Will SDN be part of 5G?

For many, this is no longer a valid question and the case is considered settled with SDN/NFV (Software Defined Networking/Network Function Virtualization) providing the inevitable innovation enablers solving many outstanding management issues regarding 5G. However, given the monumental task of softwarization of radio access network (RAN) while 5G is just around the corner and some companies have started unveiling their 5G equipment already, the concern is very realistic that we may only see some point solutions involving SDN technology instead of a fully SDN-enabled RAN. This survey paper identifies all important obstacles in the way and looks at the state of the art of the relevant solutions. This survey is different from the previous surveys on SDN-based RAN as it focuses on the salient problems and discusses solutions proposed within and outside SDN literature. Our main focus is on fronthaul, backward compatibility, supposedly disruptive nature of SDN deployment, business cases and monetization of SDN related upgrades, latency of general purpose processors (GPP), and additional security vulnerabilities, softwarization brings along to the RAN. We have also provided a summary of the architectural developments in SDN-based RAN landscape as not all work can be covered under the focused issues. This paper provides a comprehensive survey on the state of the art of SDN-based RAN and clearly points out the gaps in the technology.Comment: 33 pages, 10 figure

Capacity and Error Performance Verification of Multi-Antenna Schemes in Radio-over-Fiber Distributed Antenna System

A radio-over-fiber distributed antenna system permits larger physical separation between antennas in a wireless system’s infrastructure; this investigation verifies that improved performance – lower error rates and higher capacities – can thus be achieved. In this paper, specific single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input single-output (MISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) algorithms are compared in an experimental radio over fiber system, using user-defined processing functions for the signals. It is shown that significantly reduced symbol error rate (SER) and modestly increased capacity is achieved for a wireless 1x2 SIMO uplink using the maximal ratio combining (MRC) processing algorithm and 2x1 MISO downlink using the Alamouti space time block coding (STBC) scheme. Further, SER is reduced for a downlink 2x2 wireless MIMO using the zero-forcing algorithm while, most importantly, greatly increased capacity is achieved through the spatial multiplexing gain

Is the edge really necessary for drone computing offloading? An experimental assessment in carrier‐grade 5G operator networks

In this article, we evaluate the first experience of computation offloading from drones to real fifth-generation (5G) operator systems, including commercial and private carrier-grade 5G networks. A follow-me drone service was implemented as a representative testbed of remote video analytics. In this application, an image of a person from a drone camera is processed at the edge, and image tracking displacements are translated into positioning commands that are sent back to the drone, so that the drone keeps the camera focused on the person at all times. The application is characterised to identify the processing and communication contributions to service delay. Then, we evaluate the latency of the application in a real non standalone 5G operator network, a standalone carrier-grade 5G private network, and, to compare these results with previous research, a Wi-Fi wireless local area network. We considered both multi-access edge computing (MEC) and cloud offloading scenarios. Onboard computing was also evaluated to assess the trade-offs with task offloading. The results determine the network configurations that are feasible for the follow-me application use case depending on the mobility of the end user, and to what extent MEC is advantageous over a state-of-the-art cloud service.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. PDC2021‐121335‐C21Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. PRE2021‐098290Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2020-116329GB-C2

Ultra Wideband

Ultra wideband (UWB) has advanced and merged as a technology, and many more people are aware of the potential for this exciting technology. The current UWB field is changing rapidly with new techniques and ideas where several issues are involved in developing the systems. Among UWB system design, the UWB RF transceiver and UWB antenna are the key components. Recently, a considerable amount of researches has been devoted to the development of the UWB RF transceiver and antenna for its enabling high data transmission rates and low power consumption. Our book attempts to present current and emerging trends in-research and development of UWB systems as well as future expectations