Higher Order Sectorization for Antenna Gain, Signal Quality and Erlang Capacity Maximization

Abstract

The widespread use of smartphones and mobile internet triggers a strong daily traffic growth in telecom networks. Due to this proliferating surge in mobile network usage, network providers need to employ cost-effective means to manage the escalating data traffic. Currently, Cell sectorization, a distinctive technique that explores directional antennas to splits large macrocells into smaller cells (sectors), is receiving significant attention as a cost-resourceful technique for boosting cellular network quality and capacity. In this work, analytical models in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) framework are employed to computationally evaluate and quantify the performance of higher-order sectorization with 6-sectors and 12-sectors over the standard 3-sectored cellular networks. The approach effectively investigates OFDM systems regarding signal quality, antenna gain and user Erlang capacity. The results indicate higher signal quality, improved antenna gain and user Erlang capacity. The employed approach can serve as a fast and effective method to conduct cellular network performance analysis during radio network design, deployment and management.