Cell Search Time Performance Using Same Frequency Spectrum for Heterogeneous Networks Including Indoor Small Cells

This paper presents the initial cell search time performance based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) synchronization signals employing the same frequency spectrum for heterogeneous networks including indoor small cells. We assume the indoor small cell models in hot zone buildings that are specified in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical report. System-level simulation results show that in both the sparse and dense scenarios employing the same frequency spectrum for the heterogeneous networks, the influence of co-channel interference particularly from a macro cell to indoor small cells on the initial cell search time is not large except for the case when a small cell cluster is placed very close to the macro cell site. We also show that the indoor small cell deployment is effective in achieving fast cell search times as well as achieving higher cell throughput for heterogeneous networks where high volume traffic occurs in the indoor hot zone building.