Design and Performance Analysis of Sub-THz/THz Mini-Cluster Architectures for Dense Urban 5G/6G Networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mini-cluster architecture using sub-THz/THz frequencies to improve 5G/6G networks in dense urban areas with high data rates and low latency.

Contribution

A novel mini-cluster architecture integrating mBS, DECUs, and IRS for sub-THz/THz 5G/6G networks in dense urban environments.

Findings

Simulation results show up to 100 Gbps peak data rates and sub 100 μs latency.

The framework achieves tenfold energy efficiency gains over conventional 5G deployments.

The design is applicable to cities like Quito and Guayaquil and can be generalized to other urban areas.

Abstract

The transition from Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) systems to Beyond 5G (B5G) and Sixth Generation (6G) networks requires innovative architectures capable of supporting ultra-high data rates, sub-millisecond latency, and massive connection densities in dense urban environments. This paper proposes a comprehensive design methodology for a mini-cluster architecture operating in sub-THz (0.1–0.3 THz) and THz (0.3–3 THz) frequency bands. The proposed framework aims to enhance existing 5G infrastructure while enabling B5G/6G capabilities, with a particular focus on hotspot coverage and mission-critical applications in dense urban environments. The architecture integrates mini Base Stations (mBS), Distributed Edge Computing Units (DECUs), and Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) for coverage enhancement and blockage mitigation. Detailed link budget analysis, coverage and capacity planning, and propagation modeling tailored to complex urban morphologies are performed for representative case study cities, Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador). Simulation results demonstrate up to 100 Gbps peak data rates, sub 100 μs latency, and tenfold energy efficiency gains over conventional 5G deployments. Additionally, the proposed framework highlights the growing importance of THz communications in the 5G evolution towards B5G and 6G systems, where ultra-dense, low-latency, and energy-efficient mini-cluster deployments play a key role in enabling next-generation connectivity for critical and immersive services. Beyond the studied cities, the proposed framework can be generalized to other metropolitan areas facing similar propagation and capacity challenges, providing a scalable pathway for early-stage sub-THz/THz deployments in B5G/6G networks.

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