Performance evaluation of LTE DRX in 5G beamforming wireless networks: a queueing model approach

¹ Department of Mathematics, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai 600127, India
² Department of Mathematics, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600062, India

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 7 May 2025
Accepted: 20 February 2026

Abstract

The rapid advancement of wireless mobile technology enables user equipment (UE) to process vast amount of data transmission. However, since wireless communication UEs are battery-powered, they require an extended operational lifespan. These battery-operated devices gradually deplete their energy with prolonged usage. To optimize energy consumption, the Long-Term Evaluation (LTE) standard incorporates a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism, significantly extending UE battery life in modern fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks. 5G-DRX networks utilize millimeter-wave (mm Wave) frequency bands to achieve high-speed data transmission. However, mm Wave transmissions require beamforming techniques to compensate for high isotropic path loss. This article proposes a Markovian queue tailored for the 5G-DRX wireless deployment, integrating a beam search-based policy to accommodate dynamic short and long sleep cycles. By incorporating queueing analysis with sleep cycles in the 5G-DRX beam searching wireless system, both UE energy efficiency and data packet delay are effectively assessed. Analytical results are derived for the transient and steady-state probabilities of UE status, considering the 5G-DRX beam alignment tracking capability and the average number of data packets queued in the buffer at the evolved Node B (eNB). Several essential queueing performance metrics are determined. Additionally, UE energy efficiency and consumption in a stationary regime are analyzed to provide valuable numerical insights.