Sleep Mode Strategies for Dense Small Cell 5G Networks

The evolution of the fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks tends towards the prevalence of dense femtocell deployments, which offer improvements in data rate and overall network's capacity. Small cell deployments and particularly fem- tocells provide an attractive, cheap and flexible solution for the increased traffic demand. However, the resulting dense networks are characterized by challenges, too, such as increased interference and resource allocation. In this paper, we propose ways to address these difficulties by combining hybrid access, sleep mode and a power control mechanism. Simulations show that the above mechanism leads to improved capacity and throughput for subscribers, along with improved energy efficiency, without compromising the non-subscribers performance.