Coverage extension with hybrid-access femtocells

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the coverage gains made possible by a macrocell network assisted by hybrid-access femtocells; the analysis is in the context of the LTE-standard. The interference between the macrocell and femtocell is completely eliminated using orthogonal spectrum allocation. The interference between femtocells is almost negligible due to random spectrum allocation to femtocells as well as low transmit power of femtocell base stations. Proposed designs and analysis of femtocells have, so far, focused on closed-access, i.e., only the femtocell owner can use the access point. Our goal here is to illustrate the large performance gains made possible by hybrid-access policies that share resources between the owner and outdoor opportunistic users. Our analysis is in context of the LTE standard.