Wireless Backhauling for Energy Harvesting Ultra-Dense Networks

Abstract

Due to non-negligible amount of energy consumption of state-of-the-art small cells at idle mode, energy efficiency of the overall network may decrease with densification. Therefore, energy efficiency in ultra-dense networks (UDNs) is one of the key challenges for mobile network operators (MNOs) to reduce their operative expenditure (OPEX), and to mitigate the carbon footprint. Low-power and low-cost dense networks are vital to extend next generation cellular network functionalities by improving network capacity in hotspot areas, and to deploy networks in short time periods. In energy harvesting networks, access points (APs) may perform both backhaul and access link data communication, simultaneously, removing UDN dependency on optical distribution network and electrical grid. In this paper, different power modes and essential signaling for operation of such APs are introduced, aiming to reduce energy consumption of UDNs by integrating energy harvesters into APs, equipped with wireless backhaul.