GCN-Based Throughput-Oriented Handover Management in Dense 5G Vehicular Networks

Abstract--The rapid advancement of 5G has transformed vehicular networks, offering high bandwidth, low latency, and fast data rates essential for real-time applications in sma rt cities and vehicles. These improvements enhance traffic saf ety and entertainment services. However, 5G's limited coverag e and frequent handovers, causing network instability from the " ping-pong effect," pose challenges in high-mobility environmen ts. This paper presents TH-GCN (Throughput-oriented Graph Convolu - tional Network), a novel approach for optimizing handover m an-agement in dense 5G networks. Integrat ing both user equipment and base station perspectives, this dua l-centric approach enables adaptive, real-time handover dec isions that improve stability. Simulations show that TH-GCN reduc es handovers by up to 78% and improves signal quality by 10%, outperforming existing methods and positioning it as a key advancement in 5G vehicular networks. V ehicular Networks (VNs) are essential to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), enabling real-time applica tions that enhance traffic safety, efficiency, and in-vehicle ente r-tainment, though establishing reliable, high-bandwidth, low-latency connections in urban settings remains challenging [1].