Cell Deployment Optimization for Cloud Radio Access Networks using Teletraffic Theory

Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) is a new mobile radio access network design based on centralized and pooled processing. It offers potential cost savings by utilizing the so-called tidal effect due to user mobility in cellular networks. This paper provides a quantitative analysis of the performance (multiplexing) gain of such cellular networks. The used analytical model is based on a multi-dimensional loss system and can be applied to heterogeneous networks with various cell traffic profiles. Based on the analysis, the key parameters for cell deployment optimization are identified. The conditions for optimization are based on the aggregated traffic characteristics and baseband unit pool dimensioning. This paper considers cells with different traffic profiles and the optimal conditions for maximization of the pooling gain are determined. Furthermore, it is shown how the model can be applied to dynamically re-assign cells to a pool of baseband units. The re-assignment is based on the cell load and traffic characteristics such that effective utilization of the baseband resources is assured.