Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Modeling for Heterogenous Network Simulations

The vision of mobile Internet comprises heterogeneous networks with both wired and wireless infrastructures. The network parts are typically radio access network, core network, service network, Internet, etc. Due to the multitude of nodes and users in such networks and the complicated nature of layered communications protocols, performance analysis through simulations is crucial. The open source network simulation tool, ns-2, is widely used for simulating the behavior of wired, routed networks. This work adds modules to model radio access network nodes that emulate typical behavior of UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) - the 3G standard opted for in Europe and Japan. Furthermore, data communication examples illustrate typical behavior of such a heterogenous network.