arXiv:2509.01008 · IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society
Quantum-Based QoE Optimization in Advanced Cellular Networks: Integration and Cloud Gaming Use Case
Fatma Chaouech, Javier Villegas, António Pereira, Carlos Baena, Sergio Fortes, Raquel Barco, Dominic Gribben, Mohammad Dib, Alba Villarino, Aser Cortines, Román Orús
This work explores the integration of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and Quantum-Inspired (QI) techniques for optimizing End-to-End (E2E) network services in telecommunication systems, particularly focusing on 5G networks and beyond. The application of QML and QI algorithms is investigated, comparing their performance with classical Machine Learning (ML) approaches. The present study employs a hybrid framework combining quantum and classical computing leveraging the strengths of QML and QI, without the penalty of quantum hardware availability. This is particularized for the optimization of the Quality of Experience (QoE) over cellular networks. The framework comprises an estimator for obtaining the expected QoE based on user metrics, service settings, and cell configuration, and an optimizer that uses the estimation to choose the best cell and service configuration. Although the approach is applicable to any QoE-based network management, its implementation is particularized for the optimization of network configurations for Cloud Gaming services. Then, it is evaluated via performance metrics such as accuracy, model loading and inference times for the estimator, time to solution and solution score for the optimizer. The results indicate that QML models achieve similar or superior accuracy to classical ML models for estimation, while decreasing inference and loading times. Furthermore, potential for better performance is observed for higher-dimensional data, highlighting promising results for higher complexity problems. Thus, the results demonstrate the promising potential of QML in advancing network optimization, although challenges related to data availability and integration complexities between quantum and classical ML are identified as future research lines.
This work explores the integration of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and Quantum-Inspired (QI) techniques for optimizing End-to-End (E2E) network services in telecommunication systems, particularly focusing on 5G networks and beyond. The application of QML and QI algorithms is investigated, comparing their performance with classical Machine Learning (ML) approaches. The present study employs a hybrid framework combining quantum and classical computing leveraging the strengths of QML and QI, without the penalty of quantum hardware availability. This is particularized for the optimization of the Quality of Experience (QoE) over cellular networks. The framework comprises an estimator for obtaining the expected QoE based on user metrics, service settings, and cell configuration, and an optimizer that uses the estimation to choose the best cell and service configuration. Although the approach is applicable to any QoE-based network management, its implementation is particularized for the optimization of network configurations for Cloud Gaming services. Then, it is evaluated via performance metrics such as accuracy, model loading and inference times for the estimator, time to solution and solution score for the optimizer. The results indicate that QML models achieve similar or superior accuracy to classical ML models for estimation, while decreasing inference and loading times. Furthermore, potential for better performance is observed for higher-dimensional data, highlighting promising results for higher complexity problems. Thus, the results demonstrate the promising potential of QML in advancing network optimization, although challenges related to data availability and integration complexities between quantum and classical ML are identified as future research lines.
As cellular networks evolve towards 5G and beyond, the increasing complexity demands advanced approaches for efficient management and network intelligence. While classical machine learning (ML) plays a vital role in network planning, optimization and resilience, it faces limitations in handling largescale data and dynamic environments. Quantum Technologies (QTs) offer a promising way forward in this area, leveraging quantum computing principles to potentially enhance processing power and scalability. Toward this end, the present article explores the application of the Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and Quantum-Inspired (QI) algorithms in the management of cellular networks. A novel framework for the integration of such approaches in 5G / 6G networks is developed with a special focus on Open RAN architectures. The proposed application of QTs is then assessed based on real cellular data and Quantum algorithms for three main areas of cellular management: network metrics estimation, classification of failures, and resource optimization, showing the capabilities of the approach. Finally, the main challenges and future R&D lines in the area are identified.
The upcoming fifth generation (5G) of wireless networks is expected to lay a foundation of intelligent networks with the provision of some isolated artificial intelligence (AI) operations. However, fully intelligent network orchestration and management for providing innovative services will only be realized in Beyond 5G (B5G) networks. To this end, we envisage that the sixth generation (6G) of wireless networks will be driven by on-demand self-reconfiguration to ensure a many-fold increase in the network performance and service types. The increasingly stringent performance requirements of emerging networks may finally trigger the deployment of some interesting new technologies, such as large intelligent surfaces, electromagnetic-orbital angular momentum, visible light communications, and cell-free communications, to name a few. Our vision for 6G is a massively connected complex network capable of rapidly responding to the users' service calls through real-time learning of the network state as described by the network edge (e.g., base-station locations and cache contents), air interface (e.g., radio spectrum and propagation channel), and the user-side (e.g., battery-life and locations). The multi-state, multi-dimensional nature of the network state, requiring the real-time knowledge, can be viewed as a quantum uncertainty problem. In this regard, the emerging paradigms of machine learning (ML), quantum computing (QC), and quantum ML (QML) and their synergies with communication networks can be considered as core 6G enablers. Considering these potentials, starting with the 5G target services and enabling technologies, we provide a comprehensive review of the related state of the art in the domains of ML (including deep learning), QC, and QML and identify their potential benefits, issues, and use cases for their applications in the B5G networks. Subsequently, we propose a novel QC-assisted and QML-based framework for 6G communication networks while articulating its challenges and potential enabling technologies at the network infrastructure, network edge, air interface, and user end. Finally, some promising future research directions for the quantum- and QML-assisted B5G networks are identified and discussed.
