Downlink Power Control based UE-Sided Initial Access for Tactical 5G NR

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel downlink power control method for UE-sided initial access in tactical 5G NR, enhancing stealthiness by reducing detection probability without altering standards or user equipment.

Contribution

It proposes a simple downlink power control algorithm that improves stealthiness during initial access in tactical 5G NR without requiring hardware modifications.

Findings

Reduces probability of detection at eavesdroppers

Maintains standards compliance

Does not require UE hardware changes

Abstract

Communication technologies play a crucial role in battlefields. They are an inalienable part of any tactical response, whether at the battlefront or inland. Such scenarios require that the communication technologies be versatile, scalable, cost-effective, and stealthy. While multiple studies and past products have tried to address these requirements, none of them have been able to solve all the four challenges simultaneously. Hence, in this paper, we propose a tactical solution that is based on the versatile, scalable, and cost effective 5G NR system. Our focus is on the initial-access phase which is subject to a high probability of detection by an eavesdropper. To address this issue, we propose a novel approach that involves some modifications to the initial access procedure that lowers the probability of detection while not affecting standards compliance and not requiring any modifications to the user equipment chipset implementation. Further, we demonstrate that with a simple downlink power control algorithm, we reduce the probability of detection at an eavesdropper. The result is a 5G NR based initial-access method that improves stealthiness when compared with a vanilla 5G NR implementation.