URLLC Achieved Data Rate through Exploiting Multi-Connectivity in Industrial Private 5G Networks with Multi-WAT RANs

Industry 4.0 arises to realize smart factories by the assistance and even the full automation of the different industrial manufacturing processes. Such industry digitization requires high-performance wireless connectivity to convey the traffic heterogeneity of the emerging wireless-enabled Industry 4.0 services such as mobile robots-assisted production. Albeit all eyes are on the Fifth Generation (5G) to meet the requirements imposed by this traffic, the use of alternative wireless access technologies is appealing to reduce the deployment costs of private 5G networks. More precisely, part of the network traffic generated by non-critical data-hungry services such as streaming-based X-Reality (XR) assisted workers could be served, for instance, by Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). Recent 5G standards include capabilities for both facilitating the integration of non-3GPP Wireless Access Technologies (WATs), such as Wi-Fi, and traffic steering among the available WATs. In this article, we assess the throughput gain brought by 5G multi-connectivity capabilities in an industrial multi-WAT Radio Access Network (RAN). The industrial scenario considered and setup resemble a real smart factory use case. Last, we translate this throughput gain into an increase of the attainable 5G aggregated capacity for Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) services as a function of their requirements and numerology.

Automated summary

Industry 4.0 aims to achieve smart factories through the assistance and automation of industrial manufacturing processes. High-performance wireless connectivity is needed for industry digitization and the traffic heterogeneity of emerging wireless-enabled services. While 5G is the focus, alternative wireless access technologies like Wi-Fi can reduce the costs of deploying private 5G networks. This article assesses the throughput gain brought by 5G multi-connectivity capabilities in an industrial multi-WAT Radio Access Network.