Quantum Machine Learning (QML) has emerged as a transformative paradigm that integrates the computational advantages of quantum computing with the adaptive intelligence of machine learning to solve complex optimization problems in smart computing systems. Traditional optimization techniques often struggle with high-dimensional search spaces, combinatorial complexity, computational overhead, and scalability limitations in applications such as intelligent transportation, healthcare analytics, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures. QML approaches exploit quantum superposition, entanglement, and quantum parallelism to accelerate optimization tasks and enhance predictive performance beyond classical machine learning capabilities. This research proposes a hybrid Quantum Machine Learning optimization framework that combines Variational Quantum Circuits (VQCs), Quantum Neural Networks (QNNs), and classical deep learning models to address resource allocation, task scheduling, energy optimization, and intelligent decision-making in smart computing environments. The proposed framework integrates quantum-enhanced feature extraction, adaptive optimization layers, and reinforcement-based learning mechanisms to improve convergence speed and computational efficiency. Experimental analysis is performed using benchmark optimization datasets and simulated quantum environments to evaluate accuracy, execution time, energy efficiency, and scalability. Comparative results demonstrate that the proposed QML-based framework achieves superior optimization accuracy, reduced computational latency, and improved resource utilization when compared with traditional machine learning and classical metaheuristic optimization methods. Furthermore, the study highlights the practical significance of hybrid quantum-classical architectures in next-generation intelligent systems where large-scale optimization and real-time decision support are critical. The findings suggest that QML can significantly contribute to the advancement of sustainable, adaptive, and high-performance smart computing ecosystems while opening new directions for future quantum-aware intelligent infrastructures.
Quantum computing and machine learning (QML) have emerged as a revolutionary per approach to solve complex computational problems that classical systems are unable to. The use of superposition, entanglement, and quantum parallelism helps analyze data up to ten times faster than in a non-quantum manner, enhancing optimization, pattern identification, and computational efficiency. This paper studies the potential of quantum algorithms and machine learning in areas of categorization, grouping, and regression in banking, healthcare, cybersecurity, and scientific simulations. QML shines when it comes to generalizing low cost over high-dimensional data spaces. State-of-theart quantum-enhanced algorithms (QSVMs, VQCs, QBMs) yield better solutions to complex pattern recognition problems. Quantum-inspired neural networks accelerate deep learning architectures by optimizing gradient descent and decreasing training periods. The following research explores how QML enables a potentially computationally efficient solution to combinatorial optimization problems in the realms of logistics, cryptography, and artificial intelligence through quantum annealing and hybrid quantumclassical models. QML is still not able to deploy for the hardware limitations, noise sensitive nature, and quantum decoherence, despite promising results. The study underscores the importance of error correction procedures, as well as noise-resilient quantum circuits, and ultimately their scaling to full computers to reconcile theoretical promise with real-world application. It explores the ability of hybrid quantum-classical models to provide near-term developed applications as a bridge to realizable quantum computation. In this article, researchers present a thorough overview of quantum algorithms, reduced computational complexity, and practical applications, furthering the field of quantumenhanced machine learning. Industries might be revolutionized with quantum computers and AI-based decision-making systems working together with unprecedented computational power. In particular, quantum algorithms, hardware, and quantum cloud computing platforms must be a research focus area to ensure that quantum will deliver the most significant advances in AI.
Machine Learning (ML) has been widely applied across numerous domains due to its ability to automatically identify informative patterns from data for various tasks. The availability of large-scale data and advanced computational power enables the development of sophisticated models and training strategies, leading to state-of-the-art performance, but it also introduces substantial challenges. Quantum Computing (QC), which exploits quantum mechanisms for computation, has attracted growing attention and significant global investment as it may address these challenges. Consequently, Quantum Machine Learning (QML), the integration of these two fields, has received increasing interest, with a notable rise in related studies in recent years. We are motivated to review these existing contributions regarding quantum circuit-based learning models for classical data analysis and highlight the identified potentials and challenges of this technique. Specifically, we focus not only on QML models, both kernel-based and neural network-based, but also on recent explorations of their integration with classical machine learning layers within hybrid frameworks. Moreover, we examine both theoretical analysis and empirical findings to better understand their capabilities, and we also discuss the efforts on noise-resilient and hardware-efficient QML that could enhance its practicality under current hardware limitations. In addition, we cover several emerging paradigms for advanced quantum circuit design and highlight the adaptability of QML across representative application domains. This study aims to provide an overview of the contributions made to bridge quantum computing and machine learning, offering insights and guidance to support its future development and pave the way for broader adoption in the coming years.
Abstract: Fifth-generation (5G) heterogeneous networks (HetNets), with ultra-dense small-cell deployments, diverse radio access technologies, and high user mobility, are among the most rapidly evolving infrastructures today. Hence, effective handover management has evolved as an essential requirement for sustaining seamless connectivity, Quality of Service (QoS), and user experience. Conventional handover optimization techniques are generally limited because of high latency, excessive signaling overhead, frequent handover failures, the ping-pong effect, and poor decision-making in a highly dynamic network environment. Recent advancements in quantum computing have opened new opportunities to address these challenges by offering powerful computational and optimization techniques. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of quantum computing and quantuminspired algorithms for handover optimization in 5G HetNets. In particular, it discusses the principles and methodologies of prominent approaches, such as quantum annealing, the Grover search algorithm, Quantum Genetic Algorithms (QGA), Quantum Particle Swarm Optimization (QPSO), quantum- inspired evolutionary algorithms, and Quantum Machine Learning (QML). It further examines their potential to address multidimensional handover optimization problems involving signal quality, user mobility, network load balancing, throughput, latency, energy efficiency, handover failure rate, and QoS requirements. A comparative analysis of the existing studies is provided to evaluate algorithm performance, computational complexity, and scalability for practical deployment in real-world 5G environments. The survey also emphasizes the integration of quantum computing with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) frameworks for intelligent mobility management. Finally, it highlights some significant research challenges, implementation issues, hardware limitations, and future directions for exploiting quantum technologies in 5G/6G mobility management systems.