Search Results (197)

The rapid expansion of wireless communication in urban environments requires antenna systems that balance high electromagnetic performance with stringent aesthetic and security constraints. This review examines recent advances in concealed antenna technologies integrated into building structures, with a focus on performance variation, material-induced attenuation, and emerging concealment strategies. Techniques such as transparent conductors on glass, structural embedding within walls, and camouflage-based designs are shown to significantly influence resonance behavior, radiation efficiency, and pattern characteristics compared to free-space operation. Despite these challenges, optimized solutions including transparent conductive oxide arrays, wideband embedded antenna geometries, and metasurface-enhanced window structures can partially recover performance while maintaining optical transparency above 70%. Material loading effects are found to induce resonant frequency shifts of approximately 10–44%, depending on dielectric properties and environmental conditions. Transparent antenna arrays achieve gains ranging from 0.34 to 13.2 dBi, while signal-transmissive wall systems demonstrate transmission improvements of up to 22 dB relative to untreated building materials. These technologies enable a wide range of applications, including 5G and beyond-5G cellular networks across sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave bands, as well as Internet of Things systems and smart city infrastructure. However, key challenges remain, including the need for comprehensive characterization of building material electromagnetic properties, optimization of multilayer structural environments, and the development of standardized design and evaluation methodologies. This review provides a unified framework for understanding the tradeoffs associated with antenna concealment and identifies critical research directions for the development of building-integrated wireless systems in next-generation communication networks. Full article

Uplink/downlink (UL/DL) decoupled access has emerged as a promising paradigm for heterogeneous cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) networks in beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G systems. In multi-operator scenarios, wireless service provider (WSP) selection becomes critical for vehicles to ensure communication quality while minimizing costs. This paper investigates the performance analysis and WSP selection problem in UL/DL decoupled access C-V2X networks. We derive tractable expressions for spectral efficiency of both UL and DL using stochastic geometry, considering three decoupled access cases where UL and DL independently associate with macro base stations (MBSs) or small base stations (SBSs). We formulate a hierarchical game framework combining evolutionary game for vehicle WSP selection and non-cooperative game for WSP bandwidth allocation. An evolutionary game algorithm is proposed to reach the equilibrium, and the uniqueness of Nash equilibrium in bandwidth allocation is proved. Extensive simulations validate the analytical results and demonstrate the convergence and stability of the proposed game framework. Full article

As mobile networks evolve toward Beyond 5G and 6G architectures, energy efficiency and sustainability have become increasingly critical due to growing traffic volumes, denser base station deployments, and the rising number of connected devices. Supporting Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) services is particularly challenging, as their stringent requirements for both high reliability and minimal latency can lead to a significant increase in energy consumption within the radio access network. This paper examines slot structure mechanisms for concurrently servicing URLLC and enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) traffic within the 5G Advanced framework, with a focus on improving energy efficiency and optimizing radio resource utilization. We propose an adaptive algorithm for managing radio interface time resources, which dynamically allocates sub-slots based on current network load and radio channel conditions. The system model is implemented in Simulink and incorporates URLLC and eMBB traffic generation, signal-to-noise ratio estimation, and a priority-based scheduling mechanism. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach meets URLLC latency and reliability requirements while reducing redundant transmissions and enhancing the energy efficiency of the radio access network. These findings position the proposed method as a promising solution for the design of energy-efficient, next-generation mobile networks. Full article

The actual implementation of fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks faces persistent challenges, including environmental interference and limited coverage, which compromise transmission stability and network feasibility. Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) have emerged as a promising technology to dynamically reconfigure wireless propagation environments and enhance communication quality. To fully unlock the potential of RIS, this paper proposes a novel deployment strategy based on Double Deep Q-Networks (DDQNs) that jointly optimizes the RIS placement and phase shift configuration to maximize the system sum-rate. Specifically, the coverage area is discretized into a grid, and at each candidate location, a DDQN-based method is developed to solve the corresponding non-convex phase optimization problem. Simulation results reveal that our proposed strategy significantly surpasses conventional benchmark schemes, resulting in a sum-rate improvement of up to 38.41%. The study provides a practical and efficient pre-deployment framework for RIS-enhanced wireless networks. Full article

