Unlocking Potential: Integrating Multihop, CRC, and GRAND for Wireless 5G-Beyond/6G Networks

As future wireless networks move towards millimeter wave (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) frequencies for 6G, multihop transmission using Integrated Access Backhaul (IABs) and Network-Controlled Repeaters (NCRs) will be highly essential to overcome coverage limitations. This paper examines the use of Guessing Random Additive Noise (GRAND) decoding for multihop transmissions in 3GPP networks. We explore two scenarios: one where only the destination uses GRAND decoding, and another where both relays and the destination leverage it. Interestingly, in the latter scenario, the Bit Error Rate (BER) curves for all hop counts intersect at a specific Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), which we term the GRAND barrier. This finding offers valuable insights for future research and 3GPP standard development. Simulations confirm the effectiveness of GRAND in improving communication speed and quality, contributing to the robustness and interconnectivity of future wireless systems, particularly relevant for the migration towards mmWave and THz bands in 6G networks. Finally, we investigate the integration of multihop transmission, CRC detection, and GRAND decoding within 3GPP networks, demonstrating their potential to overcome coverage limitations and enhance overall network performance.