Performance analysis of handover management in 5G small cells

• Published in: Computer standards and interfaces 2021-04, Vol.75, p.103502, Article 103502
• Main Author: Cicioğlu, Murtaza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5G networks; Channel models; Handover; Radio equipment; Small cell; Wireless networks
• ISSN: 0920-5489; 1872-7018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.csi.2020.103502

•RSSI and SNR based handover mechanisms are evaluated for 5G small cells.•Handover management procedures developed for fast and seamless connections for 5G and 5G+ networks.•Handover performance analysis is conducted with different metrics and realistic channel connections to base station.•Nakagami channel and free path loss models are simulated with riverbed modeler.•Simulations results show Nakagami channel model is superior to the free path loss channel model. In 5G networks, the coverage area of the base stations is smaller and the communications are at higher frequencies. The small cell concept has risen with high mobility and small coverage area. Mobile users can move among the small cells with different service requirements as a result of handover. The frequency of changing the small cell and the considered handover parameters affect the quality of service. In this paper, the handover performance analysis with different metrics and a realistic urban channel model is investigated for 5G small cells. The effect of the traditional handover metrics performance, on the 5G small cell handover procedure, is also shown. This study contributes to the research for developing new procedures on 5G small cell handover.