Machine-type communications: current status and future perspectives toward 5G systems

TLDR

Machine‑type communications enable a wide array of mission‑critical and mass‑deployment applications, and cellular networks are being explored to provide ubiquitous, low‑cost, mobile connectivity, yet key service‑function challenges limit their widespread adoption. This article maps MTC service requirements to their challenges and aims to build a comprehensive understanding of these issues and potential solutions. The authors outline a roadmap from current cellular technologies to fully MTC‑capable 5G mobile systems.

Abstract

Machine-type communications (MTC) enables a broad range of applications from mission- critical services to massive deployment of autonomous devices. To spread these applications widely, cellular systems are considered as a potential candidate to provide connectivity for MTC devices. The ubiquitous deployment of these systems reduces network installation cost and provides mobility support. However, based on the service functions, there are key challenges that currently hinder the broad use of cellular systems for MTC. This article provides a clear mapping between the main MTC service requirements and their associated challenges. The goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of these challenges and the potential solutions. This study presents, in part, a roadmap from the current cellular technologies toward fully MTC-capable 5G mobile systems.