Millimeter Wave Cellular Networks: A MAC Layer Perspective

TL;DR

This paper explores the unique MAC layer challenges in millimeter wave cellular networks, emphasizing the impact of high directivity and proposing solutions for synchronization, access, and interference management.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of MAC layer issues in mmWave networks, highlighting new challenges and proposing novel insights and approaches.

Findings

High directivity affects synchronization and access procedures

Directional communication reduces interference but complicates handover

New tradeoffs in scheduling and interference management

Abstract

The millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band is seen as a key enabler of multi-gigabit wireless access in future cellular networks. In order to overcome the propagation challenges, mmWave systems use a large number of antenna elements both at the base station and at the user equipment, which lead to high directivity gains, fully-directional communications, and possible noise-limited operations. The fundamental differences between mmWave networks and traditional ones challenge the classical design constraints, objectives, and available degrees of freedom. This paper addresses the implications that highly directional communication has on the design of an efficient medium access control (MAC) layer. The paper discusses key MAC layer issues, such as synchronization, random access, handover, channelization, interference management, scheduling, and association. The paper provides an integrated view on MAC layer issues for cellular networks, identifies new challenges and tradeoffs, and provides novel insights and solution approaches.