A memetic algorithm for improved joint route selection and split-level management in next-generation wireless communications

The complexity of next-generation wireless communications, especially Beyond 5G and 6G communication systems, will be handled by artificial intelligence-based management paradigms. The joint selection of routes and functional split levels involves critical decisions that network infrastructure providers need to make to support requests from virtual Mobile Network Operators (vMNOs). These decisions comprise the assignment and configuration of physical network resources, which must comply with the specific quality of service restrictions of each vMNO request. Recent work defined a detailed mathematical model for this complex challenge, its formulation as a constrained, discrete optimization problem, and the first algorithmic approaches. It was also found that an evolutionary algorithm delivers higher-quality solutions than an ad-hoc heuristic, and faster running times compared to a well-known commercial solver. This paper introduces a memetic algorithm that exploits the strengths of the former evolutionary method while incorporating several key innovations: a domain-specific recombination operator; a specialized repairing procedure; an enhanced fitness evaluation scheme; and a multiobjective archiving strategy that preserves promising solution trade-offs. We conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the performance and behavior of this proposal, as well as the contribution of each specific design component. The results highlight that our memetic algorithm consistently outperforms previous approaches from the literature, providing better trade-offs in terms of solution quality and the rate at which vMNO requests are successfully fulfilled.