A Feasible Cellular Internet of Things: Enabling Edge Computing and the IoT in Dense Futuristic Cellular Networks

The cellular Internet of Things (C-IoT) with edge computing (EC) is one of the most promising technologies in fifth-generation (5G) cellular systems, which enables connecting everything to the Internet. C-IoT devices are low powered and support a longer transmission range, and they are developed to enable IoT in both dense and remote areas. Machine-type communication (MTC)/C-IoT devices need a ubiquitous connectivity, which is provided by the cellular infrastructure. As the density of these devices increases, it becomes more challenging to connect them to the cellular network within the stipulated amount of time. In this article, we look at two typical deployment scenarios of C-IoT with EC, identify the crucial challenges, and provide solutions. One solution is the RACH procedure, which enables a million devices to access the cellular network. Our emphasis is on a fast RACH procedure that allows C-IoT devices to perform a successful RACH with fewer attempts, which saves power.