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Multi-RAT Aggregation Through Spectrum Reallocation for Future Wireless Networks

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Abstract

Next generation wireless networks are becoming the main focus of the industry by putting efforts to launch beyond 4G (i.e. 5G) communication systems by 2020. Towards the 5G-system vision, the efficient spectrum aggregation by integrating multiple radio access technologies (multi-RAT) is one of the enablers to achieve the highest data rates. To this end, a multi-RAT aggregation is envisioned that can be provided using the spectrum reallocation technique. Spectrum reallocation among multi-RATs can provide spectrum opportunities for aggregation and, thus, the overall spectrum utilization and network capacity increase. Maintaining an optimum quality of experience (QoE) for users of different RATs in such an extremely complex network environment can be facilitated by such a multi-RAT aggregation (spectrum aggregation from different RATs), through spectrum reallocation. To this end, both network and functional architectures are specified and spectrum assignment solutions are proposed in this article. The goal is to efficiently increase the data rates supporting a required QoE for all users.

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Notes

  1. The LTE-A architecture does not incorporate any controller, and the aforementioned functionalities are implemented in a distributed way among neighbouring eNBs.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the “Spectrum Overlay through Aggregation of Heterogeneous Dispersed Bands” project, ICT-SOLDER, www.ict-solder.eu, FP7 Grant Agreement No. 619687.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I.S.I. - Industrial Systems Institute, Athena Research and Innovation Center, 265 04, Platani, Patras, Greece

    Apostolos Galanopoulos & Fotis Foukalas

  2. School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jinan University (Zhuhai Campus), Zhuhai, 519070, China

    Theodoros A. Tsiftsis

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  1. Apostolos Galanopoulos
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  2. Fotis Foukalas
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  3. Theodoros A. Tsiftsis
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Correspondence to Fotis Foukalas.

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Galanopoulos, A., Foukalas, F. & Tsiftsis, T.A. Multi-RAT Aggregation Through Spectrum Reallocation for Future Wireless Networks. Wireless Pers Commun 111, 1545–1562 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-019-06939-1

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