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Full-Stack End-to-End Sub-THz Simulations at 140 GHz using NYUSIM Channel Model in ns-3

Hitesh Poddar, Akhileswar Chowdary, Theodore S. Rappaport, Marwa Chafii

TL;DR

The problem addressed is the lack of ns-3 support for channels above 100 GHz, which the authors tackle by integrating the NYUSIM sub-THz model at 140 GHz into the ns-3 mmWave module to simulate full-stack downlink performance across all 3GPP scenarios. Their approach evaluates single-user performance with varying gNB–UE antenna configurations and UDP traffic over a 1 GHz bandwidth, using 2,500 realizations per condition to ensure statistical significance. Key findings show that sub-THz can achieve data rates exceeding 1 Gbps with latencies below 15 ms when using large antenna arrays, but gains depend on the achievable SNR and are limited by the maximum physical-layer throughput, with buffer overflows driving drops and latency spikes. The work provides a reproducible methodology and emphasizes reporting confidence intervals, encouraging broader adoption of Monte Carlo analyses to assess accuracy and reliability in sub-THz system studies.

Abstract

The next generation of wireless communication is expected to harness the potential of the sub-THz bands to achieve exceptional performance and ubiquitous connectivity. However, network simulators such as ns-3 currently lack support for channel models above 100 GHz. This limits the ability of researchers to study, design, and evaluate systems operating above 100 GHz. Here, we use the drop-based NYUSIM channel model to simulate channels above 100 GHz in all 3GPP scenarios including urban microcell (UMi), urban macrocell (UMa), rural macrocell (RMa), indoor hotspot (InH), and indoor factory (InF). We evaluate the full stack downlink end-to-end performance (throughput, latency, and packet drop) experienced by a single user equipment (UE) connected to a Next Generation Node B (gNB) operating in the sub-THz bands for three gNB--UE antenna configurations: 8x8--4x4, 16x16--4x4, and 64x64--8x8 by using the NYUSIM channel model at 140 GHz in the ns-3 mmWave module. Our simulations demonstrate that sub-THz bands can enable high-fidelity applications that require data rates exceeding 1 Gbps and latency below 15 milliseconds (ms) using the current mmWave protocol stack, and large antenna arrays. In addition, we show the variation in throughput vs number of realizations and find the optimal number of realizations required to obtain statistically significant results. We strongly encourage researchers worldwide to adopt a similar approach, as it enables the readers to assess the accuracy and reliability of the reported results and enhance the findings' overall interpretability.

Full-Stack End-to-End Sub-THz Simulations at 140 GHz using NYUSIM Channel Model in ns-3

TL;DR

The problem addressed is the lack of ns-3 support for channels above 100 GHz, which the authors tackle by integrating the NYUSIM sub-THz model at 140 GHz into the ns-3 mmWave module to simulate full-stack downlink performance across all 3GPP scenarios. Their approach evaluates single-user performance with varying gNB–UE antenna configurations and UDP traffic over a 1 GHz bandwidth, using 2,500 realizations per condition to ensure statistical significance. Key findings show that sub-THz can achieve data rates exceeding 1 Gbps with latencies below 15 ms when using large antenna arrays, but gains depend on the achievable SNR and are limited by the maximum physical-layer throughput, with buffer overflows driving drops and latency spikes. The work provides a reproducible methodology and emphasizes reporting confidence intervals, encouraging broader adoption of Monte Carlo analyses to assess accuracy and reliability in sub-THz system studies.

Abstract

The next generation of wireless communication is expected to harness the potential of the sub-THz bands to achieve exceptional performance and ubiquitous connectivity. However, network simulators such as ns-3 currently lack support for channel models above 100 GHz. This limits the ability of researchers to study, design, and evaluate systems operating above 100 GHz. Here, we use the drop-based NYUSIM channel model to simulate channels above 100 GHz in all 3GPP scenarios including urban microcell (UMi), urban macrocell (UMa), rural macrocell (RMa), indoor hotspot (InH), and indoor factory (InF). We evaluate the full stack downlink end-to-end performance (throughput, latency, and packet drop) experienced by a single user equipment (UE) connected to a Next Generation Node B (gNB) operating in the sub-THz bands for three gNB--UE antenna configurations: 8x8--4x4, 16x16--4x4, and 64x64--8x8 by using the NYUSIM channel model at 140 GHz in the ns-3 mmWave module. Our simulations demonstrate that sub-THz bands can enable high-fidelity applications that require data rates exceeding 1 Gbps and latency below 15 milliseconds (ms) using the current mmWave protocol stack, and large antenna arrays. In addition, we show the variation in throughput vs number of realizations and find the optimal number of realizations required to obtain statistically significant results. We strongly encourage researchers worldwide to adopt a similar approach, as it enables the readers to assess the accuracy and reliability of the reported results and enhance the findings' overall interpretability.
Paper Structure (6 sections, 6 figures, 4 tables)

This paper contains 6 sections, 6 figures, 4 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Simulation Setup
  3. Results and Discussions
  4. Trade-off between latency, throughput and packet drop
  5. Impact of the Number of Realizations on End-to-End Performance Metrics
  6. Conclusion

Figures (6)

  • Figure 1: CDF of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the UE for 3 antenna configurations of gNB and UE in Outdoor scenarios, namely UMi and RMa for 100 m gNB-UE separation distance, 30 dBm transmit power, 140 GHz frequency, 1 GHz bandwidth.
  • Figure 2: CDF of SNR at the UE for 3 antenna configurations of gNB and UE in Indoor scenarios (InH and InF) for 100 m gNB-UE separation distance, 30 dBm transmit power, 140 GHz frequency, 1 GHz bandwidth.
  • Figure 3: Average downlink UE end-to-end throughput vs. application rate in Outdoor (UMi and RMa) and Indoor scenarios (InH and InF) for 100 m gNB-UE separation distance, 30 dBm transmit power, 140 GHz frequency, 1 GHz bandwidth and 2500 channel realizations.
  • Figure 4: Average downlink UE end-to-end packet drops vs. application rate in Outdoor (UMi and RMa) and Indoor scenarios (InH and InF) for 100 m gNB-UE separation distance, 30 dBm transmit power, 140 GHz frequency, 1 GHz bandwidth and 2500 channel realizations.
  • Figure 5: Average downlink UE end-to-end latency vs. application rate in Outdoor (UMi and RMa) and Indoor scenarios (InH and InF) for 100 m gNB-UE separation distance, 30 dBm transmit power, 140 GHz frequency, 1 GHz bandwidth and 2500 realizations.
  • ...and 1 more figures