Modular Design and Experimental Evaluation of 5G Mobile Cell Architectures Based on Overlay and Integrated Models

TL;DR

This paper introduces and evaluates two 5G Mobile Cell architectures, overlay and integrated models, using emulation to analyze their performance and the impact of placement in various environments.

Contribution

It presents a novel architectural design for 5G Mobile Cells and provides an experimental evaluation of their performance using an emulation testbed.

Findings

MC positioning affects network performance

Overlay and IAB models have different protocol implications

Performance validation supports deployment in diverse environments

Abstract

This paper presents the concept, architectural design, and performance evaluation of a 5G Mobile Cell (MC) used to provide 5G wireless connectivity to User Equipment (UE) in areas with limited fixed 5G infrastructures or subject to adverse radio conditions. We consider two main approaches to MC design: an overlay model, where the MC obtains backhaul connectivity from a 5G overlay network, and an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)-based model, discussing their protocol stacks and architectural implications. In order to validate the MC's performance, we employ an emulation-based testbed using the OpenAirInterface (OAI) implementation, considering different MC positions. The results validate the MC concept and demonstrate that MC positioning significantly influences network performance. This paper has the potential to aid network operators and service providers in selecting and deploying MC architectures for temporary coverage extension and capacity reinforcement in different environments, including seaports, industrial scenarios, and public safety.