5G-Waves: Wireless Access Virtualization Enabling Strategies for 5th-Generation Wireless Networks

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Virtualization has been proposed as the basis for the next-generation networking paradigm, notably in the future Internet realm. By creating multiple logical networks on a single physical substrate, it offers increased flexibility, manageability and efficiency in terms of resource utilization and energy consumption. Being a decades-old concept in computer science, only recently did it evolve to encompass the creation of virtual networks (VNs) leading to virtual functions such as virtual routers, links, base stations, etc. However, literature on wireless access virtualization (WAV) is still scarce. Some recent major initiatives, despite going great lengths to extend virtualization to wireless networks in a top-down approach from higher to lower layers, remained relatively silent on how to enable WAV at both physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers! The goal of this project is precisely to pioneer and innovate in this ultimate and most challenging front by developing WAV enabling strategies (WAVES) at PHY and MAC layers in the future context of 5th-generation wireless networks. Challenging issues in WAV arising at these layers will be exacerbated in the envisioned presence of ultra-dense heterogeneous networks (HetNet) with multi-tier cells and multiple radio access technologies (multi-RAT). Owing to the support of Huawei and TELUS, we will advocate a bottom-up approach to develop innovative cost-effective and spectrum/power-efficient transceiver designs, resource allocation schemes, and hardware platform architectures that lay - at PHY and MAC layers - the founding grounds over which WAV could be enabled. In doing so, we will adopt novel energy-efficiency design metrics that address the most pressing economic, environmental and public health concerns arising today with the proliferation of wireless networks and devices: the reduction of carbon emissions and RF power exposure. Tremendous scientific, economic and social benefits are expected from this project by i) advancing science in crucial technical areas that enable WAV, ii) facilitating the advent of the next wireless networks revolution, iii) assisting environmental/public health policies, and iv) providing top-quality HQP training in a key ICT sector.