Are we approaching the fundamental limits of wireless network densification?

Abstract

The single most important factor enabling the data rate increases in wireless networks over the past few decades has been densification, namely adding more base stations and access points and thus getting more spatial reuse of the spectrum. This trend is set to continue into 5G and beyond. However, at some point further densification will no longer be able to provide exponentially increasing data rates. Like the end of Moore's Law, this will have extensive implications for the entire technology landscape, which depends ever more heavily on wireless connectivity. When and why will this happen? How might we delay this from occurring for as long as possible? These are the questions explored in this article.