Coordinated Multipoint Transmission for LTE-Advanced Networks in Dense Informal Settlements

The emerging Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) standard promises improvements in throughput, latency, spectrum-flexibility and reduction in costs-per-bit, through use of techniques, such as, coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission and reception. LTE-A enhancements provide an attractive long-term solution for operators to implement cost-effective capacity-upgrades and guarantee affordable broadband access in the emerging markets (e.g., Africa). The fast expanding densely-populated informal settlements are among the key areas that could benefit from this new technology. This paper presents a simulation study on the spectral efficiency gains that are achievable with CoMP transmission in an exemplary dense informal settlement area. The results demonstrate that use of CoMP provides capacity enhancements without need for costly deployment of additional macro sites, thus contributing to affordability of broadband access through reduced cost-per-bit. Moreover, we note possible improvements in energy efficiency, by lowering transmit powers without significant impact on CoMP spectral efficiency gains.