2024/05/24 by Byomakesh Mahapatra, Mahapatra, Byomakesh, Deepika Gupta +3
Computer Science · Engineering · #Age of Information Optimization #Emerging Technologies (cs.ET) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #IoT Networks and Protocols #Networking and Internet Architecture (cs.NI) #Wireless Body Area Networks
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2405.15548
openalex publication_date 2024/05/24 · openalex created_date 2024/05/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The deployment of beyond fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure over disaster-affected regions, temporary hotspot situations (e.g., massive gatherings, etc.), complex terrains (e.g., sea, hills, marshes, etc.) poses numerous challenges for cellular service providers. Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as potential candidates to overcome the aforementioned technical issues based on their multi-role capabilities to serve as aerial base stations, mobile relays, and flying wireless access points. As such, the UAVs can act as portable platforms that can be deployed immediately on demand without requiring massive ground infrastructure to support wireless services. This article introduces the integration of UAVs to cloud radio access networks (C-RAN) for beyond 5G applications. The article mainly focuses on the underlying opportunities and challenges to realize the UAV-assisted C-RAN (UC-RAN) architecture in view of three generic application scenarios, i.e., disaster management, hotspots, and complex terrains. A preliminary performance analysis via simulation is further provided for the proposed UC-RAN under hotspot application scenario based on the relevant metrics.