On feasibility of coding-based 3GPP LTE coverage enhancements for MTC

As machine-type communications (MTC) penetrate deeper into our everyday life, alternative access models are considered for them. In particular, instead of a traditional multi-hop mesh topology (a.k.a. capillary network), recent works have suggested the use of a cellular network to cover massive numbers of MTC devices with a one-hop deployment (specifically, 3GPP LTE). This significantly reduces the need for relays at the cost of bitrate. On the other hand, reaching certain locations such as basements may be difficult in a single hop, and thus coverage enhancement features have been proposed for LTE. In this work, we evaluate the feasibility and applicability of the proposed coverage enhancements relying on the application of coding gain in the uplink channels. We perform radio network planning for representative neighborhoods with massive deployments of smart meters, and compute the key performance indicators. We conclude with discussion on applicability of the coverage enhancements in various conditions.