Full-Duplex Cloud Radio Access Networks: An Information-Theoretic Viewpoint

Abstract

The conventional design of cellular systems prescribes the separation of\nuplink and downlink transmissions via time-division or frequency-division\nduplex. Recent advances in analog and digital domain self-interference\ninterference cancellation challenge the need for this arrangement and open up\nthe possibility to operate base stations, especially low-power ones, in a\nfull-duplex mode. As a means to cope with the resulting downlink-to-uplink\ninterference among base stations, this letter investigates the impact of the\nCloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) architecture. The analysis follows an\ninformation theoretic approach based on the classical Wyner model. The\nanalytical results herein confirm the significant potential advantages of the\nC-RAN architecture in the presence of full-duplex base stations, as long as\nsufficient fronthaul capacity is available and appropriate mobile station\nscheduling, or successive interference cancellation at the mobile stations, is\nimplemented.\n