Challenges and Opportunities in the Analysis and Optimization of Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

The progressive adoption of Internet of Things and the deployment of 5G networks is leading to heterogeneous network operation scenarios, with diverse quality of service requirements given by highly dynamic user demands. In this sense, ultra-dense node environments will coexist with high mobility applications, leading to complex scenarios in terms of interference characterization and handling. Moreover, a vast number of nodes is foreseen to enable IoT environments, with inherent restrictions in terms of form factor, energy consumption and cost. In this context coverage/capacity analysis is a valuable tool in order to perform device as well as system level design, considering interference impact and variable transceiver densities. This tutorial focuses on the challenges in wireless channel analysis applied for coverage/capacity analysis and interference determination in heterogeneous wireless system operation, including 5G NR for FR1 and FR2 frequency ranges. An overview of different wireless characterization techniques is provided, focusing on new hybrid deterministic simulation approaches as well on current empirical based models. Several scenarios under test will be described, providing insight on coverage/capacity estimations and subsequent system design and optimization in order to comply with quality of service and quality of experience requirements.