Uplink performance analysis of dense cellular networks with LoS and NLoS transmissions

In this paper, we analyse the coverage probability and the area spectral efficiency (ASE) in the uplink (UL) of dense small cell networks (SCNs) considering a piecewise linear path loss model incorporating both line-of-sight (LoS) and non-line-of-sight (NLoS) transmissions. The performance impact of LoS and NLoS transmissions in the ASE of the UL of dense SCNs is shown to be significant, both quantitatively and qualitatively, compared with previous works that do not differentiate LoS and NLoS transmissions. In particular, previous works predicted that a larger UL power compensation factor would always result in a better ASE in the practical range of user equipment (UE) density, i.e., 10
⁰
~ 10
³
UEs/km
²
. However, our results show that a smaller UL power compensation factor can greatly boost the ASE in the UL of dense SCNs, i.e., 10
²
~10
³
UEs/km
²
, while a larger UL power compensation factor is more suitable for sparse SCNs, i.e., 10
⁰
~10
²
UEs/km
²
.