Application of dynamic channel allocation strategies to the GSM cellular network

We refer to the implementation and the performance of a specific class of dynamic carrier allocation (DCA) strategies which is suitable for being introduced in the pan-European Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) cellular network. One of the main concerns of this work is to verify if and to what extent strategies belonging to this class can offer better performance than fixed channel allocation (FCA) in realistic traffic and propagation conditions. The impact of the introduction in a real network of two of the more promising DCA strategies in the considered class is assessed. In particular, solutions are presented concerning the signaling exchanges entailed by the implementation of each of the considered DCA strategies. A performance evaluation of a realistic cellular network exploiting the above-mentioned DCA strategies is carried out, taking into account all of the main GSM transmission and network aspects. The simulations have been performed by considering a realistic cell layout corresponding to the urban area of Rome, its realistic propagation environment, and a user mobility model based on the building percentages in such an area. The results of the performance evaluation show that, by carefully choosing the values of the parameters characterizing each of the considered DCA strategies, a conspicuous increase in the number of users supported by the cellular network can be achieved