Rethinking of Optical Transport Network Design for 5G/6G Mobile Communication

Driven by the increasing use of emerging smart mobile applications, mobile technology is continuously and rapidly advancing towards the next generation communication systems such as 5G and 6G. However, the transport network, which needs to provide low latency and reliable connectivity between hundreds of thousands of cell sites and the network core, has not advanced at the same pace. This article provides insight into how we can solve the fundamental challenges of implementing cost-optimal transport and 5G and beyond mobile networks simultaneously while satisfying the network and user requirements irrespective of the radio access network\u27s architecture

Measuring a Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Network

Starlink and alike have attracted a lot of attention recently, however, the inner working of these low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite networks is still largely unknown. This paper presents an ongoing measurement campaign focusing on Starlink, including its satellite access networks, gateway and point-of-presence structures, and backbone and Internet connections, revealing insights applicable to other LEO satellite providers. It also highlights the challenges and research opportunities of the integrated space-air-ground-aqua network envisioned by 6G mobile communication systems, and calls for a concerted community effort from practical and experimentation aspects

Photonic controlled metasurface for intelligent antenna beam steering applications including 6G mobile communication systems

This paper presents a novel metasurface antenna whose radiation characteristics can be remotely controlled by optical means using PIN photodiodes. The proposed reconfigurable antenna is implemented using a single radiating element to minimize the size and complexity. The antenna is shown to exhibit a large impedance bandwidth and is capable of radiating energy in a specified direction. The proposed antenna consists of a standard rectangular patch on which is embedded an H-tree shaped fractal slot of order 3. The fractal slot is used to effectively reduce the physical size of the patch by 75 % and to enhance its impedance bandwidth. A metasurface layer is strategically placed above the patch radiator with a narrow air gap between the two. The metasurface layer is a lattice pattern of square framed rhombus ring shaped unit-cells that are interconnected by PIN photodiodes. The metasurface layer essentially acts like a superstrate when exposed to RF/microwave radiation. Placed below the patch antenna is a conductive layer that acts like a reflector to enhance the front-toback ratio by blocking radiation from the backside of the patch radiator. The patch’s main beam can be precisely controlled by photonically illuminating the metasurface layer. The antenna’s performance was modelled and analyzed with a commercial 3D electromagnetic solver. The antenna was fabricated on a standard dielectric substrate FR4 and has dimensions of 0.778λo × 0.778λo × 0.25λo mm3 , where λo is the wavelength of free space centered at 1.35 GHz. Measured results confirm the antenna’s performance. The antenna exhibits a wide fractional band of 55.5 % from 0.978 to 1.73 GHz for reflection-coefficient (S11) better than − 10 dB. It has a maximum gain of 9 dBi at 1.35 GHz with a maximum front-to-back ratio (F/B) of 21 dBi. The main beam can be steered in the elevation plane from − 24◦ to +24◦. The advantage of the proposed antenna is it does not require any mechanical movements or complicated electronic systems.Dr. Mohammad Alibakhshikenari acknowledges support from the CONEX-Plus programme funded by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 801538. The authors also sincerely appreciate funding from Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R58), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, this work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Gobierno de España (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional -FEDER-, European Union) under the research grant PID2021-127409OB-C31 CONDOR. Besides above, the Article Processing Charge (APC) was afforded by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Read & Publish Agreement CRUE-CSIC 2023)

Advancements and Challenges in Energy-efficient 6G Mobile Communication Network

The arrival of 6G mobile communication networks is anticipated to revolutionize the technological landscape, bringing about profound innovations. This research paper explores the various technological advancements that will pave the way for the advent of 6G networks, with a particular focus on addressing energy consumption. It is widely recognized that energy efficiency plays a crucial role in the evolution of 6G networks. To enhance network performance, user experience, and resource management, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to be a pivotal technology. AI-based solutions can effectively optimize energy usage and contribute to the overall efficiency of 6G networks. Furthermore, the incorporation of wireless communication systems, telecommunication, and the Internet of Things (IoT) will be integral to the infrastructure of 6G networks. The need for significant enhancements in 6G networks is also examined in this study. Ensuring the safety and protection of 6G networks from cyber threats becomes increasingly important due to the growing reliance on networked communication and the sensitive nature of transmitted information. Cutting-edge security methods such as homomorphic encryption and blockchain technology may be essential in this regard. Moreover, this research paper explores the impact of 6G networks on various domains and discusses the challenges that must be overcome to unlock the technology’s full potential. To ensure responsible adoption and usage of 6G networks, the development of new business models and regulatory frameworks may be necessary to support their implementation while addressing energy consumption concerns

Meeting IMT 2030 Performance Targets: The Potential of OTFDM Waveform and Structural MIMO Technologies

The white paper focuses on several candidate technologies that could play a crucial role in the development of 6G systems. Two of the key technologies explored in detail are Orthogonal Time Frequency Division Multiplexing (OTFDM) waveform and Structural MIMO (S-MIMO)

A Tutorial on Environment-Aware Communications via Channel Knowledge Map for 6G

Sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication networks are expected to have dense infrastructures, large-dimensional channels, cost-effective hardware, diversified positioning methods, and enhanced intelligence. Such trends bring both new challenges and opportunities for the practical design of 6G. On one hand, acquiring channel state information (CSI) in real time for all wireless links becomes quite challenging in 6G. On the other hand, there would be numerous data sources in 6G containing high-quality location-tagged channel data, making it possible to better learn the local wireless environment. By exploiting such new opportunities and for tackling the CSI acquisition challenge, there is a promising paradigm shift from the conventional environment-unaware communications to the new environment-aware communications based on the novel approach of channel knowledge map (CKM). This article aims to provide a comprehensive tutorial overview on environment-aware communications enabled by CKM to fully harness its benefits for 6G. First, the basic concept of CKM is presented, and a comparison of CKM with various existing channel inference techniques is discussed. Next, the main techniques for CKM construction are discussed, including both the model-free and model-assisted approaches. Furthermore, a general framework is presented for the utilization of CKM to achieve environment-aware communications, followed by some typical CKM-aided communication scenarios. Finally, important open problems in CKM research are highlighted and potential solutions are discussed to inspire future work