Rethinking the mobile and wireless network architecture: The METIS research into 5G

The METIS project is laying the foundation of 5G mobile and wireless communication systems putting together the point of view of vendors, operators, third party players and academia. In particular, METIS is developing and evaluating the key technology components of 5G systems. In this framework, a new mobile and wireless network architecture is required to accommodate those technical enablers and communication paradigms while taking into account existing and emerging architectural trends. This article provides an overview of the METIS system and architecture research into this future mobile and wireless network, discussing various alternatives and perspectives.