Density and Mobility-Aware Performance Evaluation of NTSM for Scalable MANET Routing

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) enable mobile devices to establish temporary communication networks that operate without the need for permanent network infrastructure. The routing performance within MANETs depends on two factors, which include the density of nodes and the changing patterns of mobility, which result in variations of link stability and network congestion, and the difficulties of maintaining routes. The research assesses three routing protocols through performance testing, which includes Node-Based Traffic Sharing Model (NTSM), Ad Hoc OnDemand Distance Vector (AODV), and Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV) under different conditions of node density and mobility. The study conducted comprehensive testing through the NS-2.35 platform, which tested node densities of 70, 90, 110, and 130 and tested mobility speeds of 10 m/s, 15 m/s, and 25 m/s. The protocols were evaluated using key performance metrics, which included Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) and Throughput, End-to-End Delay, and Routing Overhead. The results demonstrate that increasing node density and mobility speed significantly impact routing stability and overall network performance. The comparative analysis demonstrates that the NTSM protocol outperforms AODV and DSDV in every scenario tested. The NTSM system achieves 10 to 17 percent better Packet Delivery Ratios, 10 to 15 percent higher Throughput rates, 18 to 25 percent faster End-to-End Delay times, and 9 to 17 percent lower Routing Overhead than the benchmark protocols. The system enhancements arise from three core elements, which include adaptive load monitoring, intelligent traffic redistribution, and congestion-aware route selection. The study results demonstrate that NTSM delivers better reliability and scalability, together with operational efficiency in dynamic MANET environments. The research results provide real-world applications that help choose appropriate routing protocols for networks that experience high mobility and serve many users.