Impact of Channel Models on the End-to-End Performance of mmWave Cellular Networks

TL;DR

This paper examines how different mmWave channel models affect the accuracy and computational complexity of simulating 5G cellular networks, impacting the evaluation of network performance and transport protocols.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the trade-offs between model accuracy and simplicity in mmWave channel modeling for system simulations.

Findings

Simpler models reduce computational overhead.

Model accuracy significantly influences performance evaluation.

Trade-offs impact protocol performance assessments.

Abstract

Communication at mmWave frequencies is one of the major innovations of the fifth generation of cellular networks, because of the potential multi-gigabit data rate given by the large amounts of available bandwidth. The mmWave channel, however, makes reliable communications particularly challenging, given the harsh propagation environment and the sensitivity to blockage. Therefore, proper modeling of the mmWave channel is fundamental for accurate results in system simulations of mmWave cellular networks. Nonetheless, complex models, such as the 3GPP channel model for frequencies above 6 GHz, may introduce a significant overhead in terms of computational complexity. In this paper we investigate the trade offs related to the accuracy and the simplicity of the channel model in end-to-end network simulations, and the impact on the performance evaluation of transport protocols.