The sector offset configuration concept and its applicability to heterogeneous cellular networks

Wireless data traffic is increasing in an exponential manner, and thus vendors and operators are looking for cost-effective solutions to meet user equipment demands. In this article a joint optimization of the deployment and operation of small cells and macrocells is presented through the novel concept of sector offset configuration, which helps to significantly improve user equipment performance. The proposed sector offset configuration complements Release 10 enhanced intercell interference coordination, and further increases its interference mitigation capabilities. Simulation results for a Long Term Evolution network show that compared to a network that uses standardized Release 10 almost blank subframes, the proposed configuration can improve cell-edge user equipment performance by 50 percent. The proposed configuration can mitigate handover failures by 46 percent, since hand overs start at a higher signal quality due to alleviated interference conditions. These benefits come at the cost of an increased number of antennas at the macrocell site to achieve the sector offset configuration.