Tradeoff Between Coverage and Capacity in Dynamic Optimization of 3G Cellular Networks

For 3G cellular networks, capacity becomes an additional objective along with coverage when characterizing the performance of high-data-rate services. Since network capacity depends on the degree traffic load is balanced over all cells, changing traffic patterns demand dynamic network reconfiguration to maintain good performance. We study the competitive character network coverage and capacity have in such a network optimization process, concentrating on a four-cell sample network that captures the essence of layout irregularities found in network designs of real markets. Optimizing the downlink through antenna tilt, pilot power fraction and cell power adjustment, we find that each set of variables provides a distinct solution space with a different coverage-capacity tradeoff behavior. This allows selecting one over the other based on the particular application.