Massive Connectivity in 5G and Beyond: Technical Enablers for the Energy and Automotive Verticals

Abstract

Massive machine-type communication (mMTC) is expected to revolutionize the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond-5G systems by enabling connectivity for a high number of low-rate low-power devices with sporadic activity patterns. To realize the full potential of mMTC, radical enhancements are required for the radio access design and the architecture of current cellular systems. In this paper, we discuss the mMTC peculiarities in the context of emerging energy and automotive use cases. We identify key mMTC challenges that hinder efficient and scalable connectivity in the smart grid and in vehicular communication. Representative technical enablers are then proposed aiming to tackle the massive connectivity limitations in various scenarios. The performance assessment of the presented approaches reveals the superior performance compared to the benchmark schemes while useful insights can be drawn for the design principles of future mMTC protocols. Finally, we discuss some key technology trends relevant to mMTC that are expected to provide a roadmap for the design of novel solutions to evolve Dost-5G connectivity.