TCP performance evaluation over multi-hop cellular network: HSDPA and IEEE 802.11

Next generation communication networks will comprise third-generation (3G) cellular and multi-hop ad hoc networks. The paper has evaluated the end-to-end performance of TCP over a multi-hop cellular network that comprises the enhanced universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), namely, HSDPA and the IEEE 802.11 ad hoc networks for bulk data transfers under different HSDPA radio channel quality as well as number of hops. The throughput simulation results show that bottleneck of the multi-hop cellular network shifted between the UMTS/HSDPA network and the ad hoc network based on the different channel quality and number of hops. Ad hoc network can increase the service range of cellular network, and also improve the performance for the end-user who experiences bad channel conditions. Moreover, the relation between HSDPA radio channel usage and end-to-end user experience under different network configurations and channel conditions is also revealed. Our result can be used to select optimal routes and system performance optimization.