Due to its flexibility, cost-efficiency, and the ability to support mobility, wireless connectivity is seen today as a key enabler for a wide range of applications beyond classical mobile communications. A significant part of these applications depends on the capability of the wireless communication system to provide reliable connectivity. However, due to the randomness of the wireless propagation channel, reliability is still a critical issue in these systems. Some applications, such as vehicular and industrial applications, demand a level of reliability that wireless communication systems typically are not able to guarantee. This paper provides a framework that enables these applications to make use of wireless connectivity only if the transmission conditions are favorable enough. The concept is based on the idea that -despite the fact that it is practically impossible to ensure error-free wireless communication -it is feasible to derive boundary conditions for the transmission success. To this end, the paper introduces a novel metric for UltraReliable Communication (URC) referred to as "Availability", that determines the expected presence or absence of link reliability at the time of transmission. The availability is signaled by means of an Availability Indicator (AI) to the applications. Moreover, we develop the system model for computing the AI and illustrate the potential benefits of the new reliability metric by means of a possible implementation for automotive scenarios.

Mobile networks are experiencing the avalanche of data traffic, which is coupled with the billions of wirelessly connected data-intensive devices using diverse multimedia services and applications. Prospective studies suggest that traffic volume would increase a thousand-fold over the next decade. Furthermore, the users expect the utmost in quality with seamless connectivity to the broadband access. On this basis, moving networks emerge as a promising enhancement for fifth generation (5G) systems to enable flexible network deployment that goes beyond the scope of conventional fixed access nodes. Within the framework of moving networks, nomadic nodes (NNs) can enable demand-driven service provisioning to increase the network capacity or to extend the cell coverage area, and to reduce network energy consumption. NNs can be mounted on vehicles within a car-sharing fleet. In this paper, we look at the envisioned dynamic and flexible network deployment through NNs, and demonstrate analyses on the operation of nomadic networks

The provision of very high capacity is one of the big challenges of the 5G cellular technology. This challenge will not be met using traditional approaches like increasing spectral efficiency and bandwidth, as witnessed in previous technology generations. Cell densification will play a major role thanks to its ability to increase the spatial reuse of the available resources. However, this solution is accompanied by some additional management challenges. In this article, we analyze and present the most promising solutions identified in the METIS project for the most relevant network layer challenges of cell densification: resource, interference and mobility management.