Challenges and Solutions for Service Continuity in Inter-PLMN Handover for Vehicular Applications

Abstract

The reliability and availability of network connectivity, which significantly varies with mobility, is crucial in Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM). Handover and roaming are the most challenging situations in terms of connectivity of cellular networks, which require switching across cells of the same cellular network or between Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs). This paper proposes a set of solutions for vehicular applications to mitigate the impact of mobility in service continuity, including a dual modem solution that reduces the interruption time when switching PLMNs, an adaptive bitrate mechanism for media streaming that increases reliability, a WebRTC server acting as a gateway in media streaming sessions between vehicles, and a MEC discovery and handover method. The proposed solutions have been evaluated executing an Extended Sensors application in several commercial and experimental 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and Stand Alone (SA) setups with different Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), edge-cloud and cloud infrastructures to host services. It can be concluded from the results obtained that 5G networks have not yet achieved the required performance for CCAM, and that practitioners need to implement solutions and workarounds, such as the ones proposed in this work, to mitigate the issues. As lessons learnt from the deployment and experimentation, this paper also overviews a detailed set of problems and the proposed solutions that CCAM industry and cellular network stakeholders need to consider.INDEX TERMS 5G, MEC, CCAM, inter-PLMN handover, vehicular communications, testing.

A C-ITS Architecture for MEC and Cloud Native Back-End Services

“…This impetus has led to the emergence of novel computing paradigms like fog computing and multi-access edge computing (MEC) [20], [21]. MEC stands out in vehicular applications for its support of high dynamicity and mobile clients [19], enabling diverse applications within the context of C-V2X such as cooperative autonomous driving [22], collision avoidance [23], platooning [24], [25], back situation awareness [3], video streaming between vehicles [4], [5] or Edge Dynamic Maps [6].…”

Investigating the Effect of Handover on Latency in Early 5G NR Deployments for C-V2X Network Planning

“…Regions with several MNOs offering different coverage capabilities also present a significant concern [14], [25], [27], [28]. Notably, Sliwa et al [25] and Fernandez et al [28] demonstrate, via proposed solutions in the form of shared infrastructure, that for cellular to succeed as a V2X communications solution, inter-MNO or inter-PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) handover is also a key challenge that requires consideration.…”