Performance Analysis of Non-Cosited Evolved 2G and 3G Multi-Access Systems

An efficient combination of radio access technologies, integrated in a multi-access network, will be a key enabler in future provisioning of mobile data services. This paper addresses a scenario where an incumbent mobile network operator, with an existing 2G and 3G infrastructure, has deployed a dense WCDMA/HSPA macro-cell network in an urban area. With this high capacity network deployed, upgrading previous 2G and 3G systems with EDGE and HSPA respectively may seem obsolete. However, even though these systems may not support the intended data rates alone, they could, thanks to favorable propagation characteristics and the additional spectrum available, be useful as complements. Simulation results indicate that upgrading GPRS base stations with EDGE, or a sparse WCDMA macro cell layer with HSPA, mainly would benefit uplink transmission. For this case, the data rate that can be guaranteed with 95% area availability (coverage) can be increased with approximately 40-100%. In the downlink, though, the dense WCDMA/HSPA system alone supports user data rates of 500 kpbs for all relevant user densities. Thus, upgrading legacy infrastructure would be obsolete