The impact of massive machine type communication devices on the access probability of human-to-human users in LTE networks

Machine-type Communication (MTC) enables devices to exchange information in an autonomous way without human intervention. Hence, new applications can be developed benefiting from a richer awareness of the surrounding environment. However, the deployment of MTC over cellular networks creates new challenges to the contention-based Random Access (RA) procedure as well as to resource allocation for MTC devices with low impact on Human-to-Human (H2H) services. In this paper, we analyze the impact of massive number of MTC devices on traditional H2H users in Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. We compare the performance of three Radio Access Network (RAN) overload control schemes proposed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for the contention-based RA procedure in this network. Results derived via simulation show that the access probability of Human-type Communication (HTC) users can be jeopardized by the large number of MTC devices. Therefore, enhanced mechanisms for the contention-based RA procedure in LTE network need to be investigated in order to support the expected large number of MTC devices and the traditional H2H users in the same infrastructure.