Comparison of Some Inter-cell Interference Models for Cellular Networks

In this paper we discuss and compare methods to analyse the influence inter-cell interference will have on coverage/outage probabilities in cellular networks. The framework is based on a common method to find the Laplace transform of the distribution of interference from neighbouring cells. It turns out that for Suzuki distributed fading the analysis is highly simplified. In case of Rayleigh faded channels only, the analysis is even more simplified. The modelling approach, which is based on classical probab ility methods, rather than on modern measure theory for point processes, allows for both fixed and stochastic locations of base stations. The different models are applied to quantify the effect of inter-cell interference on coverage/outage probabilities and on spectrum efficiencies in LTE networks. We consider several scenarios ranging from fixed hexagonal layout of base station to stochastic location of based on uniform distribution of base stations. We also extend the coverage/outage analysis for the Gin ibre Point Process to Suzuki faded environment. Numerical examples show large differences in both spectrum efficiency and coverage/outage probabilities for the different network scenarios considered.