Evolution of Mobile Networks

Wireless communication systems are paramount in modern society for supporting countless applications, including work, entertainment, health, and safety. Therefore, it is not surprising that the evolution of mobile networks has accelerated in recent decades, together with supporting technologies. Specifically, wireless mobile networks have progressed from the zeroth generation to the first-, second-, third-, fourth-, and currently, the fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks. Since the first generation, every generation has focused on improving quality-of-service performance indicators, which become increasingly ambitious. In this chapter, we discuss the evolution of wireless mobile networks, detail the importance and advantages of one generation over the other, and highlight the benefits of artificial intelligence for the efficient operation of 5G mobile networks. We also detail the key use cases supported by the 5G networks and overview initial research progress beyond 5G networks simultaneously detailing the prospects in this area. Lastly, we list the key research avenues that require immediate attention from the research community.