Evaluation of the authentication service on the access management for heterogeneous mobile communication networks

The next generation of mobile networks is expected to utilize multiple radio access technologies (RAT), seamlessly integrated to form a heterogeneous wireless network. On the arrival of service request, an access network must be assigned to the user. A request can be due to a new connection call within a cell, an intra-system or inter-system handover attempt. In case of handoff, it must be realized as fast as possible. However, some factors as the authentication service has an important impact on the final handover latency. The problem is increased in the case of vertical handover. This paper describes the reference architecture for access management in which the handovers take place; we measure the handover latency and we make an analysis of the impact that the authentication procedure has in the final delay of the handover execution on heterogeneous mobile communication networks.