LTE as a Road Toward 5G: QoS Analysis in Mobility Scenario Using the Monroe Platform

Seamless wireless connectivity and low latency communication in mobility scenarios are two fundamental requirements in the fifth generation networks to effectively cover a broader range of use cases such as massive machine type communications and ultra-reliable low-latency communications for new industrial/potential users, as well as enhanced mobile broadband for conventional users. In this paper, we aim at measuring certain key performance indicators in mobility scenarios, highlighting some practical inefficiencies that require more careful consideration when designing and enhancing mobility features of 5G networks. We investigate the round trip time, uplink throughput and the impact of handover interruption time on these metrics. Our results are based on three months experiment campaign in a mix of rural, suburban, and urban environment using the geographically distributed MONROE platform. Based on the observed discrepancies between measured and standardized LTE performance, we conclude the paper with a discussion of techniques that may need more attention for mobility scenarios in fifth generation mobile networks.