The Web has outgrown the transport mechanisms that have been used since its inception. Due to the increasing complexity of web pages in terms of both total size and number of individual resources, HTTP over TCP can no longer provide a satisfactory user performance. In recent years, much progress has been made in this area by evolving the web's underlying mechanisms. Multipath QUIC (MPQUIC) is one such approach. MPQUIC is a new transport protocol which enables multihomed devices, such as smartphones, to aggregate their network interfaces in order to achieve greater performance. Additionally, MPQUIC is capable of multiplexing several data streams concurrently over a single connection, which can also provide performance benefits. This work began with a validation of our MPQUIC setup, which was performed by comparing MPQUIC to another multipath solution in a large set of experiments. The results show that MPQUIC is generally beneficial for the transfer time of large files, which corresponds with results from previous works. We additionally investigated ways to exploit MPQUIC's multipath and stream features to achieve lower latencies for web pages via the means of packet scheduling. We implemented the Earliest Completion First (ECF) scheduler, and investigated how it compares against MPQUIC's default path scheduler. The results indicate that the ECF scheduler is significantly more capable of handling heterogeneous network scenarios than the default scheduler, and can achieve higher throughput and lower latencies. Next, a Stream Priority scheduler was designed and implemented, which utilizes stream priorities to achieve lower completion times for select streams. The results from the investigation indicate that proper stream scheduling can significantly reduce download times of the prioritized resources. This effect was especially noticeable as path characteristics diverge. We also show that proper configuration of stream priorities is critical for such a scheduler, as a sub-optimal configuration yielded poor performance.

The market penetration of mobile access devices with multiple network interfaces has increased dramatically over the last few years. As a consequence, the quest for a widespread multi-path transport protocol that takes advantage of all available interfaces simultaneously to increase data throughput and improve robustness, has received considerable attention. One prominent protocol introduced by the IETF is Multipath TCP (MPTCP). MPTCP is an extension to the predominant single-path transport protocol, the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) that enables multihomed devices to aggregate available resources transparently to the applications. Combining multiple radio access technologies, like LTE and Wi-Fi, with diverse characteristics in terms of transmission rates and fluctuations opens for novel challenges that may disrupt and even harm the data throughput. Therefore MPTCP must take path heterogeneity into account. For MPTCP to supersede single-path TCP it is required that MPTCP always achieve at least the throughput of the best individual TCP path. This thesis investigates if MPTCP with uncoupled congestion control fulfills this condition, and if so, how much it improves the throughput. By examining the protocol in a deterministic emulated environment defined by the characteristics of LTE, we conclude two key factors impacting the outcome: the download size and the difference in characteristics between the paths. Our experiments show that MPTCP overall fulfills this task, especially during path homogeneity with near aggregated results. But we also show that MPTCP may decrease data throughput with 16% compared to TCP during path heterogeneity. Hence MPTCP does not always fulfill the goal of throughput. We therefore conclude further intelligence is needed for the packet scheduling mechanism to avoid throughput degradation in the initial phase of a transmission.

High-mobility scenarios, such as those experienced by autonomous vehicles or users in transit, demand reliable and high-performance network communication. This thesis presents a comprehensive measurement study comparing the performance of terrestrial 5G networks (ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile) and the Starlink satellite network in high-mobility scenarios. The study evaluates key performance metrics, including throughput and latency, across six globally distributed server locations: Virginia, California, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney. Measurements were conducted using a carefully designed testbed while driving a total of 860 km across urban, suburban, and rural terrains. The results reveal that 5G networks, particularly Verizon, excel in urban regions with higher peak throughput and lower latency, while Starlink demonstrates consistent performance in rural and remote areas. The impact of vehicle speed on network performance was also analyzed, highlighting Starlink’s resilience to high speeds compared to terrestrial networks. Heatmaps and statistical analyses underscore the complementary strengths of these networks, suggesting their integration via multipath protocols (e.g., MPTCP, MPQUIC) could enhance reliability and performance in critical applications such as autonomous vehicles, video conferencing, and AR/VR. This work provides valuable insights into the behavior of 5G and satellite networks in real-world high-mobility scenarios and lays a foundation for designing robust and efficient communication systems. / Master of Science / Imagine driving down a highway, streaming a video call, or playing an online game. For these experiences to work smoothly, the internet connection in your car needs to be fast, reliable, and capable of handling high speeds. This thesis explores two types of networks that can make this possible: 5G networks, which rely on cell towers, and Starlink, a satellite network providing internet from space. The study compares how these networks perform when traveling long distances across different terrains, including cities, suburbs, and rural areas. The findings show that 5G networks work best in cities, where cell towers are abundant, offering faster speeds and lower delays. On the other hand, Starlink shines in rural and remote areas, providing more consistent internet performance. By combining the strengths of both networks, we can create a system that ensures uninterrupted internet for critical uses like self-driving cars, video calls, and virtual reality experiences. Future research will explore how these two networks can be merged using advanced technologies to make internet connections even more reliable, efficient, and energy-conscious. This work is a step toward building smarter, more connected vehicles and ensuring better internet for everyone, everywhere.