AI-Driven Handover Management and Load Balancing Optimization in Ultra-Dense 5G/6G Cellular Networks

Chabira C. Shayea I. Nurzhaubayeva G. Aldasheva L. Yedilkhan D. Amanzholova S.
July 2025 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Technologies
2025 #13 Issue 7

This paper presents a comprehensive review of handover management and load balancing optimization (LBO) in ultra-dense 5G and emerging 6G cellular networks. With the increasing deployment of small cells and the rapid growth of data traffic, these networks face significant challenges in ensuring seamless mobility and efficient resource allocation. Traditional handover and load balancing techniques, primarily designed for 4G systems, are no longer sufficient to address the complexity of heterogeneous network environments that incorporate millimeter-wave communication, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The review focuses on how recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), are being applied to improve predictive handover decisions and enable real-time, adaptive load distribution. AI-driven solutions can significantly reduce handover failures, latency, and network congestion, while improving overall user experience and quality of service (QoS). This paper surveys state-of-the-art research on these techniques, categorizing them according to their application domains and evaluating their performance benefits and limitations. Furthermore, the paper discusses the integration of intelligent handover and load balancing methods in smart city scenarios, where ultra-dense networks must support diverse services with high reliability and low latency. Key research gaps are also identified, including the need for standardized datasets, energy-efficient AI models, and context-aware mobility strategies. Overall, this review aims to guide future research and development in designing robust, AI-assisted mobility and resource management frameworks for next-generation wireless systems.

5G , 6G , artificial intelligence , handover , mobility management , smart city , ultra-dense networks

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Laboratory of System Signal Analysis (LASS), Department of Electronics, Faculty of Technology, Mohamed Boudiaf University, M’sila 28000, Algeria
Department of Intelligent Systems and Cybersecurity, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Istanbul, 34467, Turkey
Smart City Research Center, Astana IT University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

Laboratory of System Signal Analysis (LASS)
Department of Intelligent Systems and Cybersecurity
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
Smart City Research Center

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