The rapid evolution of wireless communication toward Fifth Generation (5G) networks has enabled unprecedented performance improvement in terms of data rate, latency, reliability, sustainability, and connectivity. Recent years have witnessed an excessive deployment of new 5G networks worldwide. This deployment lead to an exponential growth in traffic flow and a massive number of connected devices requiring a new generation of energy-hungry base stations (BSs). This results in increased power consumption, higher operational costs, and greater environmental impact, making energy efficiency (EE) a critical research challenge. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of EE optimization strategies in 5G networks. It reviews the transition from traditional methods such as resources allocation, energy harvesting, BS sleep modes, and power control to modern artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions employing machine learning, deep reinforcement learning, and self-organizing networks (SON). Comparative analyses highlight the trade-offs between energy savings, network performance, and implementation complexity. Finally, the paper outlines key open issues and future directions toward sustainable 5G and beyond-5G (B5G/Sixth Generation (6G)) systems, emphasizing explainable AI, zero-energy communications, and holistic green network design. Full article

This work presents the fabrication and characterization of a bow-tie antenna integrated uni-traveling carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) on a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate for efficient terahertz (THz) wave generation. The proposed device exploits the superior thermal conductivity and mechanical robustness of SiC to overcome the self-heating limitations associated with conventional indium phosphide (InP)-based photodiodes. An epitaxial layer transfer technique was utilized to bond InP/InGaAs UTC-PD structures onto SiC. The study systematically examines the influence of critical geometric parameters, specifically the mesa diameter and length between the antenna arms, on the emitted THz intensity in the 300 GHz frequency band. Experimental results show that the THz radiation efficiency is primarily governed by the mesa diameter, reflecting the trade-off between light absorption, device capacitance, and bandwidth, while the length between the antenna arms exhibits only a weak influence within the investigated parameter range. The fabricated device demonstrates strong linearity between photocurrent and THz output power up to 7.5 mA, after which saturation occurs due to space-charge effects. This work provides crucial insights for optimizing SiC-based bow-tie antenna integrated UTC-PD devices to realize robust, high-power THz sources vital for future high-data-rate wireless communication systems such as beyond 5G and 6G networks. Full article

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are playing increasingly important roles in military operations, disaster relief, agriculture, and communications. However, their performance is limited by energy management problems, especially in hybrid systems such as those combining fuel cells with a lithium battery. The potential of deep learning to significantly improve UAV power management is investigated in this work through adaptive forecasting and real-time optimization. We develop smart algorithms that automatically balance energy efficiency and communication performance for heterogeneous wireless networks. The simulation results demonstrate energy consumption savings, optimized flight altitudes, and spectral efficiency improvements compared to Fixed Weight and Fuzzy Logic Weight schemes. At saturated user densities, the model enables up to 42% lower energy consumption and 54% higher throughput. Moreover, predictive models based on recurrent and transformer-based deep networks allow UAVs to predict energy requirements over a variety of mission and environmental contexts, shifting from reactive approaches to proactive control. The adoption of these methods in UAV-aided beyond-5G (B5G) and future 6G network scenarios can potentially prolong endurance times and enhance mission connectivity and reliability in challenging environments. This work lays the foundation for an all-aspect framework to control and manage UAV energy in the 5G era, which takes advantage of not only deep learning but also edge computing and hybrid power systems. Deep learning is confirmed to be a keystone of sustainable, autonomous, and energy-aware UAVs operation for next-generation networks. Full article

Ultra-dense heterogeneous cellular networks in 6G and beyond face an escalating vulnerability to cell outages stemming from complex issues like parameter misconfigurations, hidden conflicts among Autonomous Network Functions (ANFs), multivendor incompatibility, and software/hardware failures. While ANF-based automated fault detection is a core capability for next-generation networks, existing solutions are predominantly reactive, identifying faults only after reliability is compromised. To overcome this critical limitation and maintain high service quality, a proactive fault prediction capability is essential. We introduce a novel Discrete-Time Markov Chain (DTMC)-based stochastic framework designed to model network reliability dynamics. This framework forecasts the transition of a cell from normal operation to suboptimal or degraded states, offering a crucial shift from reactive to proactive fault management. Our model rigorously quantifies the effects of fault arrivals, estimates the fraction of time the network remains degraded, and, uniquely, identifies sensitive parameters whose misconfigurations pose the most significant threat to performance. Numerical evaluations demonstrate the model’s high applicability in accurately predicting both the timing and probable causes of faults. By enabling true anticipation and mitigation, this framework is a key enabler for significantly reducing the cell outage time and enhancing the reliability and resilience of next-generation wireless networks. Full article

