Cell switching in 6G networks for improved sustainability and handover management

Sustainability and latency are two critical parameters for future generations of cellular communication networks, such as the sixth generation (6G). Moreover, the "connecting the unconnected" initiative—enabling ubiquitous connectivity—is expected to play a vital role in 6G and beyond networks. In this regard, this work is positioned at the intersection of these concepts. More specifically, network energy consumption is minimized through the application of cell switching concepts, while simultaneously reducing the number of handovers. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) optimization problem was modelled, and a heuristic-based solution algorithm was developed. To address ubiquitous connectivity, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) are integrated into the network architecture as IMT base stations (i.e., HIBS). The inclusion of HIBSs provides additional capacity for cell switching and traffic offloading purposes, while also enhancing connectivity through their extensive coverage footprints. The efficacy of the developed optimization problem and heuristic-based solution was validated through simulation studies, in which various users, terrestrial base stations, and HIBSs were incorporated into the system modelling. The results confirm that the proposed methodology effectively reduces both energy consumption and the number of handovers, with performance strongly influenced by the handover penalty and the number of users in the network. Overall, the findings suggest that the outcomes of this research can enable more efficient and sustainable industrial operations and management through minimized energy consumption and handovers along with the huge coverage of HIBSs.