5G Radio Access Network Technologies: Research Advances

In order to adequately cater for the disruptive and paradigm shift in business models, new architectures, and techniques are expected to be introduced into the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks. In recent time, there have been a lot of research progress as related to 5G radio access network technologies. This will ensure the full standardization and implementation of the next generation of mobile networks by 2020. In this paper, we present a concise review of the research advances in the key technologies of 5G radio access network. The study focuses on ultra-dense heterogeneous networks, mobile data traffic offloading, millimeter wave communications, and massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive MIMO). In conclusion, we identify the need to consider the extreme factors that are peculiar to emerging markets in the ongoing 5G research and standardization.