Interference Analysis Between LTE-2600 MHz Networks and Air Traffic Control Radars in S-Band

This paper assesses the potential in-band (IB) and out-of-band (OOB) interference from a terrestrial Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, operating at 2600 MHz to an Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar in S-band. The interference analysis is based on both measurements and simulations, incorporating line-of sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) scenarios. The results reveal that in LOS cases the radar is exposed to severe IB, and possible OOB interference, from an LTE transmitter being 8.4 km apart. This could create serious complications in the design, and deployment procedure of an LTE network, unless robust mitigation techniques are considered. Finally, in NLOS conditions, no harmful interference is detected.