561 research outputs found

    Improved planning and resource management in next generation green mobile communication networks

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    In upcoming years, mobile communication networks will experience a disruptive reinventing process through the deployment of post 5th Generation (5G) mobile networks. Profound impacts are expected on network planning processes, maintenance and operations, on mobile services, subscribers with major changes in their data consumption and generation behaviours, as well as on devices itself, with a myriad of different equipment communicating over such networks. Post 5G will be characterized by a profound transformation of several aspects: processes, technology, economic, social, but also environmental aspects, with energy efficiency and carbon neutrality playing an important role. It will represent a network of networks: where different types of access networks will coexist, an increasing diversity of devices of different nature, massive cloud computing utilization and subscribers with unprecedented data-consuming behaviours. All at greater throughput and quality of service, as unseen in previous generations. The present research work uses 5G new radio (NR) latest release as baseline for developing the research activities, with future networks post 5G NR in focus. Two approaches were followed: i) method re-engineering, to propose new mechanisms and overcome existing or predictably existing limitations and ii) concept design and innovation, to propose and present innovative methods or mechanisms to enhance and improve the design, planning, operation, maintenance and optimization of 5G networks. Four main research areas were addressed, focusing on optimization and enhancement of 5G NR future networks, the usage of edge virtualized functions, subscriber’s behavior towards the generation of data and a carbon sequestering model aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. Several contributions have been made and demonstrated, either through models of methodologies that will, on each of the research areas, provide significant improvements and enhancements from the planning phase to the operational phase, always focusing on optimizing resource management. All the contributions are retro compatible with 5G NR and can also be applied to what starts being foreseen as future mobile networks. From the subscriber’s perspective and the ultimate goal of providing the best quality of experience possible, still considering the mobile network operator’s (MNO) perspective, the different proposed or developed approaches resulted in optimization methods for the numerous problems identified throughout the work. Overall, all of such contributed individually but aggregately as a whole to improve and enhance globally future mobile networks. Therefore, an answer to the main question was provided: how to further optimize a next-generation network - developed with optimization in mind - making it even more efficient while, simultaneously, becoming neutral concerning carbon emissions. The developed model for MNOs which aimed to achieve carbon neutrality through CO2 sequestration together with the subscriber’s behaviour model - topics still not deeply focused nowadays – are two of the main contributions of this thesis and of utmost importance for post-5G networks.Nos próximos anos espera-se que as redes de comunicações móveis se reinventem para lá da 5ª Geração (5G), com impactos profundos ao nível da forma como são planeadas, mantidas e operacionalizadas, ao nível do comportamento dos subscritores de serviços móveis, e através de uma miríade de dispositivos a comunicar através das mesmas. Estas redes serão profundamente transformadoras em termos tecnológicos, económicos, sociais, mas também ambientais, sendo a eficiência energética e a neutralidade carbónica aspetos que sofrem uma profunda melhoria. Paradoxalmente, numa rede em que coexistirão diferentes tipos de redes de acesso, mais dispositivos, utilização massiva de sistema de computação em nuvem, e subscritores com comportamentos de consumo de serviços inéditos nas gerações anteriores. O trabalho desenvolvido utiliza como base a release mais recente das redes 5G NR (New Radio), sendo o principal focus as redes pós-5G. Foi adotada uma abordagem de "reengenharia de métodos” (com o objetivo de propor mecanismos para resolver limitações existentes ou previsíveis) e de “inovação e design de conceitos”, em que são apresentadas técnicas e metodologias inovadoras, com o principal objetivo de contribuir para um desenho e operação otimizadas desta geração de redes celulares. Quatro grandes áreas de investigação foram endereçadas, contribuindo individualmente para um todo: melhorias e otimização generalizada de redes pós-5G, a utilização de virtualização de funções de rede, a análise comportamental dos subscritores no respeitante à geração e consumo de tráfego e finalmente, um modelo de sequestro de carbono com o objetivo de compensar as emissões produzidas por esse tipo de redes que se prevê ser massiva, almejando atingir a neutralidade carbónica. Como resultado deste trabalho, foram feitas e demonstradas várias contribuições, através de modelos ou metodologias, representando em cada área de investigação melhorias e otimizações, que, todas contribuindo para o mesmo objetivo, tiveram em consideração a retro compatibilidade e aplicabilidade ao que se prevê que sejam as futuras redes pós 5G. Focando sempre na perspetiva do subscritor da melhor experiência possível, mas também no lado do operador de serviço móvel – que pretende otimizar as suas redes, reduzir custos e maximizar o nível de qualidade de serviço prestado - as diferentes abordagens que foram desenvolvidas ou propostas, tiveram como resultado a resolução ou otimização dos diferentes problemas identificados, contribuindo de forma agregada para a melhoria do sistema no seu todo, respondendo à questão principal de como otimizar ainda mais uma rede desenvolvida para ser extremamente eficiente, tornando-a, simultaneamente, neutra em termos de emissões de carbono. Das principais contribuições deste trabalho relevam-se precisamente o modelo de compensação das emissões de CO2, com vista à neutralidade carbónica e um modelo de análise comportamental dos subscritores, dois temas ainda pouco explorados e extremamente importantes em contexto de redes futuras pós-5G

