A survey on the handover management in 5G-NR cellular networks: aspects, approaches and challenges

Abstract With the purpose of providing higher data rate and ultra-reliable low-latency communications for users, employing small cells in upcoming Fifth-Generation-New Radio (5G-NR) cellular networks beyond is leading to serious challenges mobility management due dynamicity user equipments (UEs). Among different issues related UEs, handover one key procedures let UEs experience a high quality service (QoS)/quality (QoE). So far, many protocols algorithms have been proposed enhance 5G-NR from various aspects, but still thorough survey has not incorporated summarize recent advances future directions mentioned issue. Thus, corresponding stand center concentrations this paper, with glance on 4G advancements 5G-NR. The include QoS/QoE, throughput, delay, traffic load, attacks during authentication process resource allocation. To overcome challenges, procedure evaluated by some performance indicators such as ratio, failure, radio link failure like which depend received signal quality. lack new novel aspects plus separation security previous works are perceived research gaps motivations current paper. In regard, paper aims specify analyze technical issues, provide an overview methods bring into limelight. We categorize concurrent standards about handover, then, we including theoretical, algorithm-based pattern-capturing approaches following along vulnerabilities counteract handover. Also, study network procedure. Finally, discuss open problems directions.