Performance of UE Relaying for 6G Networks

Abstract: Throughout the evolution of communication networks, users have consistently been demanding additional data and coverage. Future 6G networks seek to enable a seamless cyber-physical world through interconnected and integrated connectivity. Hereafter, to address these challenges and ensure the adaptability of future wireless networks, new technologies emerge. Relaying presents an attractive alternative, as it can be a cost-efficient deployment of highly dense networks, and it can enhance the performance of mobile networks in terms of both coverage and capacity. In addition, to meet the demanding Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of user experience, the relaying can be achieved via a User Equipment (UE) through UE-to-Network relaying as an alternative to conventional small-cell deployment of relay stations. The purpose of this project is to assess the impact of UE-based relaying policies. A comparative analysis is conducted, examining these schemes and a macro-only deployment. The study begins by conducting an analysis of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) urban macro scenario and then extends to include the real-world deployment scenario in London. Results have validated that UE relaying techniques help improve cell edge capacity and coverage compared to macro-only deployments. User throughput is enhanced up to three times in Downlink (DL) and twelve times in Uplink (UL) in the 3GPP urban macro deployment. While user throughput is improved up to ten times in DL and thirteen times in UL on the London map deployment.