    Telecommunication Economics

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    This book constitutes a collaborative and selected documentation of the scientific outcome of the European COST Action IS0605 Econ@Tel "A Telecommunications Economics COST Network" which run from October 2007 to October 2011. Involving experts from around 20 European countries, the goal of Econ@Tel was to develop a strategic research and training network among key people and organizations in order to enhance Europe's competence in the field of telecommunications economics. Reflecting the organization of the COST Action IS0605 Econ@Tel in working groups the following four major research areas are addressed: - evolution and regulation of communication ecosystems; - social and policy implications of communication technologies; - economics and governance of future networks; - future networks management architectures and mechanisms

    A Dynamic Allocation Mechanism for Network Slicing as-a-Service

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    In my thesis, I explore the design of a market mechanism to socially efficiently allocate resources for network slicing as-a-Service. Network slicing is a novel usage concept for the upcoming 5G network standard, allowing for isolated and customized virtual networks to operate upon a larger, physical 5G network. By providing network slices as-a-Service, where the users of the network slice do not own any of the underlying resources, a larger range of use cases can be catered to. My market mechanism is a novel amalgamation of existing mechanism design solutions from economics, and the nascent computer science literature into the technical aspects of network slicing and underlying network virtualization concepts. The existing literature in computer science is focused on the operative aspects of network slicing, while economics literature is incompatible with the unique problems network slicing poses as a market. In this thesis, I bring these two strands of literature together to create a functional allocation mechanism for the network slice market. I successfully create this market mechanism in my thesis, which is split into three phases. The first phase allows for bidder input into the network slices they bid for, overcoming a trade-off between market efficiency and tractability, making truthful valuation Bayes-Nash optimal. The second phase allocates resources to bidders based on a modified VCG mechanism that forms the multiple, non-identical resources of the market into packages that are based on bidder Quality of Service demands. Allocation is optimized to be socially efficient. The third phase re-allocates vacant resources of entitled network slices according to a Generalized Second-Price auction, while allowing for the return of resources to these entitled network slices without service interruption. As a whole, the mechanism is designed to optimize the allocation of resources as much as possible to those users that create the greatest value out of them, and successfully does so

    The durable internet: preserving network neutrality without regulation

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    An important reason for the Internet\u27s remarkable growth over the last quarter century is the "end-to-end" principle that networks should confine themselves to transmitting generic packets without worrying about their contents. Not only has this made deployment of internet infrastructure cheap and efficient, but it has created fertile ground for entrepreneurship. On a network that respects the end-to-end principle, prior approval from network owners is not needed to launch new applications, services, or content. In recent years, self-styled "network neutrality" activists have pushed for legislation to prevent network owners from undermining the end-to end principle. Although the concern is understandable, such legislation would be premature. Physical ownership of internet infrastructure does not translate into a practical ability to control its use. Regulations are unnecessary because even in the absence of robust broadband competition, network owners are likely to find deviations from the end-to-end principle unprofitable

    Telecommunication Economics

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    This book constitutes a collaborative and selected documentation of the scientific outcome of the European COST Action IS0605 Econ@Tel "A Telecommunications Economics COST Network" which run from October 2007 to October 2011. Involving experts from around 20 European countries, the goal of Econ@Tel was to develop a strategic research and training network among key people and organizations in order to enhance Europe's competence in the field of telecommunications economics. Reflecting the organization of the COST Action IS0605 Econ@Tel in working groups the following four major research areas are addressed: - evolution and regulation of communication ecosystems; - social and policy implications of communication technologies; - economics and governance of future networks; - future networks management architectures and mechanisms

    Regulación y estrategias para la transformación digital eficiencia en la expansión de redes y en la provisión de bienes y servicios digitales

