Performance Analysis of Spectrum Scenarios for Outdoor LTE Small Cell Planning: The Case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Due to the increasing penetration of smart devices and data intensive applications, mobile
network operators are experiencing exponential data growth. In effect, network capacity
limitation that leads to performance degradation is observed. To address this limitation,
deployment of different types of small cells under umbrella macro network that results
Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) has been considered as one key capacity enhancement
approach. In the introduction of HetNets, operator decision on spectrum allocation scheme
significantly determines network performance.
The Ethiopian sole telecom operator, ethio telecom, has recently started the path to operate
and manage HetNets by deploying small cells within its existing macro network. Nevertheless,
there is no thorough performance study on potential spectrum scenarios considering
Ethiopia’s network environment so that an informed spectrum usage strategy is formulated.
Spectrum scenarios can be cochannel, where small cells apply same frequency band used by
macro cells, dedicated, where they apply different frequency bands or a hybrid of cochannel
and dedicated. In this thesis, performance analysis is carried out for the spectrum scenarios
formulated using 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands from network planning perspective while
considering realistic network environment for selected area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Multiobjective
optimization
based
on
Genetic
Algorithm
is
applied
for
network
planning.
Network
simulation
is
implemented
using
MatLab
while
propagation
computation
is
performed
using
WinProp.
Performance results show that, allocating dedicated 20MHz band for small cell in 2600MHz
band provides better aggregate capacity than allocating dedicated same amount of band in
1800MHz. For instance, dedicated 20MHz in 2600MHz band achieves 0.036Gbps per square
km more capacity than in 1800MHz band for around three small cells per sector optimal
deployment. On the other hand, dedicated 20MHz in 1800MHz achieves 2.3% less user outage
rate than dedicated same amount of band in 2600MHz with around three small cells per sector
optimal deployment. With regards to small cell distribution, planning results show that outdoor
small cell deployment is needed more in locations other than main street.
Description
Keywords
HetNets, Small cells, Densification, Spectrum Scenario, Planning, Optimization, Capacity, Outage, Addis Ababa