Performance in Multipath & High-Mobility Leveraging Terrestrial and Satellite Networks
| dc.contributor.author | Ghafoori, Amirreza | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Stavrou, Angelos | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Wang, Haining | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Liu, Lingjia | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Electrical and Computer Engineering | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-21T13:53:13Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-21T13:53:13Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-12-17 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | High-mobility scenarios, such as those experienced by autonomous vehicles or users in transit, demand reliable and high-performance network communication. This thesis presents a comprehensive measurement study comparing the performance of terrestrial 5G networks (ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile) and the Starlink satellite network in high-mobility scenarios. The study evaluates key performance metrics, including throughput and latency, across six globally distributed server locations: Virginia, California, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. Measurements were conducted using a carefully designed testbed while driving a total of 860 km across urban, suburban, and rural terrains. The results reveal that 5G networks, particularly Verizon, excel in urban regions with higher peak throughput and lower latency, while Starlink demonstrates consistent performance in rural and remote areas. The impact of vehicle speed on network performance was also analyzed, highlighting Starlink’s resilience to high speeds compared to terrestrial networks. Heatmaps and statistical analyses underscore the complementary strengths of these networks, suggesting their integration via multipath protocols (e.g., MPTCP, MPQUIC) could enhance reliability and performance in critical applications such as autonomous vehicles, video conferencing, and AR/VR. This work provides valuable insights into the behavior of 5G and satellite networks in real-world high-mobility scenarios and lays a foundation for designing robust and efficient communication systems. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | Imagine driving down a highway, streaming a video call, or playing an online game. For these experiences to work smoothly, the internet connection in your car needs to be fast, reliable, and capable of handling high speeds. This thesis explores two types of networks that can make this possible: 5G networks, which rely on cell towers, and Starlink, a satellite network providing internet from space. The study compares how these networks perform when traveling long distances across different terrains, including cities, suburbs, and rural areas. The findings show that 5G networks work best in cities, where cell towers are abundant, offering faster speeds and lower delays. On the other hand, Starlink shines in rural and remote areas, providing more consistent internet performance. By combining the strengths of both networks, we can create a system that ensures uninterrupted internet for critical uses like self-driving cars, video calls, and virtual reality experiences. Future research will explore how these two networks can be merged using advanced technologies to make internet connections even more reliable, efficient, and energy-conscious. This work is a step toward building smarter, more connected vehicles and ensuring better internet for everyone, everywhere. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Science | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124675 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | 5G Network | en |
| dc.subject | LEO Satellite Network | en |
| dc.subject | High-Mobility Communication | en |
| dc.subject | Multipath Communication | en |
| dc.subject | Mobile Networks | en |
| dc.subject | Measurement Study | en |
| dc.title | Performance in Multipath & High-Mobility Leveraging Terrestrial and Satellite Networks | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| dc.type.dcmitype | Text | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Computer Engineering | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en |