Performance analysis of Radio Environment Map accuracy on resource reuse in multi-channel cellular networks

This paper presents a numerical study to quantify the benefits of using Radio Environment Maps (REM) within resource management techniques. To date, there are no REM studies established to benchmark the impact of REM models and their accuracy for inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) within multi-channel systems, such as based on OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access). We evaluate REM using a reuse partitioning scheme and it is benchmarked against a system without REM where no-reuse partitioning is employed. Results show that the large interior with REM is able to improve the system efficiency at certain load for low exponents. This study is further extended to the effects of REM information accuracy, such as the predictions of path losses, fading variances as well as the load, on the system performance. It is found that the variation in the load estimation by REM has the greatest effect on the system efficiency, and it is significant for high path loss exponent resulting in significant loss of system efficiency. In contrast, the fading variance accuracy has the least impact on the efficiency performance. This research implies that REM is beneficial in improving the cellular system performance, particularly in intercell-interference coordination.