Mechanisms and Industry Solutions for RF Interference in a Co-located Network

Abstract

Radio frequency interference (RFI) in a co-located network is a major challenge faced by cellular network operators. The RFI issues are prominent when the radio frequency transceivers consisting of two or more co-located networks operate within close or adjacent frequency bands. This paper presents the mechanisms of RFI caused by spurious emission and receiver blocking in a co- located network and proffer industry solution through the application of various mitigation techniques. One method may reduce a particular type of interference to a certain level, a combination of two or more methods can conveniently reduce the interference to an acceptable level. The advent of smart-phones and affordable mobile communication services has led to an exponential growth in the wireless subscriber's base. This rapid increase motivated the mobile network operators to build more cell sites to enhance better coverage and improved quality service delivery. The drive to meet this goal by the network operators has led to incessant proliferation of new cell towers which are capital intensive. In this regard, a co-location, which has recently become a common network build-out strategy, where different cellular systems share a common site, space and structures for the location of base station active equipment and the Radio Frequency (RF) distribution system. It was introduced by the International