Optimal Meshing Degree Performance Analysis in a mmWave FWA 5G Network Deployment

Abstract

Fifth-generation technologies have reached a stage where it is now feasible to consider deployments that extend beyond traditional public networks. Central to this process is the application of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in 5G Non-public Networks (NPNs) that can utilise a novel combination of radio technologies to deploy an infrastructure on top of 5G NR or entirely from scratch. However, the use of FWA backhaul faces many challenges in relation to the trade-offs for reduced costs and a relatively simple deployment. Specifically, the use of meshed deployments is critical as it provides resilience against a temporary loss of connectivity due to link errors. In this paper, we examine the use of meshing in a FWA backhaul to determine if an optimal trade-off exists between the deployment of more nodes/links to provide multiple paths to the nearest Point of Presence (POP) and the performance of the network. Using a real 5G NPN deployment as a basis, we have conducted a simulated analysis of increasing network densities to determine the optimal configuration. Our results show a clear advantage for meshing in general, but there is also a performance trade-off to consider between overall network throughput and stability.