To meet the escalating data demands of 5G and beyond networks, densified Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) provide a promising solution, deploying small base stations for improved spectral and energy efficiency. However, HetNets pose challenges, particularly in user association. This journal introduces the Downlink/Uplink Decoupling (DUDe) approach, which enhances uplink performance in HetNets by allowing different access points for uplink and downlink associations. We assess DUDe’s energy efficiency through extensive simulations across various scenarios, demonstrating substantial energy savings compared to centralized 5G systems. Our findings underscore the importance of energy-efficient design for reducing network operational costs and carbon footprint in 5G networks. In addition to energy efficiency gains, DUDe also offers improved resource allocation and network flexibility, making it a valuable solution for evolving wireless communication ecosystems. Full article

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) have emerged as a promising enabler for beyond-5G and 6G networks, offering controllable propagation environments to enhance coverage and spectral efficiency. This study investigates and compares multiple RIS configuration strategies, including analytical baselines such as the phase gradient reflector (PGR) and focusing lens (FL), optimization-driven approaches via gradient-based optimization (GBO), and learning-assisted designs through hybrid Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) and CNN-based gating. A unified simulation framework was developed to evaluate amplitude and phase profiles, expert-selection heatmaps, and coverage improvement maps, alongside a detailed analysis of the average path gain evolution over iterations. Quantitative results show that PGR and FL achieve average path gains of −112 dB and −97 dB, respectively, while GBO attains the highest gain of approximately −92 dB. The Hybrid MoE achieves −93.5 dB with localized coverage enhancements exceeding 40 dB, whereas CNN-gating maintains smoother and more generalized coverage improvements up to 20 dB. Results demonstrate that while PGR and FL provide predictable yet limited performance, GBO yields the highest path gain at the cost of computational complexity. MoE balances interpretability and adaptability through smoother expert-weight distributions, whereas CNN-gating enforces sharper, binary-like spatial decisions, enhancing coverage in challenging blind spots. The comparative findings highlight a performance spectrum ranging from interpretable analytical models to highly adaptive learning-based schemes, revealing trade-offs between flexibility, computational cost, and generalization capability, while also underlining RIS’s potential for sustainable and energy-efficient networking. These insights position hybrid and learning-driven RIS designs as promising candidates for scalable, adaptive deployment in future wireless systems. Full article

Beyond-5G wireless systems increasingly rely on distributed massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) architectures to achieve high spectral efficiency, low latency, and wide coverage. A key challenge in such networks is that cooperating base stations (BSs) often possess different levels of channel state information (CSI) due to fronthaul constraints, user mobility, or hardware limitation. In this paper, we propose two novel detectors that enable cooperation between BSs with differing CSI availability. In this setup, some BSs have access to instantaneous CSI, while others only have long-term channel information. The proposed detectors—termed the coherent/non-coherent (CNC) detector and the differential CNC detector—integrate coherent and non-coherent approaches to signal detection. This framework allows BSs with only long-term information to actively contribute to the detection process, while leveraging instantaneous CSI where available. This approach enables the system to integrate the advantages of non-coherent detection with the precision of coherent processing, improving overall performance without requiring full CSI at all cooperating BSs. We formulate the detectors based on the maximum likelihood (ML) criterion and derive analytical expressions for their pairwise block error probabilities under Rayleigh fading channels. Leveraging the pairwise block error probability expression for the CNC detector, we derive a tight upper bound on the average block error probability. Numerical results show that the CNC and differential CNC detectors outperform their respective single-BS baseline-coherent ML and non-coherent differential detection. Moreover, both detectors demonstrate strong resilience to mid-to-high range correlation at the BS antennas. Full article

This paper presents a Deep Autoencoder–LDPC–OFDM (DAE–LDPC–OFDM) transceiver architecture that integrates a learned belief propagation (BP) decoder to achieve robust, energy-efficient, and adaptive wireless communication. Unlike conventional modular systems that treat encoding, modulation, and decoding as independent stages, the proposed framework performs end-to-end joint optimization of all components, enabling dynamic adaptation to varying channel and noise conditions. The learned BP decoder introduces trainable parameters into the iterative message-passing process, allowing adaptive refinement of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) statistics and enhancing decoding accuracy across diverse SNR regimes. Extensive experimental results across multiple datasets and channel scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design. At 10 dB SNR, the DAE–LDPC–OFDM achieves a BER of 1.72% and BLER of 2.95%, outperforming state-of-the-art models such as Transformer–OFDM, CNN–OFDM, and GRU–OFDM by 25–30%, and surpassing traditional LDPC–OFDM systems by 38–42% across all tested datasets. The system also achieves a PAPR reduction of 26.6%, improving transmitter power amplifier efficiency, and maintains a low inference latency of 3.9 ms per frame, validating its suitability for real-time applications. Moreover, it maintains reliable performance under time-varying, interference-rich, and multipath fading channels, confirming its robustness in realistic wireless environments. The results establish the DAE–LDPC–OFDM as a high-performance, power-efficient, and scalable architecture capable of supporting the demands of 6G and beyond, delivering superior reliability, low-latency performance, and energy-efficient communication in next-generation intelligent networks. Full article

