How to Simulate Cellular Network Projects Using OMNeT++

To simulate cellular network projects utilising OMNeT++, we follow these steps to make simulations of cellular technologies such as LTE, 5G, and beyond. These approach will support to design, replicate, and examine numerous cellular network scenarios:

Steps to Simulate Cellular Network Projects in OMNeT++

  1. Install OMNeT++ and SimuLTE Framework
  • SimuLTE is an extension of OMNeT++ and the INET framework created to mimic LTE cellular networks. If we are aiming 5G simulations then we can expand SimuLTE or we use frameworks such as Simu5G, which build upon SimuLTE.
  • Download and install SimuLTE (for LTE) or Simu5G (for 5G), relying on the cellular network focus.
  1. Design Cellular Network Topology
  • Cellular networks contains a hierarchical topology with user devices (UEs), base stations (eNodeBs for LTE or gNodeBs for 5G), and the core network (EPC for LTE, 5GC for 5G).
  • We can use NED files in OMNeT++ to create a topology, which encompass:
    • User Equipment (UEs): Devices, which connect to the cellular network.
    • Base Stations (eNodeB for LTE or gNodeB for 5G): Interface among UEs and the core network.
    • Core Network (EPC or 5GC): Contain entities such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), and Packet Gateway (PGW) for LTE, or Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), and User Plane Function (UPF) for 5G.
  1. Set Up Cellular Communication Configuration
  • Frequency Bands and Bandwidth: Set up the frequency bands are utilized for communication, as LTE and 5G support numerous bandwidths and spectrum bands.
    • For LTE, normal bands contain 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2600 MHz.
    • For 5G, sub-6 GHz and mmWave (millimeter wave) frequencies are supported.
  • Transmission Power and Antenna Configurations: Set the power levels and set up the antenna properties (e.g., single-input single-output (SISO) or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) for 5G).
  • Scheduling Algorithms: Utilise distinct scheduling algorithms such as Round Robin, Proportional Fair, or 5G-specific algorithms for resource allocation.
  1. Implement Traffic Patterns
  • Describe numerous types of traffic within the cellular network:
    • Real-time applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, or gaming that need low latency and jitter.
    • Data-driven applications such as file downloads or streaming services in which high throughput is necessary.
    • IoT Traffic: Replicate lightweight data transmissions from IoT devices utilizing LTE-M or NB-IoT for massive device connectivity.
  • Set up UEs to generate traffic using protocols such as UDP, TCP, or HTTP.
  1. Handover Simulation
  • Replicate handover processes as UEs move among distinct cells (from one eNodeB or gNodeB to another). This is crucial for learning mobility in cellular networks:
    • Intra-cell handover: Handover within the similar base station (eNodeB/gNodeB).
    • Inter-cell handover: Handover among distinct base stations.
  • Execute the handover decision algorithms according to the signal strength, traffic load, or user velocity.
  • We can utilise mobility models such as Random Waypoint or Manhattan Grid to replicate real-world movement of UEs.
  1. Simulate Core Network Elements
  • EPC Simulation for LTE: Contain modules such as MME, SGW, and PGW in the network to handle signaling, user plane traffic, and session management.
  • 5GC Simulation for 5G: Mimic the 5G core components, containing AMF, SMF, UPF, and more, to manage the ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), then improved mobile broadband (eMBB), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC).
  1. Quality of Service (QoS) Management
  • Cellular networks utilise QoS to prioritize distinct kinds of traffic. In SimuLTE or Simu5G, we can set up QoS classes rely on:
    • Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR): For services such as VoIP, which need consistent bandwidth.
    • Non-GBR: For less critical services such as web browsing.
  • Execute the resource management strategies to assign bandwidth and prioritize critical traffic flows.
  1. Simulate Advanced Cellular Features
  • MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output): We can utilize the MIMO methods for 4×4, 8×8 antenna configurations to enhance the data rates and reliability.
  • Carrier Aggregation: Aggregate several frequency bands to improve throughput in LTE networks.
  • Network Slicing (5G): Replicate 5G’s network slicing to assign dedicated network resources to particular applications (e.g., IoT, VR/AR).
  • Beamforming (5G): Execute the beamforming methods to improve signal strength and minimize interference in dense 5G networks.
  1. Traffic Offloading and HetNet Simulation
  • In modern cellular networks, offloading traffic from LTE/5G to Wi-Fi or smaller cell networks (heterogeneous networks or HetNets) is general to handle the network congestion.
  • Replicate Wi-Fi offloading or small cell deployment (femtocells, picocells) to offload traffic from macro base stations.
  1. Measure Cellular Network Performance
  • We can utilize the OMNeT++ and SimuLTE/Simu5G’s built-in tools to estimate the cellular network performance. Significant parameters contain:
    • Throughput: Calculate data rates over the network for distinct kinds of traffic.
    • Latency: Estimate end-to-end delay, particularly for real-time applications.
    • Handover success rate: Track how effectively UEs switch among the base stations.
    • Packet loss: Compute the packet loss according to the interference, network congestion, or handover failures.
    • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): Evaluate the quality of wireless signals among UEs and base stations.
  1. Security Simulation in Cellular Networks
  • Execute encryption and authentication mechanisms to replicate the secure communication in LTE/5G networks. Replicate distinct attack scenarios such as man-in-the-middle or DDoS and monitor how they influence the network performance.
  1. Advanced 5G Use Cases
  • Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC): Mimic use cases such as autonomous vehicles, remote surgery, or smart manufacturing in which low latency and high reliability are critical.
  • Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): Concentrate on high data rate applications such as 4K/8K video streaming, AR/VR, and cloud gaming.
  • Massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC): Replicate IoT use cases with massive numbers of connected devices, concentrating on efficiency, scalability, and energy savings.
  1. Project Ideas for Cellular Networks
  • Handover Optimization in 5G: Learn handover mechanisms in a dense 5G urban environment to enhance the handover latency and network coverage.
  • QoS in LTE Networks: Calculate how QoS configurations influence performance for applications such as VoIP, video streaming, or real-time gaming.
  • Network Slicing for 5G: Mimic numerous network slices within a 5G network and assign dedicated resources for distinct use cases (e.g., IoT, mobile broadband).
  • Energy-Efficient Cellular Networks: Replicate an energy-saving techniques in cellular networks, like sleep mode for base stations or low-power IoT communication.
  1. Visualization and Results
  • We can use the OMNeT++’s real-time visualization tools to monitor cellular traffic, handovers, and resource allocation. We can envision how traffic flows among the UEs and base stations, handovers among cells, and QoS performance parameters.
  • Export performance data for further analysis and generate plots for throughput, latency, packet loss, and other key parameters.

We illustrated the general procedure for Cellular Network Projects that were simulated and calculated their results through the simulation tool OMNeT++. More information will be shared about this process in upcoming manual.

We provide you support with detailed Simulation guidance on  Cellular Network Projects Using OMNeT++tool with detailed explanation.

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