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The Fixed Links Frequency Assignment Problem with Equipment Selection

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Abstract

Microwave fixed links play a vital role supporting infrastructure requirements in telecommunications. As the demand for their use increases, particularly in providing backhaul for mobile networks, it is important that the microwave spectrum is exploited efficiently. This paper investigates the use of equipment selection algorithms within the microwave fixed-links frequency assignment problem. Standard data-rates are often supported by two alternative radio system types; one utilising a relatively lower-order modulation scheme and the other using relatively higher-order modulation. The higher-order modulation radios use less bandwidth to achieve the same data rate, but at the expense of higher wanted signal levels and lower interference thresholds. Hence while higher-order modulation is the more spectrally efficient option for an individual link considered in isolation, it may not be the most efficient when the wider network is taken into account. In this paper we provide a new model for the fixed link frequency assignment problem with equipment selection, formulated as an integer program, and investigate the nature of the trade-off between local and global spectral efficiency on a range of representative data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UK Office of Communications (Ofcom), 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HA, UK

    I. D. Flood

  2. School of Computer Science, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK

    S. M. Allen

Authors
  1. I. D. Flood
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  2. S. M. Allen
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Correspondence to I. D. Flood.

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Flood, I.D., Allen, S.M. The Fixed Links Frequency Assignment Problem with Equipment Selection. Wireless Pers Commun 71, 181–194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-012-0810-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-012-0810-4

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