Fast Inter-Base Station Ring (FIBR): A New Millimeter Wave Cellular Network Architecture

Abstract

Fifth Generation (5G) Millimeter Wave (mmWave) cellular networks are expected to serve a large set of throughput-intensive, ultra-reliable, and ultra-low latency applications. To meet these stringent requirements, while minimizing the network cost, the 3 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">rd</sup> Generation Partnership Project has proposed a new transport architecture, where certain functional blocks can be placed closer to the network edge. In this architecture, however, blockages and shadowing in 5G mmWave cellular networks may lead to frequent handovers (HOs) causing significant performance degradation. To meet the ultra-reliable and low-latency requirements of applications and services in an environment with frequent HOs, we propose the Fast Inter-Base Station Ring (FIBR) architecture, where Base Stations (BSs) that are in close proximity are grouped together, interconnected by a bi-directional counter-rotating buffer insertion ring network. FIBR enables high-speed control signaling and fast-switching among BSs during HOs, while allowing the user equipment to maintain a high degree of connectivity. We demonstrate that the FIBR architecture efficiently handles frequent HO events in mmWave cellular systems, and thus more effectively satisfies the QoS requirements of 5G applications.