BER based Assessment of Spectral and Energy Efficiency in a Two-tier Heterogeneous Network

In this paper, we analyze an arbitrary heterogeneous cellular network applying stochastic geometry, and propose a modified model for assessing network spectral and energy efficiency. With this regard, we recognize that, in practice, determining Signal-to-Noise-and-Interference Ratio (SINR) as the key performance indicator, requires complex field test equipment, which might not be available or affordable. Therefore, we propose here a simple model that is based on the relatively easy measurable Bit-Error Rate (BER), whose degradation caused by various impairments is considered here as if it was due to the according additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), thus abstracting any specific non-AWGN distortion. The proposed analytical model is verified by ns3 software network simulator, whose test results are found to match the corresponding estimated values. This indicates that both spectral and energy efficiencies of small-cell networks are higher than in larger-cell networks, even more for heterogeneous two-tier networks.