5G Wireless Network Support
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5G Wireless Network Support Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Rural and Low-Income Areas. Author: Hloniphani Maluleke Supervisor: Prof. B.A. Bagula Department of Computer Science University of the Western Cape Bellville, R.S.A. Version II November 2020 http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ © November 2020, by Hloniphani Maluleke. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ ABSTRACT The fifth-generation mobile network (5G) is a new global wireless standard that enables state- of-the-art mobile networks with enhanced cellular broadband services that support a diversity of devices. Even with the current worldwide advanced state of broadband connectivity, most rural and low-income settings lack minimum Internet connectivity because there are no economic incentives from telecommunication providers to deploy wireless communication systems in these areas. Using a team of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to extend or solely supply the 5G coverage is a great opportunity for these zones to benefit from the advantages promised by this new communication technology. However, the deployment and applications of innovative technology in rural locations need extensive research. This thesis proposes and evaluates the performance of a 5G network architecture where a Low Altitude Platform (LAP) is used as a base station providing coverage to several UAVs carrying 5G devices in a prescribed area. Furthermore, an economic feasibility study was conducted to estimate the operational and capital expenditure of deploying the 5G network using UAVs. Both network evaluation and economic feasibility studies are conducted under rural settings of South Africa, specifically: i) the district municipalities of Mopani, Vhembe, Waterberg, Chris- Hani, and Frances Baard; ii) townships of Soweto, Duduza, Lulekani and Khayelitsha; iii) rural locations of Hlankomo, Mandileni, Gon’on’o; and iv) Zeerust town. In wireless communication, most of the energy is consumed during data transmission and packet control. A clustering approach has been adopted for the engineering feasibility of the team of UAVs topology, to ensure reliable and energy-efficient 5G network coverage. Additionally, two clustering models were proposed and evaluated in this work, which are: multi-sink airborne network with inter-cluster communication through the LAP (MSLBACK) and multi-sink airborne network with an inter-cluster communication through UAV gateways (MSGBACK). The experimental results proved that, when the proposed models are benchmarked against several myopic approaches, they lead to better resource utilisation by ensuring that all the UAVs were actively involved in providing 5G connectivity to ground users; as against the myopic approaches with isolated UAVs and subsequent waste of network resources. The economic analyses reveal that implementing the proposed 5G network architecture in a rural area requires minimal investment yet yields a high internal rate of returns within a short period by having users pay as little as R0.20c per GB of data bundles. Keywords – Clustering, Low Altitude Platform, Energy Efficiency, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Wireless Sensor Network, Fifth Generation Network, Economic Analysis. I http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ PUBLICATIONS As at the time of writing, one paper has been accepted for publication from this thesis, while a second is being finalised for submission. i. H. Maluleke, A. Bagula and O. Ajayi, “Efficient Airborne Network Clustering for 5G Backhauling and Fronthauling,” 2020 16th International Conference on Wireless and Mobile Computing, Networking and Communications (WiMob), Thessaloniki, Greece, 2020, pp. 99-104, DOI: 10.1109/WiMob50308.2020.9253390. ii. Maluleke, H., et al. “5G Drones as a Service to Rural and Low-Income Communities: An Economic Feasibility Study”, UWC Technical Report on 5G Drones. under journal submission. II http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ DECLARATION I, Hloniphani Maluleke, declare that this Masters by Research thesis has been composed solely by myself, under the supervision of Prof. B.A. Bagula, and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, in any previous application for a degree or professional qualification. Except where stated otherwise by reference or acknowledgement, the work presented is entirely my own. I confirm that this dissertation presented for the degree of “MSc. Computer Science”, titled “5G Wireless Network Support: Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Rural and Low-Income Areas”, has: i. Been solely the result of my work. ii. No more than 55,000 words in length, including quotes and exclusive of tables, figures, appendices, bibliography, references, and footnotes. iii. No more than 150 pages of the dissertation content. iv. Introductory, review of the latest literature, system design, discussion, and conclusion chapters, respectively. Moreover, discussion chapters incorporate research design and results. Student No. 3219279 e-Mail [email protected] Signature Date Wednesday, 25 November 2020 III http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ CONTENTS 2.4 5G Enabling Technologies. 