One of the most important challenges that mobile networks face nowadays, is the ability to serve the large number of devices, especially after taking into account the exponential increase in the number of devices. This challenge creates in turn a demand for efficient resource allocation that would effectively handle the physical resources of the base stations of network cells. If we consider that future networks will not discard current network infrastructures, but will attempt to build upon the existing ones, then the challenge of taking full advantage of current network physical resources in order to serve as many network users as possible is looming large.
Based on the above challenges, the main objective of ERA5G-Beyond proposal is to study, design, develop and evaluate technologies and techniques towards efficient resource allocation in 5G and Beyond Networks. Our goal consists of two different phases:
(a) In the first phase, we will examine the possibilities of current promising technologies, such as Multi-User-Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) and Downlink and Uplink Decoupling (DUDe). We will investigate possible efficiency shortcomings or loopholes that limit their performance and we will propose new mechanisms / algorithms or improve the existing ones targeting at achieving efficient allocation of physical resources.
(b) In the second phase, we will apply techniques like Machine Learning and Game Theory on the proposed mechanisms / algorithms in order to add prediction models and user fairness, which will in turn refine / optimize the performance of MU-MIMO and DUDe in terms of resource allocation, throughput, spectral efficiency and energy consumption.
Our research team, led by the Principal Investigator, has contributed to the research on mobile networks and on the abovementioned technologies providing a great number of publications. We are therefore extremely confident for the successful implementation of the proposed project.