Mapping between Average SINR and Supported Throughput in 5G New Radio Small Cell Networks

The introduction of small cells through the addition of low-power base stations to existing macro-eNBs has been explored as an easy and cheap solution to increase capacity in hot spots with high user demand, to fill in areas not covered by the macro network and to improve network performance and service quality in 4G and 5G New Radio (NR) networks. The combination of large macro-cells with small cells, generating a heterogeneous network, provides increased bit rates per unit area. This paper explores fundamental aspects of the mapping between the average Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) and the supported throughput in a context of 5G NR Small Cell Heterogeneous Networks operating at 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5.62 GHz, through an implicit formulation approach that considers the mapping between threshold values for the SINR and Modulation Coding Schemes to obtain values for the PHY throughput. The technical specifications given by Release 15 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project for 5G NR are followed, while considering a bandwidth of 100 MHz and Sub Carrier Spacing (SCS) of 60 kHz. By analysing the results one concludes that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the average SINR and the supported throughput, with an enhanced behaviour for cell radii longer than the ratio between the breakpoint distance and the co-channel reuse factor.