Performance of uplink synchronous WCDMA at network level

The performance of uplink synchronous WCDMA systems for low dispersive environments is evaluated at network level. The capacity increase is computed for the particular case of UMTS, taking into account the impact of effects like the code shortage, the number of receiver antennas, the penetration rate, and the use of soft handover. This is done theoretically and by means of a dynamic simulator, which considers more realistic conditions. Theoretical calculations match the simulation results. According to the results generated for speech service, the main problem in uplink synchronous WCDMA systems is the code shortage. For Pedestrian A environments with the most realistic conditions uplink synchronous WCDMA provides a 9.6% capacity gain. However, a very high potential exists for situations where this code shortage can be solved, i.e. 35.8% capacity gain assuming no code restriction.