On the Broadcast Capacity of Multihop Wireless Networks: Interplay of Power, Density and Interference

In wireless networks which we define as the maximum rate at which broadcast packets can be generated in the network such that all nodes receive the packets successfully within a given time. To assess the impact of topology and interference on the broadcast capacity we employ the Physical Model and Generalized Physical Model for the channel. Prior work was limited either by density constraints or by using the less realistic but manageable Protocol model [1], [2]. Under the Physical Model, we find that the broadcast capacity is within a constant factor of the channel capacity for a wide class of network topologies. Under the Generalized Physical Model, on the other hand, the network configuration is divided into three regimes depending on how the power is tuned in relation to network density and size and in which the broadcast capacity is asymptotically either zero, constant or unbounded. As we show, the broadcast capacity is limited by distant nodes in the first regime and by interference in the second regime. In the second regime, which covers a wide class of networks, the broadcast capacity is within a constant factor of the bandwidth.