A tunable framework for performance evaluation of spectrum sharing in LTE networks

Current spectrum allocation policies, imposing exclusive usage of a licensed operator, may lead to inefficient management and waste of resources. Spectrum sharing, i.e., usage by the same frequency band by multiple operators, can improve the efficiency of the allocation. We analyze a scenario where two mobile operators managing neighboring cells also share a fraction of their available spectrum and quantify the performance gain. To this end, we propose a framework based on the definition of the Interference Suppression Ratio, which models effects such as beamforming or directional antennas. Depending on its value, mutual interference among the operators is reduced and sharing gains can be achieved. We implemented this framework in the well known open-source simulator ns-3 and we ran a parametric analysis of the impacting factors, including noise and cell radius. Simulation results confirm that significant gains can be achieved in terms of network capacity and throughput, provided that the Interference Suppression Ratio is above a given value.