Downlink Coordinated Multi-Point Transmission in Ultra-Dense Networks with Mobile Edge Computing

Small cell base stations (SBSs) in 5G and beyond networks will play multiple roles in addition to radio access, and will be deployed in a very high density. They can facilitate mobile edge computing (MEC), such that SBSs can store, process, and control network data signals, becoming important elements in ultra-dense networks (UDNs). However, intercell interference may jeopardize the gains from network densification, and thus coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission is important in UDNs. MEC and CoMP are different technologies, but they can work jointly to benefit UDNs. In this article, we aim to bridge the gap between MEC and CoMP based on three MEC functions. We will show that CoMP transmission reduces UDN complexity and transmission delay with collaboration among MEC servers in UNDs. In return, MEC-enabled UDNs can alleviate the backhaul pressure on CoMP transmission and make it possible to implement scalable CoMP.