Cost-Effective and Efficient Cylindrical Antenna Deployment Using Noninteger Arrays

This study introduces a novel approach to cylindrical antenna array deployment in cellular networks, emphasizing a method that reduces infrastructure costs while enhancing spectral efficiency through noninteger array configurations. Traditional cylindrical arrays, based on integer spacing, often require several antenna elements, leading to increased costs in materials, installation, and maintenance. Our approach leverages noninteger spacing between elements, both vertically and horizontally, which allows for a significant reduction in the total number of antennas required without compromising beam strength or focus. This reduction in hardware not only cuts costs but also simplifies the overall deployment process. Simulations reveal that noninteger spaced arrays maintain, and in some cases, improve beam characteristics, while simultaneously enhancing sum-rate capacity and spectral efficiency. These improvements are particularly notable under the multipath channel conditions prevalent in cellular networks, where reduced mutual coupling and lower signal correlation contribute to better performance. By minimizing the number of antennas needed for effective operation, this approach offers a cost-effective alternative for cellular network design, positioning it as a key enabler for the development of next-generation wireless communication technologies, including 6G networks.