research-article

Wi-Fi Multi-Link Operation: An Experimental Study of Latency and Throughput

Authors:

Marc Carrascosa-Zamacois,

Giovanni Geraci,

Edward Knightly,

Boris BellaltaAuthors Info & Claims

IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, Volume 32, Issue 1

Pages 308 - 322

https://doi.org/10.1109/TNET.2023.3283154

Published: 12 June 2023 Publication History

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the real-world capability of the multi-link operation (MLO) framework—one of the key MAC-layer features included in the IEEE 802.11be amendment—by using a large dataset containing 5 GHz spectrum occupancy measurements on multiple channels. Our results show that when both available links are often busy, as is the case in ultra-dense and crowded scenarios, MLO attains the highest throughput gains over single-link operation (SLO) since it is able to leverage multiple intermittent transmission opportunities. As for latency, if the two links exhibit statistically the same level of occupancy, MLO can outperform SLO by one order of magnitude. In contrast, in asymmetrically occupied links, MLO can sometimes be detrimental and even increase latency. We study this somewhat unexpected phenomenon, and find its origins to be packets suboptimally mapped to either link before carrying out the backoff, with the latter likely to be interrupted on the busier link. We cross validate our study with real-time traffic generated by a cloud gaming application and quantify MLO’s benefits for latency-sensitive applications.

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Cited By

Shen MZhang JYin HRoy SGao YGamess E(2024)Delay in Multi-Link Operation in ns-3: Validation and Impact of Traffic SplittingProceedings of the 2024 Workshop on ns-310.1145/3659111.3659116(19-26)Online publication date: 5-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3659111.3659116
Qadri YJung HNiyato D(2024)Toward the Internet of Medical Things for Real-Time Health Monitoring Over Wi-FiIEEE Network: The Magazine of Global Internetworking10.1109/MNET.2024.335259838:5(229-237)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/MNET.2024.3352598
Oughton EGeraci GPolese MShah VBubley DBlue S(2024)Reviewing wireless broadband technologies in the peak smartphone eraTelecommunications Policy10.1016/j.telpol.2024.10276648:6Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.telpol.2024.102766

Index Terms

Wi-Fi Multi-Link Operation: An Experimental Study of Latency and Throughput
1. General and reference
  1. Cross-computing tools and techniques
2. Networks
  1. Network services
  2. Network types
    1. Mobile networks
    2. Wireless access networks

Index terms have been assigned to the content through auto-classification.

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1558-2566 © 2023 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. See https://www.ieee.org/publications/rights/index.html for more information.

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Published: 12 June 2023

Published in TON Volume 32, Issue 1

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Cited By

Shen MZhang JYin HRoy SGao YGamess E(2024)Delay in Multi-Link Operation in ns-3: Validation and Impact of Traffic SplittingProceedings of the 2024 Workshop on ns-310.1145/3659111.3659116(19-26)Online publication date: 5-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3659111.3659116
Qadri YJung HNiyato D(2024)Toward the Internet of Medical Things for Real-Time Health Monitoring Over Wi-FiIEEE Network: The Magazine of Global Internetworking10.1109/MNET.2024.335259838:5(229-237)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1109/MNET.2024.3352598
Oughton EGeraci GPolese MShah VBubley DBlue S(2024)Reviewing wireless broadband technologies in the peak smartphone eraTelecommunications Policy10.1016/j.telpol.2024.10276648:6Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.telpol.2024.102766

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