33 2.4.1 Network Programmability. 33 2.4.2 Cloud and Virtual Technology. 33 I. Introduction ....................................... 1 2.4.3 Service Orchestration and Management. 34 2.4.4 Guaranteed Service and Network Monitoring. 36 2.4.5 Multi-tenancy Support. 36 2.4.6 Embedding of Virtual Functions. 37 1.1 Fifth Generation Mobile Network. 2 2.4.7 Multi-Operators. 37 2.4.8 Lifecycle Management. 37 1.2 Research Gaps. 5 2.5 Summary of Related Literature. 38 1.3 Problem Statement. 6 2.6 Concise Related Works. 43 1.4 Research Objectives. 8 III. Network Orchestration ................. 44 1.5 Challenges. 8 1.5.1 Economic feasibility issues. 8 1.5.2 Engineering feasibility issues. 10 3.1 Networking Technologies. 45 1.6 Research Questions. 12 3.2 Key Features of 5G Technology. 46 1.6.1 Backhauling techniques. 12 1.6.2 Network operation. 12 3.3 Conceptual Model. 49 1.7 Research Contribution and Scope. 13 1.7.1 Research contribution. 13 3.4 Defining the Network Topology. 51 1.7.2 Research scope. 14 3.4.1 Envisioned Network Coverage Model. 52 3.4.2 Commodity and Dedicated Hardware. 53 3.4.3 Balloon Remote Radio Head. 54 1.8 Dissertation Outline. 15 3.4.4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Radio Head. 55 3.4.5 Cellular Tower Network Coverage. 56 3.4.6 Fibre Optical Network. 58 3.4.7 Communication Links. 59 II. Related Works ................................ 17 3.4.8 Delay Tolerant Network. 60 2.1 UAVs-aware projects. 18 3.5 Energy Model. 61 2.1.1 Saving Lives. 18 2.1.2 Ericsson and China Mobile Project. 19 2.1.3 Project Loon. 19 3.6 Radio Coverage Model. 62 2.1.4 SkyBender. 19 3.6.1 Radio Propagation Model. 63 2.1.5 AT&T and Qualcomm LTE Project. 19 3.6.2 Free-Space Path Loss. 65 2.1.6 Aquila. 20 3.6.3 Topology Locality. 67 3.6.4 Optimum Horizontal Placement. 67 3.6.5 Optimum Altitude for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. 69 2.2 Summary of the Projects. 20 3.6.6 Network Topology Overview. 70 3.6.7 Physical Infrastructure and Deployment. 71 3.6.8 FANET Configuration. 72 2.3 Literature Review. 20 2.3.1 A glance at the Fifth Generation Network. 22 2.3.2 Aerial and Terrestrial Backhauling Technology. 27 3.7 Network Provision. 75 2.3.3 Topology Optimisation using Clustering Techniques. 28 2.3.4 Network Operational Analysis. 31 3.8 Coverage Task Allocation. 75 IV http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ 3.9 Summary. 76 5.4.3 Backhauling Models. 122 5.4.4 Summary of Clustering Techniques. 123 IV. Economic Feasibility ..................... 77 5.5 Wireless Network Simulations. 123 5.5.1 Experimental Configurations. 123 5.5.2 Comparing the Clustering Techniques. 124 4.1 Introduction. 78 5.5.3 Monte-Carlos Simulations. 125 5.5.4 Coverage over a Terrain Map. 130 4.2 Research Questions. 78 5.6 Network Links Allocation. 135 5.6.1 Allocation Models. 135 5.6.2 Results. 137 4.3 Economic Model Foundation. 79 4.3.1 Assumptions and Scope. 79 4.3.2 Deployment scenarios and sites. 80 5.7 Summary 147 4.3.3 Commercial Feasibility Objectives. 87 4.4 Prospective Business Model. 87 VI. Conclusion ................................... 148 4.4.1 Service Provision Plan. 87 4.4.2 Business Models. 90 4.4.3 5G Enabled Applications and Use Cases. 92 6.1 Dissertation Objectives. 148 4.5 Studying Business Expenditure. 96 6.2 Concise Summary. 148 4.5.1 Capital Expenditure. 97 6.2.1 Literature Review. 148 4.5.2 Operational Expenditure. 103 6.2.2 Network Orchestration. 148 6.2.3 Economic Analysis. 149 6.2.4 Network Review. 149 4.6 Revenues Over Time. 104 4.6.1 Revenue Analysis. 105 4.6.2 Cash Flows Analysis. 106 6.3 Deductions and Views. 149 4.6.3 Internal Rate of Returns. 107 4.7 End-User Subscription Fee. 109 6.4 Future Work. 150 4.7.1 Monthly Subscription Fee. 110 4.7.2 Capped Subscription Fee. 110 Appendices ......................................... VI-1 4.8 Summary. 112 A. Reference Hyperlinks. VI-1 i. Acronyms. VI-1 V. Network Engineering ................... 113 ii. List of Figures. VI-3 iii. List of Tables. VI-6 iv. List of Equations. VI-7 v. List of Algorithms. VI-7 5.1 Introduction. 114 B. Supporting Extras. VI-8 5.2 Research Questions. 114 i. Algorithms. VI-8 ii. Simulation Tools. VI-9 iii. Network Links. VI-11 5.3 Network Foundation. 114 iv. Case Study. VI-21 5.3.1 Assumptions. 115 5.3.2 Deployment Scenarios. 115 5.3.3 Network Analysis Objectives. 116 Bibliography .................................... VI-32 5.4 Clustering Techniques. 116 5.4.1 Coordinator Selection using a Profit Function. 117 5.4.2 Clustering Models. 117 V http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ I. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to discover if the new Fifth-Generation (5G) cellular network can be effectively deployed in rural and low-income areas of the Republic of South Africa, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); and doing this in a way that potential clients pay a reasonable monthly subscription fee for unlimited Internet connection, whilst being profitable to the Mobile Service Providers (MSPs).