3-Dimensional Interference Modeling for Cellular Networks

Planning and optimizing the radio access layer of cellular networks always requires an accurate modeling or measurement of the interference patterns in the network, for almost all technologies. Traditionally, this analysis has been performed using 2-dimensional traffic forecasts, and measurements or propagation predictions performed at ground level. While this applies quite well in a non-urban environment, such an approach is very limited in city centers with many high- rise buildings, where interference affects a very large proportion of traffic above the ground level. We propose a new approach based on 3D modeling of an entire city, for both traffic and propagation data. This new approach, which optimally models in-building traffic and interference in a large-scale network, has been applied to the generation of a 3D interference matrix in Manhattan. We show how this 3D interference matrix can lead to optimal frequency planning, hence improved network performance, of a real TDMA-FDMA network.