Understanding Co-Channel Interference in LTE-based Multi-Tier Cellular Network

Multi-tier networks are considered as a much viable deployment mode for next-generation radio access networks. While it is believed that smaller cells (micro, pico) can help offload traffic from macro cells, they also generate interference which may lead to capacity loss in the macro cell and neighboring small cells. It is therefore important for the mobile operators to understand and model what is the net effect of deploying pico cells on top of micro or macro cells. In this work, we introduce a comprehensive analytical framework for co-channel interference analysis in LTE based multi-tier cellular networks. The model we describe is capable to provide practical insights to guide the deployment of multi-tier networks.