Energy and coverage efficiency trade-off in 5G small cell networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes an optimized BS switch-off strategy in 5G small cell networks to balance energy savings with coverage efficiency, recommending a 150-meter minimum active BS distance for optimal tradeoff.

Contribution

It introduces an optimized energy density efficiency model based on HCPP for small cell networks, balancing energy consumption and coverage loss.

Findings

150-meter minimum active BS distance is optimal for tradeoff

Switch-off strategy significantly reduces energy consumption

Coverage efficiency loss is minimized at the optimal distance

Abstract

When small cells are densely deployed in the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks, the base stations (BSs) switch-off strategy is an effective approach for saving energy consumption considering changes of traffic load. In general, the loss of coverage efficiency is an inevitable cost for cellular networks adopting BSs switch-off strategies. Based on the BSs switch-off strategy, an optimized energy density efficiency of hard core point process (HCPP) small cell networks is proposed to trade off the energy and coverage efficiency. Simulation results imply that the minimum active BS distance used for the BSs switch-off strategy is recommended as 150 meters to achieve a tradeoff between energy and coverage efficiency in 5G small cell networks.