From intra-cell resource allocation to inter-cell multi-operator spectrum sharing

This research work deals with efficient resource utilization in the downlink of cellular networks which use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access, as the Long Term Evolution of 3GPP technology. Efficiency is considered first of all in an intra-cell context, where Base Stations exploit the multiuser diversity by adaptive resource allocation. Then, the focus is extended to a scenario with several adjacent Base Stations belonging to different network operators, and a new paradigm is explored. Instead of the classical static orthogonal division of the spectrum, a spectrum sharing approach is introduced where operators share part of their frequencies. Game Theory is the mathematical tool used to model the systems in both steps. Simulative approach is employed for the quantitative evaluation.