On the Performance Benefits of Partly Wireless CRAN

Abstract

In a conventional Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) system, due to geographical and cost problems, it is difficult to install additional remote radio head (RRH) with fronthaul links once after the initial CRAN deployment is completed. To solve this problem, we present a new type of CRAN architecture which has simple supplementary radio nodes termed w-RRHs straightly linked to the adjacent existing RRHs, not to a centralized baseband unit (BBU) pool. This paper quantitatively evaluates the potential benefits from the use of extra w-RRHs. Specifically, we provide a quantified guideline on whether or not to permit the usage of w-RRHs from the value of achievable spectral efficiency with regard to the additional delay caused by w-RRHs. Simulation results clearly demonstrate the trade-off between the advantage and penalty of additional w-RRHs, and emphasize the impact of network size on the system performance.