Performance Analysis of Multi-Hop Networks at Terahertz Frequencies

TL;DR

This paper evaluates multi-hop protocols for Terahertz wireless networks, addressing coverage limitations with novel distributed routing solutions and analyzing their performance in industrial IoT scenarios.

Contribution

Introduces two new distributed multi-hop routing protocols for THz networks, improving coverage and adaptability in high-demand industrial IoT applications.

Findings

Both protocols improve network coverage and reliability.

Simulation shows trade-offs between the protocols in different conditions.

Protocols are simple, distributed, and adaptable to network changes.

Abstract

The emergence of THz (Terahertz) frequency wireless networks holds great potential for advancing various high-demand services, including Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. These use cases benefit significantly from the ultra-high data rates, low latency, and high spatial resolution offered by THz frequencies. However, a primary well-known challenge of THz networks is their limited coverage range due to high path loss and vulnerability to obstructions. This paper addresses this limitation by proposing two novel multi-hop protocols, Table-Less (TL) and Table-Based (TB), respectively, both avoiding centralized control and/or control plane transmissions. Indeed, both solutions are distributed, simple, and rapidly adaptable to network changes. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches, as well as revealing interesting trade-offs between TL and TB routing protocols, both in a real IIoT THz network and under static and dynamic conditions.