Impact of Network Deployment on the Performance of NCR-assisted Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces NCRs as a solution to improve 5G coverage, presenting a system model and analyzing how network deployment strategies impact their effectiveness in enhancing signal quality and user experience.

Contribution

It proposes a system level model for NCR-assisted networks and evaluates how deployment impacts performance, highlighting benefits for edge users and uplink communications.

Findings

NCRs can significantly improve SINR in poor coverage areas.

Proper network planning enhances NCR effectiveness.

Edge and uplink users benefit most from NCR deployment.

Abstract

To address the need of coverage enhancement in the fifth generation (5G) of wireless cellular telecommunications, while taking into account possible bottlenecks related to deploying fiber based backhaul (e.g., required cost and time), the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) proposed in Release 18 the concept of network-controlled repeaters (NCRs). NCRs enhance previous radio frequency (RF) repeaters by exploring beamforming transmissions controlled by the network through side control information. In this context, this paper introduces the concept of NCR. Furthermore, we present a system level model that allows the performance evaluation of an NCR-assisted network. Finally, we evaluate the network deployment impact on the performance of NCR-assisted networks. As we show, with proper network planning, NCRs can boost the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the user equipments (UEs) in a poor coverage of a macro base station. Furthermore, celledge UEs and uplink (UL) communications are the ones that benefit the most from the presence of NCRs.