Fourth Generation (4G) Networks: Roadmap-Migration to the Future

Abstract

The mobile communication generations has traversed a long way through different phases of evolution since its birth early in the 1970s. The steady global boom in the number of mobile users each year has periodically spurned the development of more and more sophisticated technologies trying to strike the right chord primarily in terms of provision of seamless global roaming, quality services and high data rate. Today numerous different generation technologies with their individual pros and cons are existing globally. The coming era of 4G systems is foreseeing a potential smooth merger of all these heterogeneous technologies with a natural progression to support seamless cost-effective high data rate global roaming, efficient personalized services, typical user-centric integrated service model, high QoS and overall stable system performance. However, every step in such technological advancements presents huge research challenges. This article aims to focus upon some of these potential challenges along with different proposed feasible and non-feasible solutions in the areas of mobile terminals and users, mobile services, mobile and wireless access networks, and communication, in order to give an indepth view of the next-generation communication systems.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sayan Kumar Ray

Sayan Kumar Ray is currently a PhD scholar in the Network Research Group in Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He completed his BE from Gulbarga University, Karnataka in Computer Science and Engineering in 1999 and MTech from University of Calcutta in Computer Science and Engineering in 2002. He has worked in multiple software companies after BE and prior to MTech served as Lecturer in couple of reputed engineering colleges (Narula Institute of Technology - 2002 to 2003 and Heritage Institute of Technology - 2003 to 2006) in Calcutta in the Dept of Computer Science and Engineering. His research interests is in the area of 4G networks.

Iti Saha Misra

Iti Saha Misra is presently holding the post of Reader in the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. She received her BTech degree in Radio Physics and Electronics from Calcutta University (1989) and Masters in Telecommunication Engineering from Jadavpur University (1991), Kolkata. She completed PhD in Engineering in the field of Microstrip Antennas from Jadavpur University (1996). Her current research interests are in the areas of Mobility Management Network Architecture and protocols, Integration Architecture of WLAN and 3G Networks, Location Management for Cellular Wireless Networks. Her other research activities are related to Microstrip. Antennas, Design Optimization of Wire Antennas using Numerical Techniques. Dr Saha Misra has authored several journal and International Conference papers. She is the recipient of the prestigious Career award for Young teachers by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for the financial year 2003–2004.