General overview of 4G and 5G with field measurements and performance comparison
Al-Gburi, Omar (2021)
Al-Gburi, Omar
2021
Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2021-03-29
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202103112532
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202103112532
Tiivistelmä
This Master of Science thesis aims to review and compare 4G Long-Term Evolution (4G) of wireless cellular technology versus Fifth Generation (5G) of wireless cellular technology from different points of view. The main perspectives of comparison are the overall architecture, used frequency bands, frame structures, and frame configurations, the network capabilities of maximum data throughput, and latency theoretically. On the other hand, comparing the field measurements of data throughput and latency, then concluding and originating the reasons behind the mismatching between the theoretical expectations and the obtained values of measurements. The compared cellular network technologies in the theoretical part are 4G, 5G NSA, and 5G SA. In contrast, in the actual measurements, the operated cellular networks are only 4G and 5G NSA.
The conducted measurements in this thesis were performed in two environments, Urban and Suburban areas. The propagation environments were indoor, outdoor Non-Line of Sight, and outdoor. The measurements were performed in Tampere, Finland. Because of the continuous deployment of 5G networks and upgrade of 4G networks (because of 5G), three rounds of measurements have been performed.
The first round of measurements took sixteen days. The measurements were discarded after checking them because of the upgrading and deployment of networks. The second round of measurements took five days. This round was discarded for the same reasons as before. The third round of measurements took eight days. This round of measurements was successful; therefore, it was considered and progressed.
The utilized cellular network in measurement progress was “Elisa”. The 5G phase during the time of measurements was still being deployed, and thus 5G coverage was not available in some locations or times during the measurements. Therefore, more capacity, coverage, and better performance are still expected in the future (5G is not ready yet for typical coverage and expected capacity).
OnePlus 8 5G was used as User Equipment (UE) to perform both 4G and 5G measurements. The UE has been forced to operate on 4G mode during the measurements of 4G and on 5G mode during the 5G measurements. Static locations have been chosen to perform the measurements of each of 4G and 5G.
The results and their analysis are giving an idea about 4G and 5G cellular networks performance in Urban and Suburban areas with indoor, Non-Line of Sight, and Line of Sight outdoor propagation environments. That idea can be beneficial for understanding the 4G and 5G cellular networks performance and in 4G and 5G performance-enhancing in specific areas or spots, networks planning and deploying of 4G and 5G. The measurements and the scenarios of conducting them can form a foundation for more expanded and complicated scenarios and more intense measurements. The overall results have shown that 5G offers 11 % less latency, 18 % higher upload throughput, and 30 % higher download throughput, than 4G. The overall results have shown that 5G offered an overall 16 % less latency, 22 % higher upload throughput, and 37 % higher download throughput than 4G in the Urban area. The overall results have shown that 5G offered an overall 8 % less latency, 13 % higher upload throughput, and 24 % higher download throughput than 4G in the Suburban area. Overall, the 5G service in outdoor propagation environments was much better than 4G. In comparison, the case is opposite in indoor propagation environments unless the 5G received signal level is high enough to guarantee good 5G service quality and performance at UE (location 11).
The conducted measurements in this thesis were performed in two environments, Urban and Suburban areas. The propagation environments were indoor, outdoor Non-Line of Sight, and outdoor. The measurements were performed in Tampere, Finland. Because of the continuous deployment of 5G networks and upgrade of 4G networks (because of 5G), three rounds of measurements have been performed.
The first round of measurements took sixteen days. The measurements were discarded after checking them because of the upgrading and deployment of networks. The second round of measurements took five days. This round was discarded for the same reasons as before. The third round of measurements took eight days. This round of measurements was successful; therefore, it was considered and progressed.
The utilized cellular network in measurement progress was “Elisa”. The 5G phase during the time of measurements was still being deployed, and thus 5G coverage was not available in some locations or times during the measurements. Therefore, more capacity, coverage, and better performance are still expected in the future (5G is not ready yet for typical coverage and expected capacity).
OnePlus 8 5G was used as User Equipment (UE) to perform both 4G and 5G measurements. The UE has been forced to operate on 4G mode during the measurements of 4G and on 5G mode during the 5G measurements. Static locations have been chosen to perform the measurements of each of 4G and 5G.
The results and their analysis are giving an idea about 4G and 5G cellular networks performance in Urban and Suburban areas with indoor, Non-Line of Sight, and Line of Sight outdoor propagation environments. That idea can be beneficial for understanding the 4G and 5G cellular networks performance and in 4G and 5G performance-enhancing in specific areas or spots, networks planning and deploying of 4G and 5G. The measurements and the scenarios of conducting them can form a foundation for more expanded and complicated scenarios and more intense measurements. The overall results have shown that 5G offers 11 % less latency, 18 % higher upload throughput, and 30 % higher download throughput, than 4G. The overall results have shown that 5G offered an overall 16 % less latency, 22 % higher upload throughput, and 37 % higher download throughput than 4G in the Urban area. The overall results have shown that 5G offered an overall 8 % less latency, 13 % higher upload throughput, and 24 % higher download throughput than 4G in the Suburban area. Overall, the 5G service in outdoor propagation environments was much better than 4G. In comparison, the case is opposite in indoor propagation environments unless the 5G received signal level is high enough to guarantee good 5G service quality and performance at UE (location 11).