Performance Evaluation of IAB-Assisted mmWave Mobile Radio Access in Dense Urban Environments

With the commercialization of Fifth-Generation (5G) technologies, the emergence of data-intensive applications has driven the need for future-generation networks to support seamless, immersive and high bandwidth services while ensuring enhanced quality of service for mobile users. To address this, Millimeter Wave (mmWave) frequency bands offer substantial potential for delivering high data rates, though, prone to blockages due to clutter, particularly in dense urban environments. Thus, Integrated-Access-and-Backhaul (IAB) deployment enables network densification by improving the line-of-sight condition to the serving node, replacing part of the optical fibre backhaul links with mmWave wireless links. This paper evaluates the IAB-enhanced cellular network performance in a Manhattan-like urban setting, across four potential network deployment scenarios, comprising candidate locations for mobile User Equipment (UE) placement. The mobile UEs can connect to the serving node, either gNodeB (gNB) that may take the role of IAB donor or IAB node, enabling the best link performance. Simulation results demonstrate significant Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise-Ratio (SINR) gains of 10dB at the 50th percentile across all IAB deployment scenarios when using the optimal path selection approach compared to forcing UEs to connect to a specific serving node, besides the best option. These SINR gains translate into improved spectral data rates, in the order of 0.11- 2.72 bps/Hz. This study emphasizes the strategic placement of IAB nodes and optimized path selection in dense urban mmWave networks to enhance the end-user experience.