Investigating Spectrum Sharing between 5G Millimeter Wave Networks and Fixed Satellite Systems

In this paper we study coexistence of 5G small cells with fixed satellite systems (FSSs) in a scenario where both systems operate co-channel in the large spectrum bandwidth available around 28 GHz. Such studies are of great importance to inform the research community,industry and regulators which are currently investigating spectrum requirements and technology options for 5G systems. Focusing on the FSS uplink scenario, we use realistic FSS parameters and radiation pattern, combined with very recent channel from the literature, we analyzed the impact of interference resulting from FSS radiation on the achievable capacity and throughput of 5G small cells considering various multiple antenna configurations at the base stations (BSs) and different deployments of the mobile transmitters when no cooperation is allowed between the BSs. Starting from the lower bound, represented by an omnidirectional configuration of the transmitters, we extend our work to the analysis of large antenna arrays that will be used in the new generation of mobile cellular systems. Our results indicate that by exploiting a large number of antennas at the BSs and properly setting the protection distance between FSS and cellular BS, co-channel deployment of 5G small cells with FSS earth stations is possible, in the sense that adequate user data rates could be provided to the majority of mobile users.

I. Introduction

One of the primary contributors to global mobile traffic growth is the increasing number of wireless devices that are accessing mobile networks. Each year, several million new devices with different form factors and increased capabilities are being introduced. Globally, mobile data traffic will grow 10-fold from 2014 to 2019, a compound annual growth rate of 57%, reaching an annual run rate of 291.8 Exabytes by 2019, up from 30.3 Exabytes in 2014 [1]. One of the most promising technologies to support the fast growing demand of high rate connectivity in the next generation mobile cellular networks is the use of broad bands in millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency ranges. In particular, cellular allocations today are largely constrained under 6 GHz but it will be possible to obtain a spectrum 200 times greater by exploiting the frequencies between 20 and 300 GHz.