A Platform for 4G/5G Wireless Networking Research, Targeting the Experimentally-Driven Research Approach - FLEX -

The proliferation of smart mobile devices and data hungry mobile applications are driving the demand for faster mobile networks. Long Term Evolution (LTE), the 4th Generation of mobile network technology standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) [1], aims at satisfying this demand by offering faster connection speeds at both the downlink and the uplink, increased network capacity and better coverage. The rapid penetration of LTE in different countries creates a vast field for innovation in terms of mobile broadband services. At the same time, research for the next generation mobile networks has already begun with the examination and evaluation of candidate technologies and architectures. Given the practical requirement for backward compatibility between successive technologies, it is rational to assume that these technologies, often referred to as Beyond 4th and towards the 5th Generation (B4G and 5G), will naturally evolve from the extension of LTE with new advanced features.