, the effects of the unknown channel coefficient are also taken into account in our theoretical analysis. Based on our analytical results, we then carry out a comprehensive assessment of the performance tradeoff between sensing and communication functionalities. Specifically, we formulate a power allocation problem to minimize the transmit power at the base station (BS) under the constraints of ensuring a required PD for perception as well as the communication user’s quality of service requirement in terms of achievable rate. It indicates that, on the one hand, there exists an intrinsic tradeoff between sensing and communication performance under the mutual-interfered scenarios; On the other hand, with prior knowledge of the baseband waveform, these two functionalities might mutually assist each other to enhance the performance. Finally, simulation results corroborate the accuracy of our theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed power allocation solutions showing the advantages of the ISAC system over the conventional radar and communication coexistence counterpart.

Reconfigurable optical crosshaul architecture for 6G radio access networks

The radio access network (RAN) architecture is undergoing a significant evolution to support the next-generation mobile networks and their emerging applications. To realize scalable and sustainable deployment and operations, RAN needs to consider the requirements of 6G and beyond wireless technologies such as ultra densification of cells, higher data rates, ubiquitous coverage, and new radio spectrum in the millimeter-wave band. This calls for a careful redesign of every aspect of RAN, including its crosshaul. The crosshaul is an important network segment in future RAN, capable of transporting diverse traffic types with varying stringent requirements within RAN. The crosshaul towards 6G is envisioned to be highly intelligent, reconfigurable, and adaptable to dynamic service requirements and network conditions. To this end, we propose a software defined network (SDN)-enabled reconfigurable optical crosshaul architecture (ROCA) that supports heterogeneous crosshaul transport technologies and dynamic functional splittings. ROCA enables efficient and intelligent control of the crosshaul data plane. The proposed architecture with a set of the next-generation RAN (NG-RAN) transport interfaces is evaluated using network models built on the ns-3 network simulator. Simulation results demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of different crosshaul interfaces in agreement with the understanding of respective NG-RAN interfaces from the literature, which validates the modeling accuracy. We then demonstrate the reconfigurability of the architecture using a dynamic scenario with different reconfiguration strategies for meeting the user and network demands. The results indicate that ROCA serves as a scalable and flexible foundation for supporting high-capacity delay-stringent RAN that can be used in 6G and beyond wireless technologies.

Digital Twins for Next-Generation Mobile Networks: Applications and Solutions

Digital Twins (DTs) create fully-synchronized virtual representations of real-world systems, which can serve as interactive counterparts for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms, and hold significant importance for the upcoming 6G mobile networks. In this paper, we argue that DTs can improve all phases of the intelligent networks' workflow, due to their adaptability and scalability properties that would allow them to transparently integrate new AI/ML algorithms faster, more scalably, and more precisely. Our contribution is two-fold: first, we propose three specific application scenarios of DT-enhanced network architectures in the context of 6G. Second, using open-source tools, we implement and evaluate in detail one of them. Our results demonstrate that our DT reflects the characteristics of the physical object, successfully and scalably twinning it, and adapting to changing contextual conditions.