Performance analysis of 5G networks: a joint experimental and simulative approach

Abstract

Fifth Generation (5G) Technology is poised to bring in a revolutionary era in wireless communications, promising significant enhancements in data speed, latency, and connectivity. Specifically, 5G is slated to radically alter various sectors, enabling real-time interactions, broadening the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, and catalyzing advancements in autonomous vehicles and intelligent urban growth. The advent of 5G signifies a monumental transition in wireless communications, notably beneficial for vehicular communications where immediate data exchange is imperative for maintaining road safety, improving traffic flow, and enabling autonomous driving capabilities. Employing Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) modems for 5G emerges as a pragmatic and efficient strategy in this approach, providing a standardized solution that fast-tracks integration, simplifies development challenges, and proves invaluable for real-world testing to evaluate 5G performance across diverse vehicular communication scenarios. The high-speed mobility vehicles within 5G networks necessitates a critical examination of handover processes to guarantee uninterrupted and reliable connectivity. The intricacy of handover in 5G, while complex, is pivotal, requiring rigorous optimization to tackle potential challenges like latency, packet loss, and service interruptions that could obstruct real-time communication in vehicular systems. This doctoral thesis ventures into an extensive (both experimental and simulative) exploration of 5G technology, its notable advancements over its predecessor (4G), and its applicability in the sphere of vehicular communications. In depth, this doctoral thesis methodically unravels the 5G protocol stack, investigates signals and channels, and undertakes experimentations in a Matlab environment. It further probes into the functionalities and performance of COTS 5G modems, various antennas, and road test setups, culminating in an empirical analysis of handover performance within 5G networks. Through rigorous experimental campaigns, this doctoral thesis examines handover procedures, underscoring the advantages of small cells in diminishing unnecessary handovers. This investigation augments vehicular communication systems using 5G for a safer and more proficient future.