On Exploiting User Equipment Relaying Capabilities in Beyond 5G Networks: Opportunities, Challenges, and Road Map

Abstract

Mobile Network Operators are facing significant expenditures in deploying 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) infrastructure to achieve the level of densification required for meeting the new services demands. This will be exacerbated in Beyond 5G scenarios, which envisage the operation in high frequency bands with poor propagation. Therefore, operators need to find new and cost-efficient ways of managing and deploying their infrastructure. In this context, sustained on the technological evolution of the User Equipment (UE) and on recent standardization initiatives, this paper proposes an upgraded Beyond 5G system based on augmenting the RAN through the exploitation of UE-to-network relaying capabilities for optimizing the coverage footprint and for bringing edge computing capabilities closer to the users. The paper presents the baseline enabling technologies for realizing this concept. discusses the key architectural requirements and challenges for each one and presents a possible implementation roadmap, supported by some evaluation results, which reflect that relaying can improve the throughput in a factor 6 and reduce outage probability in around 80%.