RSMA-Enabled Integrated Direct Localization and Covert Communication for Fronthaul-Constrained C-RAN

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in cloud radio access networks (C-RANs) provides a promising architecture for cooperative sensing and secure transmission in future sixth-generation (6G) networks. However, achieving covert communication in such systems is challenging due to stringent covertness requirements, severe multi-user interference, multi-static sensing constraints, and finite fronthaul capacity. In this paper, we propose a rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA)-enabled integrated direct localization and covert communication framework for fronthaul-constrained C-RAN. In the proposed design, the RSMA common stream acts as an overt public signal, while the private streams convey covert information to legitimate users. A dedicated sensing/artificial-noise beamformer is jointly designed to support multi-static direct localization and shape the received energy profile at the warden. We formulate a sum covert rate maximization problem by jointly optimizing common-rate allocation, BS-stream scheduling, communication precoding, and sensing beamforming under covertness, sensing accuracy, transmit power, and fronthaul constraints. To solve the resulting mixed-integer non-convex problem, we develop an iterative algorithm based on continuous relaxation, semidefinite relaxation, linear matrix inequalities, and successive convex approximation. We further establish the convergence behavior of the proposed algorithm and characterize its computational burden. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms SDMA and fixed-scheduling baselines, especially under stringent fronthaul and covertness constraints.