10 Gb/s hetsnets with millimeter-wave communications: access and networking - challenges and protocols

Heterogeneous and small cell networks (Het- SNets) increase spectral efficiency and throughput via hierarchical deployments. In order to meet the increasing requirements in capacity for future 5G wireless networks, millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications with unprecedented spectral resources have been suggested for 5G HetSNets. While the mmWave physical layer is well understood, major challenges remain for its effective and efficient implementation in Het- SNets from an access and networking point of view. Toward this end, we introduce a novel but 3GPP backwards-compatible frame structure, based on time-division duplex, which facilitates both high-capacity access and backhaul links. We then discuss networking issues arising from the multihop nature of the mmWave backhauling mesh. Finally, system-level simulations evaluate the performance of HetSNets with mmWave communications and corroborate the possibility of having capacities of tens of gigabits per second in emerging 5G systems.