Paulo Jorge Correia

Abstract
Over the years, mobile networks were deployed using monolithic hardware based on proprietary solutions. Recently, the concept of open Radio Access Networks (RANs), including the standards and specifications from O-RAN Alliance, has emerged. It aims at enabling open, interoperable networks based on independent virtualized components connected through open interfaces. This paves the way to collect metrics and to control the RAN components by means of software applications such as the O-RAN-specified xApps. We propose a private standalone network leveraged by a mobile RAN employing the O-RAN architecture. The mobile RAN consists of a radio node (gNB) carried by a Mobile Robotic Platform autonomously positioned to provide on-demand wireless connectivity. The proposed solution employs a novel Mobility Management xApp to collect and process metrics from the RAN, while using an original algorithm to define the placement of the mobile RAN. This allows for the improvement of the connectivity offered to the User Equipments.

Abstract

Abstract
In wireless communications, the need to cover operation areas, such as seaports, is at the forefront of discussion, especially regarding network capacity provisioning. Radio network planning typically involves determining the number of fixed cells, considering link budgets and deploying them geometrically centered across targeted areas. This paper proposes a solution to determine the optimal position for a mobile cell, considering 3GPP pathloss models. The obtained position for the mobile cell maximises the aggregate network capacity offered to a set of User Equipments (UEs), with gains up to 187% compared to the positioning of the mobile cell at the UEs’ geometrical center. The proposed solution can be used by network planners and integrated into network optimisation tools. This has the potential to reduce costs associated with the radio access network planning by enhancing flexibility for on-demand deployments. © ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2025.