Management of macro network kpi impacts for a mass deployment of femtocells

Abstract

Power management is provided in a femtocell basestation in a cellular communications network, in order to ensure that the effect of a mass deployment of femtocells on the key performance indicators of the surrounding macro network is bounded, for all femtocell traffic profiles. An expected area density of femtocells is determined; a macro layer quality criterion is set; a network performance indicator impact level is set; a maximum impact area allowed for the femtocell is calculated, based on the expected area density of femtocells, the macro layer quality criterion, and the network performance indicator impact level; a distance of a macro layer user from the femtocell is estimated; and the downlink power in the femtocell is controlled, based on the estimated distance of the macro layer user from the femtocell and based on the calculated maximum impact area.

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