An Evaluation of the Physical Layer Characterization of 5G Networks

The Next-Generation Network (NGN), referred to as the Fifth Generation (5G) network, is required to provide users with very high data rates, extremely low latency, massive connectivity, network reliability, and energy efficiency for a wide range of applications. 5G will only achieve these goals through the help of vital enabling technologies such as millimeter Wave (mmWave) communication system, massive Multi Input Multi Output (mMIMO) technology, Heterogeneous Network systems (HetNets), each with varying propagation characteristics and underlying channel conditions. This research aims at conducting an evaluation of the physical layer characteristics of 5G network, by modeling the diverse channel conditions, and comparing them in terms of the average sum and cumulative density function (CDF) of the spectral efficiency (SE), signal to interference noise ratio (SNR), power consumption, and general energy efficiency respectively. The MATLAB tool is employed to perform channel modeling, resource allocation, channel estimation, and simulation for the different 5G Channels. The results indicate that mmWave technology operating a mMIMO system presents a higher SE when related to the number of Base Station (BS) antennas used in both Line of Sight (LOS) and Non-Line of Sight (NLoS) deployments. The HetNet system, however, yields greater spectral efficiency when related to the number of User Equipments (UEs) connected. Furthermore, the mMIMO also shows a faster response in overall SE when the number of connections are relatively small as compared to other technologies. This is due to the lower bandwidth and operations below 6 GHz frequencies. In terms of backup power for the UEs in a dense network, mMIMO deployment shows a faster response with more effective SE.