On the applicability of steerable beams in LTE-Advanced networks with high user mobility

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of applying scanning narrow beams to long-term evolution (LTE)-advanced networks that include in their coverage areas fast moving mobiles. The system scenario is assumed to include eNodeBs that can form multiple beams which can steer (rotate) their respective coverage areas. Additionally, the user downlink transmissions are supposed to be dynamically scheduled based on signal-to-noise plus interference ratio reports for physical resource blocks. The mobile user equipments (UEs) have multiple antenna elements which allow maximal ratio combining of the received signals. By applying coordinated transmission of steerable beams at neighboring eNodeBs, we could mitigate inter-cell interference in a multi-cell interference deployment. The coverage area and total throughput may significantly be enhanced, compared to the current LTE standard where inter-cell interference coordination technique is adopted for low-speed UEs. Furthermore, the proposed schemes involve low-complexity hardware implementation and low power consumption.