Abstract
Small cells deliver cost-effective capacity and coverage enhancement in a cellular network. In this work, we present the interplay of two technologies, namely Wi-Fi offloading and small-cell cooperation that help in achieving this goal. Both these technologies are also being considered for 5G and B5G (Beyond 5G). We simultaneously consider Wi-Fi offloading and small-cell cooperation to maximize average user throughput in the small-cell network. We propose two heuristic methods, namely Sequential Cooperative Rate Enhancement (SCRE) and Sequential Offloading Rate Enhancement (SORE) to demonstrate cooperation and Wi-Fi offloading, respectively. SCRE is based on cooperative communication in which a user data rate requirement is satisfied through association with multiple small-cell base stations (SBSs). However, SORE is based on Wi-Fi offloading, in which users are offloaded to the nearest Wi-Fi Access Point and use its leftover capacity when they are unable to satisfy their rate constraint from a single SBS. Moreover, we propose an algorithm to switch between the two schemes (cooperation and Wi-Fi offloading) to ensure maximum average user throughput in the network. This is called the Switching between Cooperation and Offloading (SCO) algorithm and it switches depending upon the network conditions. We analyze these algorithms under varying requirements of rate threshold, number of resource blocks and user density in the network. The results indicate that SCRE is more beneficial for a sparse network where it also delivers relatively higher average data rates to cell-edge users. On the other hand, SORE is more advantageous in a dense network provided sufficient leftover Wi-Fi capacity is available and more users are present in the Wi-Fi coverage area.
Highlights
Mobile network usage is increasing at a rapid rate of more than 40% compound annual growth rate
We present a comparative analysis between Sequential Cooperative Rate Enhancement (SCRE) and Sequential Offloading Rate Enhancement (SORE) for maximizing the average user data rate depending on the network conditions
We have presented a comparison between two rate enhancement strategies, i.e., small-cell base stations (SBSs) cooperation and Wi-Fi Offloading based on network parameters, such as user density and rate threshold
Summary
Mobile network usage is increasing at a rapid rate of more than 40% compound annual growth rate. This has resulted in significant decline in communication services revenues for the mobile network operators (MNOs) It has become even more important for the MNOs to keep their CAPEX and OPEX low and rely on those technologies that offer wireless capacity enhancement with relatively lower investments. In this respect, Wi-Fi offloading and base station cooperation (or coordination) are very effective strategies. For Wi-Fi offloading, the data rate maximization relies mainly on the Wi-Fi leftover capacity, whereas, for cooperative communication, the number of associations of a user with small-cell (SC) base stations is the key factor.
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