Public Safety Communications above 6 GHz: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Advanced public safety communication (PSC) services call for fast, reliable and low-latency communication technologies, capable of supporting diverse communication modes (aerial, unmanned, vehicular, peer-to-peer), fast channel dynamics, and ad hoc or mesh structures. For this reason, PSC has been identified as one of the key potential uses cases for the next generation of communication systems, the so-called 5G. In this scenario, the millimeter wave (mmWave) bands and other frequencies above 6 GHz are particularly interesting, since they are largely untapped and offer vastly more spectrum than current cellular allocations in the highly congested bands below 6 GHz, thus enabling orders of magnitude greater data rates and reduced latency. For example, new PSC networks in the mmWave bands could support high-definition video, virtual reality and other broadband data to large numbers of first responders. Surveillance drones or ambulances could also be provided highspeed connectivity along with machine-type communication for remotely controlled robotic devices entering dangerous areas. However, the way towards this ambitious goal is hindered by a number of open research challenges. In this paper, after a brief introduction to PSC services and requirements, we illustrate the potential of the frequencies above 6 GHz for PSC and discuss the open problems that need to be solved in order to pave this way. Finally, we describe the main components of a test platform for mmWave systems that is functional to the study of such complex scenarios and that we plan to develop as an invaluable tool for realizing mmWave PSC networks

Implementation of Reference Public Safety Scenarios in ns-3

“…Moreover, mmWave frequencies suffer blockage from common materials, such as brick and mortar, and from the human body as well. Reference [18] discusses the potentials and challenges of mmWaves for PSC, with a use case in which a UAV uses a highfrequency link to transmit monitoring information (e.g., video from multiple cameras and sensors) from a wildfire scenario to a remote IC stations. MmWave-based scenarios can also be studied using ns-3, using the contributed code of the cellular mmWave module [19] or of the 802.11ad module [2].…”

“…Despite the numerous studies related to mmWave communications in cellular networks, their suitability for PSC scenarios is still to be defined [18]. In this regard, and, in general, to understand how next-generation technologies perform for PSC, it is important to define compelling scenarios, with a realistic deployment of the first responders, of the obstacles in the scenario and of the communication infrastructure, and a proper modeling of the interactions between first responders and the involved parties.…”

“…4. Finally, the video streaming applications are modeled in terms of a constant bitrate flow on UDP, as in [18]. The method SetupUdpFlow of the helper takes care of configuring the endpoints of the communication, for both uplink and downlink streams, with randomized starting points for each flow.…”

“…The design of PSC technologies has therefore been an important research topic for years, with studies that resulted in dedicated PSC standards [14], or in the possibility of re-using commercial wireless technologies and networks to assist first responders [15,18]. The suitability of a certain radio technology for PSC, however, largely depends on the context in which the communication is needed [27], and the definition of the incident scenario plays an important part in the characterization of this context.…”

Millimeter Wave Remote UAV Control and Communications for Public Safety Scenarios

“…Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly considered for use in public safety scenarios [1]- [3]. UAVs can provide valuable video and surveillance of emergency zones as well as wireless connectivity in regions where cellular infrastructure is either not available (such as wildfires in remote areas) or where that infrastructure is no longer operational.…”