SINR and Throughput of Dense Cellular Networks With Stretched Exponential Path Loss

Distance-based attenuation is a critical aspect of wireless communications. As opposed to the ubiquitous power-law path loss model, this paper proposes a stretched exponential path loss model that is suitable for short-range communication. In this model, the signal power attenuates over a distance r as e(-alpha r beta), where alpha and beta are tunable parameters. Using experimental propagation measurements, we show that the proposed model is accurate for short to moderate distances in the range r is an element of ( 5, 300) meters and so is a suitable model for dense and ultradense networks. We integrate this path loss model into a downlink cellular network with base stations modeled by a Poisson point process, and derive expressions for the coverage probability, potential throughput, and area spectral efficiency. Although the most general result for coverage probability has a double integral, several special cases are given, where the coverage probability has a compact or even closed form. We then show that the potential throughput is maximized for a particular BS density and then collapses to zero for high densities, assuming a fixed signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) threshold. We next prove that the area spectral efficiency, which assumes an adaptive SINR threshold, is nondecreasing with the BS density and converges to a constant for high densities.