Cell zooming for cost-efficient green cellular networks

TLDR

Cell size in cellular networks is typically fixed based on estimated traffic load, yet spatial and temporal traffic fluctuations create challenges and opportunities for network planning and operation. This article proposes cell zooming, an adaptive cell‑size adjustment that responds to traffic load, user requirements, and channel conditions, and investigates its application for energy saving. The authors address implementation issues and develop centralized and distributed algorithms that realize the adaptive cell‑size adjustment. Simulation results show that these algorithms markedly reduce energy consumption, paving the way for greener cellular networks.

Abstract

Cell size in cellular networks is in general fixed based on the estimated traffic load. However, the traffic load can have significant spatial and temporal fluctuations, which bring both challenges and opportunities to the planning and operating of cellular networks. This article introduces a concept of cell zooming, which adaptively adjusts the cell size according to traffic load, user requirements and channel conditions. The implementation issues of cell zooming are then presented. Finally a usage case of cell zooming for energy saving is investigated. Centralized and distributed cell zooming algorithms are developed, and simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the energy consumption, which leads to green cellular networks.