On pilot dimensioning in multicell single input multiple output systems

Resource management schemes in multicell orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) networks typically assume perfect channel knowledge at the transmitter or employ a statistical channel estimation error. In this paper we propose a model that explicitly captures the inherent tradeoff between the power allocated to transmitting data and pilot signals in multicell single input multiple output (SIMO) systems. We first study the asymptotic behavior of the required data power to reach a predefined signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) target as a function of the employed pilot power in a single OFDM cell, then develop a distributed multicell algorithm that strives to minimize the multi-cell sum data power with respect to a predefined signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio (SINR) target vector. The results provide new insights in dimensioning the pilot and data transmit power levels and serve as a basis for developing distributed power control schemes in multicell systems.