Interference Mitigation in Multicell LTE Systems: Performance over Correlated Fading Channels

We consider a multicell multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal-frequency-division-multiple-access (OFDMA) scenario conforming to the 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) recommendation. Scheduling policies proposed for interference mitigation in LTE rely on a pseudo-random permutation of the subcarriers (interference randomization) or on a centrally coordinated reuse of the OFDMA bandwidth (interference coordination). For both the approaches, this paper investigates the performance of a multiple antenna communication over a Rayleigh fading multipath channels. An analytical model is derived to assess the average bit error probability for frequency-selective (correlated) channels with either stationary or nonstationary (due to subcarrier permutation) multicell interference. Simulation results corroborate the proposed analytical model for different traffic conditions and propagation scenarios.