Estimating the gains of adaptive antenna systems for GPRS and EDGE data services in GSM networks

We present a fast and efficient approach to estimate the data throughput over the air interface in packet data services such as the emerging GPRS and EGPRS in GSM mobile radio networks. By using link level performance data and C/I distributions from previously run system level simulations we obtain data rate distributions without re-running tedious system level simulations for packet data. We apply the method to the estimation of the benefits that adaptive antennas add in the GPRS and EGPRS packet data services. Furthermore, the effect of power control is studied by this method. The obtained results yield both valuable insight into performance issues of mobile packet data transmission and benchmarks for double-checking results of precise system level simulations with comprehensive modeling of both interference and packet data protocols.