Point-to-Multipoint Communication Enablers for the Fifth-Generation of Wireless Systems

Abstract

3GPP has enhanced the point-to-multipoint (PTM) communication capabilities of 4G LTE in all releases since the adoption of eMBMS (enhanced Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) in Release 9. Recent enhancements cover not only television services, but also critical, machine-type and vehicular communications, following the backwards-compatibility design philosophy of LTE. This paper discusses the opportunity in the design and standardization of 5G to break with the existing paradigm for PTM transmissions in 4G LTE, where broadcast PTM transmissions were initially conceived as an add-on and pre-positioned service. 5G brings the opportunity to incorporate PTM capabilities as built-in delivery features from the outset, integrating point-to-point (PTP) and PTM modes under one common framework and enabling a dynamic use of PTM to maximize network and spectrum efficiency. This approach will open a door to completely new levels of network management and delivery cost-efficiency. The paper also discusses the implications of PTM for network slicing, to customize and optimize network resources on a common 5G infrastructure to accommodate different use cases and services taking into account the user density