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    Tesis de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, leída el 06/11/2017The digital transformation taking place in the last decades is a revolution with a deep economic, social, and cultural impact. It has created enormous opportunities and also new risks. Growth, enhanced productivity, increased citizenship engagement, better democracy and social inclusion are some of the opportunities but at the same time these transformations are challenging human and consumer rights, social policies and economic efficiency. Reaching the huge potential benefits of the digital revolution requires economic analysis to guide new regulations and policies accompanying technological advancement. This thesis proposes regulations and strategies for an optimal provision of digital networks, goods and services contributing to some of the topics of focus in recent literature on digital economy. One problem is entry barriers to companies selling internet access. We contribute to the literature by analyzing one of the causes of the existence of entry barriers, the problem of how efficiently allocate the radio-spectrum. Another problem is the optimal prices to remunerate network providers, digital service providers, consumers and vendors. We contribute by examining the impact of price discrimination of internet content providers under duopolistic competition and multi-dimensional product differentiation in retail broadband access in chapter 3. Chapter 1 offers some proposals for the evaluation of the efficient allocation of spectrum to radio communication services. New approaches to spectrum management have resulted in a more efficient production of services. However, the role of the public sector is still essential in spectrum allocation. This chapter provides a methodology to measure the net benefit of the reallocation of a spectrum band intended to guide regulators and policy makers. We have identified the following facts...La transformación digital que está teniendo lugar en las últimas décadas es una revolución con un profundo impacto económico, social y cultural que ha creado enormes oportunidades y también nuevos retos. Algunas de las oportunidades son un mayor crecimiento económico, mejoras de la productividad, mayor participación ciudadana y una mayor inclusión social, pero al mismo tiempo estas transformaciones desafían los derechos de los ciudadanos y de los consumidores, las políticas sociales y la eficiencia económica. Para alcanzar el enorme potencial de la revolución digital es necesario que el análisis económico guie la regulación y las políticas que acompañan al desarrollo tecnológico. Esta tesis propone nuevas normas y estrategias para una óptima provisión de redes, bienes y servicios digitales, contribuyendo en algunos de los temas de interés de la literatura reciente sobre economía digital. Un problema es la existencia de barreras a la entrada en el mercado de provisión de servicios de acceso a internet. Contribuimos a la literatura existente sobre este asunto, analizando en los capítulos 1 y 2, una de las causas de la existencia dichas barreras, la atribución ineficiente del espectro radioeléctrico. Otro problema es la formación de precios socialmente óptima para remunerar a los proveedores de acceso a internet, los proveedores de servicios digitales, los usuarios y los vendedores de publicidad. Contribuimos a esta materia examinando en el capítulo 3 el impacto de la discriminación de precios sobre proveedores de contenidos cuando en el mercado minorista de acceso a internet existe competencia imperfecta, duopolio, y diferenciación multidimensional de producto. El capítulo 1 ofrece propuestas para la evaluación de la eficiencia de una atribución de espectro a un servicio de radiocomunicaciones. Las nuevas técnicas de gestión del espectro han dado lugar a una provisión más eficiente de los servicios. Sin embargo, el papel del sector público sigue siendo necesario en la gestión del espectro. Este capítulo ofrece una metodología para medir el beneficio neto de una re-atribución de una banda de frecuencias para guiar a reguladores y diseñadores de políticas públicas. Se han obtenido los siguientes resultados destacables...Fac. de Ciencias Económicas y EmpresarialesTRUEunpu

    Recent Advances in Machine Learning for Network Automation in the O-RAN

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    © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/The evolution of network technologies has witnessed a paradigm shift toward open and intelligent networks, with the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture emerging as a promising solution. O-RAN introduces disaggregation and virtualization, enabling network operators to deploy multi-vendor and interoperable solutions. However, managing and automating the complex O-RAN ecosystem presents numerous challenges. To address this, machine learning (ML) techniques have gained considerable attention in recent years, offering promising avenues for network automation in O-RAN. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the current research efforts on network automation using ML in O-RAN. We begin by providing an overview of the O-RAN architecture and its key components, highlighting the need for automation. Subsequently, we delve into O-RAN support for ML techniques. The survey then explores challenges in network automation using ML within the O-RAN environment, followed by the existing research studies discussing application of ML algorithms and frameworks for network automation in O-RAN. The survey further discusses the research opportunities by identifying important aspects where ML techniques can benefit.Peer reviewe
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