On Design and Engineering of Radio Access Networks for Beyond 5G Wireless

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The world is pacing toward a new era where billions of devices such as mobile phones, sensor devices, smart meters, and wearables will be connected to the Internet to create the Internet-of-Things (IoT). The fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology is considered as a promising enabler for IoT. The 5G New Radio (NR) Release-15 specifications, which bring a large number of new technology options, have been completed and the development of the specifications for Release-16, the second phase of 5G, is underway. While 5G technologies are expected to be rolled out by 2020, there will be numerous opportunities to optimize them and further advance them toward developing the beyond 5G (B5G) systems in order to achieve the ultimate vision of Internet-of-Everything (IoE).  The ultra-densification of network elements and integration of terrestrial cellular systems with non-terrestrial wireless communications infrastructures (e.g. aerial base stations or drones) for dynamic, flexible, and agile radio access, harmonious convergence of 5G communications with edge caching, computing, and software-defined networking technologies, data-driven optimization and control of wireless and mobile network operations, and last but not the least, energy sustainable operations of wireless networks and devices will be among the key features of B5G technology. The long-term objective of this research is to contribute to the development of modeling, optimization, and control techniques for B5G cellular networks by using tools and insights from wireless communications, stochastic geometry, queueing, machine learning, game and decision theory, optimization, and economic theory. To address the long-term goal, the following short-term objectives will be pursued: (i) Topic 1: Modeling, analysis, and optimization of ultra-dense and heterogeneous cellular networks considering both spatial and temporal parameters, and also designing their control mechanisms, (ii) Topic 2: Development of methods for wireless edge caching, computing, and network virtualization for B5G networks; (iii) Topic 3: Development of methods to reduce energy consumption and sustainability of B5G networks; and (iv) Topic 4: Development of machine learning techniques for resource management in B5G networks.  The proposed research will develop some theoretical foundations, fundamental results, and optimization methods for B5G cellular networks that account for their ultra-dense and heterogeneous (e.g. terrestrial and non-terrestrial) nature as well as intrinsic uncertainties. These will be elementary to understand network operation, identify bottlenecks, obtain performance guarantees, benchmark performance, optimize network control parameters, assess new technologies, and provide insights into further enhancing these technologies. The program will train 20 HQPs at the different levels.  It is poised to enhance Canada's position as a world leader in research innovations in wireless technologies.