Performance optimization of pico node deployment in LTE macro cells

One example of heterogeneous networks include deployment of outdoor low power pico eNBs in existing macro-layer networks. Placing these within the coverage area of macro eNBs introduce several challenges in terms of assuring low interference levels while at the same time improving the performance of the users. In this paper we focus on the comparison between three main frequency reuse schemes: Co-Channel, Hard Frequency Reuse, and Fractional Frequency Reuse. Such schemes are evaluated for different user distributions in the network, as this is one of the important scenario assumptions affecting the performance gain from deploying pico eNBs. Aspects of pico eNB range expansion are also addressed. The evaluations presented show that pico eNB deployment can provide a significant offloading effect to the macro layer. It is also shown that frequency partitioning and utilization of frequency reuse will provide a larger average gain than co-channel deployment combined with pico range extension.