LTE networks BTS location optimation with double step grey wolf optimizer

Base station is the main network element in cellular networks deployment. The vast area of placement, position variation and number of users and environmental factors spawned a vastly searching solution space. Those are makes base station location determination an NP-hard problem. Network planning optimization frequently use meta-heuristic algorithm to find the optimum solution. Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), one of meta-heuristic algorithm has advantages in number of parameters used and simplicity of the process. GWO allocates exploration phase and exploitation phase in the same portion makes diversity issue in the finding solution process. The research proposes modified GWO to prolong exploration phase that enabler the algorithm to expand the search through wider search space. Double step GWO change the way of coefficient vector |A| decrease along the iteration. This new algorithm differentiates changing behavior of vector coefficient between exploration phase and exploitation phase. Simulation conducted covered variation of areas, user number and user density. The work evaluated the number and locations of BTS deployed, coverage area and number of users that can be and compare it to grey wolf optimizer.