Potential of dynamic spectrum allocation in LTE macro networks

[摘要] In recent years Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) worldwide are extensivelydeploying LTE networks in different spectrum bands and utilising differentbandwidth configurations. Initially, the deployment is coverage orientedwith macro cells using the lower LTE spectrum bands. As the offered traffic(i.e. the requested traffic from the users) increases the LTE deploymentevolves with macro cells expanded with additional capacity boosting LTEcarriers in higher frequency bands complemented with micro or small cells intraffic hotspot areas. For MNOs it is crucial to use the LTE spectrumassets, as well as the installed network infrastructure, in the most costefficient way. The dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA) aims at (de)activatingthe available LTE frequency carriers according to the temporal and spatialtraffic variations in order to increase the overall LTE system performancein terms of total network capacity by reducing the interference. This paperevaluates the DSA potential of achieving the envisaged performanceimprovement and identifying in which system and traffic conditions the DSAshould be deployed. A self-optimised network (SON) DSA algorithm is alsoproposed and evaluated. The evaluations have been carried out in a hexagonaland a realistic site-specific urban macro layout assuming a central traffichotspot area surrounded with an area of lower traffic with a total size ofapproximately 8 × 8 km². The results show that up to 47 % and up to40 % possible DSA gains are achievable with regards to the carried systemload (i.e. used resources) for homogenous traffic distribution withhexagonal layout and for realistic site-specific urban macro layout,respectively. The SON DSA algorithm evaluation in a realistic site-specificurban macro cell deployment scenario including realistic non-uniform spatialtraffic distribution shows insignificant cell throughput (i.e. servedtraffic) performance gains. Nevertheless, in the SON DSA investigations, again of up to 25 % has been observed when analysing the resourceutilisation in the non-hotspot cells.

[学科分类] 电子、光学、磁材料