Frequency Assignment and Access Methods

When deploying small cells, one of the first choices a network operator needs to make is the configuration of the frequency spectrum and the access model for user equipments (UEs). This choice has an important impact on the interaction with an existing macrocellular network and the resulting network coverage, capacity, and therefore costs for achieving a desired network performance. For frequency allocation, the main options are using new frequency bands or reusing frequencies that are currently in use by existing macrocells, known as co-channel operation. This chapter focuses on the different frequency assignment approaches such as separate frequency deployments, co-channel deployments and partial frequency reuse. It discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and presents their mapping to different radio access technologies. Several factors play a role in determining the best assignment including the cost and availability of wireless spectrum. The chapter further describes the desired choice of access methods.