Uplink Performance Analysis of Dense Cellular Networks with LoS and NLoS Transmissions

In this paper, we consider a piecewise linear path loss model incorporating both line-of-sight (LoS) and non-line-ofsight (NLoS) transmissions and study its performance impact on uplink (UL) dense small cell networks (SCNs). Analytical results are obtained for the coverage probability and the area spectral efficiency (ASE) performance. The performance impact of LoS and NLoS transmissions in uplink SCNs in terms of the ASE is shown to be significant both quantitatively and qualitatively, compared with the previous work that does not differentiate LoS and NLoS transmissions. In particular, the previous work predicted that a larger UL power compensation factor would always deliver better ASE performance in the practical range of user equipment (UE) density, i.e., 100 103 UEs/km2 . However, our results indicate that a smaller UL power compensation factor can greatly boost the ASE performance in dense SCNs, i.e., 102 103 UEs/km2 , while a larger UL power compensation factor is more suitable for sparse SCNs, i.e., 100 102 UEs/km2 .