Clustering Interval Effects on Dynamic CoMP Clustering in Ultra-Dense Networks

To meet the increasing demands for higher data rates with low latency and massive connectivity in the 5G era and beyond, the deployment of high-density small cells is the key technology known as Ultra-Dense Networks (UDNs). With such deployment, interference caused by neighboring cells is a major concern. Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) is used to coordinate activities among multiple Base Stations (BSs) to manage interference and improve signal quality, which eventually results in enhancing spectrum efficiency. Dynamic CoMP clustering techniques have received great attention since they offer dynamic formation and reconfiguration of coordinating clusters in response to real-time network situations. This work studies the effects of CoMP clustering interval on the system performance. In terms of energy consumption, data processing, and signaling overhead, the longer the interval the better. However, it is shown in this article that choosing the right clustering interval for each network environment is crucial to balancing between the expected system performance and the utilized resources as well as achieving the optimum overall system performance.