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19 pages, 4254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Meshing Degree Performance Analysis in a mmWave FWA 5G Network Deployment

by Iffat Gheyas, Alessandro Raschella and Michael Mackay

Future Internet 2023, 15(6), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi15060218 - 20 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2094

Fifth-generation technologies have reached a stage where it is now feasible to consider deployments that extend beyond traditional public networks. Central to this process is the application of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in 5G Non-public Networks (NPNs) that can utilise a novel combination of radio technologies to deploy an infrastructure on top of 5G NR or entirely from scratch. However, the use of FWA backhaul faces many challenges in relation to the trade-offs for reduced costs and a relatively simple deployment. Specifically, the use of meshed deployments is critical as it provides resilience against a temporary loss of connectivity due to link errors. In this paper, we examine the use of meshing in a FWA backhaul to determine if an optimal trade-off exists between the deployment of more nodes/links to provide multiple paths to the nearest Point of Presence (POP) and the performance of the network. Using a real 5G NPN deployment as a basis, we have conducted a simulated analysis of increasing network densities to determine the optimal configuration. Our results show a clear advantage for meshing in general, but there is also a performance trade-off to consider between overall network throughput and stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel 5G Deployment Experience and Performance Results)

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26 pages, 10442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating 60 GHz FWA Deployments for Urban and Rural Environments in Belgium

by German Castellanos, Brecht De Beelde, David Plets, Luc Martens, Wout Joseph and Margot Deruyck

Sensors 2023, 23(3), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23031056 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4422

Abstract

Fixed wireless access (FWA) provides a solution to compete with fiber deployment while offering reduced costs by using the mmWave bands, including the unlicensed 60 GHz one. This paper evaluates the deployment of FWA networks in the 60 GHz band in realistic urban and rural environment in Belgium. We developed a network planning tool that includes novel backhaul based on the IEEE 802.11ay standard with multi-objective capabilities to maximise the user coverage, providing at least 1 Gbps of bit rate while minimising the required network infrastructure. We evaluate diverse serving node locations, called edge nodes (EN), and the impact of environmental factors such as rain and vegetation on the network design. Extensive simulation results show that defining a proper EN’s location is essential to achieve viable user coverage higher than 95%, particularly in urban scenarios where street canyons affect propagation. Rural scenarios require nearly 75 ENs per km

^{2}

while urban scenarios require four times (300 ENs per km

^{2}

) this infrastructure. Finally, vegetation can reduce the coverage by 3% or increment infrastructure up to 7%, while heavy rain can reduce coverage by 5% or increment infrastructure by 15%, depending on the node deployment strategy implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in the Sensor Networks Section 2022)

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104 pages, 29640 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Enhanced Mobile Broadband Communications: A Tutorial on Enabling Technologies, Design Considerations, and Prospects of 5G and beyond Fixed Wireless Access Networks

by Isiaka A. Alimi, Romil K. Patel, Nelson J. Muga, Armando N. Pinto, António L. Teixeira and Paulo P. Monteiro

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10427; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110427 - 5 Nov 2021

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 10890

Abstract

There has been a growing interconnection across the world owing to various multimedia applications and services. Fixed wireless access (FWA) is an attractive wireless solution for delivering multimedia services to different homes. With the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond mobile networks, the FWA performance can be enhanced significantly. However, their implementation will present different challenges on the transport network due to the incessant increase in the number of required cell-sites and the subsequent increase in the per-site requirements. This paper presents a comprehensive tutorial on the enabling technologies, design considerations, requirements, and prospects of broadband schemes. Furthermore, the related technical challenges of FWA are reviewed, and we proffer potential solutions to address them. Besides, we review various transport network options that can be employed for FWA deployment. In this regard, we offer an in-depth discussion on their related requirements for different use cases. Moreover, we give an insight into the 3GPP RAN functional split implementations and implications on the 5G FWA transport network solutions. The concepts of virtualized RANs for attending flexibly to the dynamic nature of different use cases are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Massive MIMO Systems for 5G and beyond Networks: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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12 pages, 10339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quad Sector HMSIW Tapered Slot Antenna Array for Millimeter-Wave Applications

by Iftikhar Ahmed, Sultan Shoaib and Raza Ali Shah

Electronics 2021, 10(14), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10141645 - 10 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2850

Abstract

In this paper, a slot antenna array based on a half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) is presented, integrating a series of linearly tapered slots for wireless broadband applications in millimeter-wave frequencies. The slots are etched on the upper layer of HMSIW, which radiates the energy from the open side of HMSIW, exhibiting a near broadside radiation pattern. Two identical sets of back-to-back printed antenna arrays are cross-lap joined to form a quad sector antenna providing 360° coverage. The proposed antenna occupies a volume of 20 × 20 × 70 mm³. The measured bandwidth is 1.81 GHz (6.53%) for Voltage to Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) 3:1 from 26.8 to 28.6 GHz, while the peak measured gain and efficiency of single antenna array were 14.2 dB and 71.3%, respectively, at 27.5 GHz. Furthermore, the sidelobe level in the azimuth plane was observed to be 17.75 dB. The performance of the proposed antenna is measured, and a good agreement between simulation and measured results is observed over the frequency range of 27.5–28.35 GHz for millimeter-wave 5G applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Microwave and Wireless Communications)

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