Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Theses
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ItemOptimisation of small-cell deployment and backhaul network planning and dimensioning( 2020)In recent years, the evolution of mobile communication has projected a tremendous growth in the capacity demand of the cellular communication network. Hence, telecommunication service operators have been researching different methods to accommodate such enormous demand growth of data communications. One such approach was to deploy additional macrocells with advanced wireless technology to cater to the bandwidth demand. This approach was not a cost-optimal one due to limited signal spectrum, inter-site distances among cells, risk of higher electromagnetic radiation propagation. Hence, a heterogeneous network deployment is to encounter the increased capacity need would be a more robust solution. Such systems deploy small-cell Base Transceiver Station (BTS) with a smaller coverage radius, alongside the traditional macrocell BTSs, to counter the capacity need and related issues. The planning of such a Small-cell Network (SCN) requires extensive forms of studies, and the purpose would be to focus on specific aspects of network planning to influence the outcome of such tasks directly. These cellular wireless networks connect with a backhaul infrastructure to offer a cost-effective, high capacity, robust, energy-efficient and future-proof connectivity between these “small cells” and the core network. This thesis presents relevant research studies performed to optimise the deployment of wireless small-cell networks. Firstly, using a novel network planning algorithm, a network of small-cells is planned for different 4G carrier frequencies. This framework also maintained the Maximum Allowable Path Loss (MAPL) level for the transmitted signal from SC. The framework incorporated geographical terrain factors of ground elevation and slope values, locations and fixed coverage area formation for the selected small-cells. An energy and cost-effective optimised backhaul architecture, based on the Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology, leveraging an existing optical fibre network resources is separately planned and dimensioned to connect with the planned small-cell network approach mentioned above. Next, the two different SCN and GPON planning methods are combined under one optimisation framework to construct a simplified network planning method applied to any cellular technology or GPON type utilised. Finally, a network capacity analysis is done, concerning the data consumption by devices, based on the population density over the case study area and the assigned 5G Small-cell (SC) carrier frequency data rate. Based on that information and other known constraints and parameters, a corresponding optimisation framework will be developed. This framework would utilise the concept of cellular frequency spectrum refarming to share the frequency spectrum of wireless signals. In turn, this allowed various types of cellular networks from different generations to function in the same wireless frequency spectrum. In summary, the technical research contribution presented in this thesis describes multiple approaches to plan a wireless small-cell network. The research also dimensions an appropriate optical backhaul network, for different cellular and optical network characteristics, within the premises of a heterogeneous telecommunications network. Additionally, we discussed some future research directions evolving from our work, alongside concluding remarks.