With the rapid growth of wireless devices, security has become a key research concern in beyond-5G (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) networks. Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), one of the supporting technologies, is a strong contender to enable massive connectivity, increase spectrum efficiency, and guarantee high-quality access for a sizable user base. Furthermore, the scientific community has recently paid close attention to the effects of hardware impairments (HIs). The safe transmission of NOMA in a two-user uplink relay network is examined in this paper, taking into account both hardware limitations and the existence of listening devices. Each time frame in a mobile network environment comprises two phases in which users use a relay (R) to interact with the base station ($BS$). The research focuses on scenarios where a malicious device attempts to intercept the uplink signals transmitted by users through the R. Using important performance and security metrics, such as connection outage probability (COP), secrecy outage probability (SOP), and intercept probability (IP), system behavior is evaluated. To assess the system’s security and reliability under the proposed framework, closed-form analytical expressions are derived for SOP, IP, and COP. The simulation results provide the following insights: (i) they validate the accuracy of the derived analytical expressions; (ii) the study significantly deepens the understanding of secure NOMA uplink transmission under the influence of HIs across all the network entities, paving the way for future practical implementations; and (iii) the results highlight the superior performance of secure and reliable NOMA uplink systems compared to benchmark orthogonal multiple access (OMA) counterparts when both operate under the same HI conditions. Furthermore, an extended model without a relay is considered for comparison with the proposed relay-assisted scheme. Moreover, the numerical results indicate that the proposed communication model achieves over 90% reliability (with a COP below 0.1) and provides approximately a 30% improvement in SOP compared to conventional OMA-based systems under the same HI conditions. Full article

The integration of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) into wireless networks is a promising paradigm for enhancing spectral efficiency and coverage in beyond-5G systems. However, in multiuser downlink scenarios, the joint optimization of discrete RIS phase shifts and user scheduling presents a high-dimensional combinatorial challenge due to their tight coupling, which is often intractable with conventional methods. Furthermore, conventional RISs are limited by their unidirectional signal reflection, creating coverage blind spots. To address these issues, this paper first investigates a multi-user scheduling system assisted by a conventional RIS. We employed a vector projection relaxation method to transform the complex joint optimization problem, and then used an algorithm based on particle swarm optimization to jointly optimize the discrete phase shift and user scheduling. Simulation results demonstrate that this proposed algorithm significantly improves the system’s achievable data rate compared to existing benchmarks. Subsequently, to overcome the fundamental coverage limitation of conventional RISs, we extend our framework to two advanced systems: double-RIS and Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting RIS (STAR-RIS). For the STAR-RIS system, leveraging its energy-splitting protocol, we develop a novel joint optimization algorithm for phase shifts, amplitudes, and user scheduling based on an alternating optimization framework. This constitutes another significant contribution, as it effectively manages the added complexity of simultaneous transmission and reflection control. Simulations confirm that the STAR-RIS-assisted system, optimized by our algorithm, not only eliminates coverage blind spots but also surpasses the performance of traditional RIS, offering new perspectives for optimizing next-generation wireless communication networks. Full article

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have become increasingly crucial, particularly with the standardization of fifth-generation (5G) technology. In parallel, the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has amplified the need for human-centric solutions in 5G and beyond (5 GB) systems. To address diverse communication requirements from a human-centric perspective, leveraging the advantages of both terrestrial networks (TNs) and NTNs has emerged as a key focus for 5 GB communications. In this paper, a machine learning (ML)-based approach is proposed to facilitate decision making between TN and NTN networks within a multi-connectivity scenario, aiming to provide a human-centric solution. For this approach, a novel synthetic dataset is constructed using various sensing information, based on the assumption that numerous interconnected sensor systems will be available in smart city networks with sixth-generation (6G) technologies. The ML results are derived from this newly generated dataset. These simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach, designed to meet the requirements of next-generation systems, can be effectively utilized with 6G. Full article