Performance of Open Access Femtocell Networks with Different Cell-Selection Methods

Femtocell networks may significantly improve the capacity of next-generation cellular systems due to more efficient utilization of spectrum resources and better link qualities for mobile users. In this paper, we investigate the performance of open-access femtocell networks for different scenarios, where macrocell users are allowed to join a particular femtocell if it is preferable to do so. Both dedicated-channel and co-channel femtocell deployments are considered. We investigate different cell selection metrics, and argue that a capacity-based cell selection typically results in larger capacities for the users. Impact of wall penetration loss and how it relates to the capacities of indoor and outdoor users are also evaluated. Extensive downlink simulation results are provided to justify various system tradeoffs.