Advanced planning criteria for cellular systems

This article provides a review of the most up-to-date frequency planning techniques suitable for current digital cellular systems. Frequency planning is becoming a key issue in the current scenario, with exceedingly high growth rates in many countries which compel operators to re-configure networks virtually on a monthly basis. Therefore, the search for smart techniques, which may considerably alleviate planning efforts (and associated costs) becomes extremely important for operators in a competitive market. Although reference is made particularly to a market leader (GSM and its offspring), the considerations reported are quite general, and can be applied to any TDMA/FDMA system. The article examines such well-known concepts as fractional loading, frequency hopping, and intelligent antennas in order to elaborate on them and show how they may impact conventional planning methodology and deprive complex dynamic channel allocation methods of any practical interest. The evaluation of this impact is extended to mixed cellular architectures, starting from a real case for the city of Munich and finally identifying some basic guidelines for cell planning