Enhanced efficiency and frequency assignment by optimizing the base stations location in a mobile radio network

Most mobile radio networks have been planned based on the classical cellular concept. However, alternative planning strategies that lead to more efficient network configurations are necessary due to the fact that the traffic density is generally far from constant throughout the service area, making necessary the relocation of base stations inside the traffic hotspots. If the traffic is characterized in a discrete way, the optimization of base stations location resembles vector quantization, a well-known problem in signal processing. In this paper, we use this analogy to propose a mobile radio network planning algorithm. Simulation results show that higher trunking efficiency as well as improved frequency assignment can be obtained if an existing mobile radio network is redesigned using the presented strategy. Raúl Chávez-Santiago was born in Oaxaca City, Mexico. He obtained the B.Sc. degree in communications and electronics engineering in 1997 from the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (ESIME-IPN), and the M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering in 2001 from the Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN) in Mexico City. He has professional experience as Computer Networking Engineer, and Research and Teaching Assistant. Currently, he is completing his studies toward the Ph.D. degree at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev, Israel. In 2002, he received the URSI Young Scientist Award. His main research interests are the optimal planning of radio communication networks, the electromagnetic compatibility of terrestrial and satellite radio systems, and the efficient use of the radio spectrum. He is an IEEE and IEICE student member, and a URSI radio scientist. Avi Raymond was born in Yavne, Israel. He received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev in 2000 and 2005, respectively. He worked for two years in a communication company in the field of Telephony and Broadband Services. He also worked as a Research Assistant in the communications laboratory at BGU. He currently works at Elta Electronic Industries Ltd. as System Engineer and pursues studies toward a second M.Sc. degree in systems engineering at the Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. His research interests are the optimization algorithms for frequency assignment in cellular networks. Vladimir Lyandres was born in 1944, in Vologda, Russia. He received the M.Sc. degree in communications engineering in 1966 and the Ph.D. degree in communications theory in 1972 from the State University of Telecommunications (SUT), Saint Petersburg, Russia. He was with SUT until 1990 holding a position of Senior Scientific Associate and working on research and development of digital transmission systems, modeling of radio communication channels and algorithms of frequency planning for broadcasting and cellular systems. Since 1991 he holds a position of Researcher at the communications laboratory and Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev, Israel. His research interests include synthesis of Markov models, combinatorial optimization, and adaptive power loading. He is a senior member of IEEE and member of IEICE.