5g new radio performance assessment

Abstract

Each decade, a new generation of wireless cellular technology presents a step-change in what cellular wireless systems can do compared to the previous generation. It is the beginning of new wireless technology in mobile phone networks called 5th Generation Mobile Phone Network (5G), a robust technology from its predecessors. 5G New Radio (5G NR) is the first step in adapting the 5G wireless technology to the existing cellular infrastructure.

This thesis analyzes the 5G NR performance as part of the 5G test network (5GTN) deployed at the University of Oulu. The architecture of the 5GTN is a so-called non- standalone (NSA) network where the 4G Long-Term Evolution (4G-LTE) cellular network provides the control plane of the network. The performance of the 5G NR was obtained by measuring a few primary Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and data transmission measurements to observe the mobile network strength.

This thesis first described the importance of 5G and its history, the deployment timeline, the basic architecture of adaption and synchronization process with the current mobile network, and future possibilities. After that, the main KPI parameters, deployed software, and the test case environment are described, and the 5GTN architecture is also covered. Later, the test results are presented, and lastly, a brief discussion of the outcome of the test result is provided. Finally, a comparison between the 5G NR BTS cells within the test environment network is provided.

Performance measurements have been performed at the Linnanmaa campus of the University of Oulu and the surrounding premises under the 5GTN, the broadest open- access test network of 5G. The test cases were created during the time of field testing. The measurement key performance indicators (KPIs) have been carefully chosen for these test case scenarios, where the recorded result’s output were analyzed and represented clearly through this study.

Data throughput tests have been performed parallelly during the field testing within the network to assess the 5G performance in terms of data rate. Along with the KPI parameter and throughput tests, there is a clear indication that 5G NR offers the fastest connection as part of the existing mobile network infrastructure.