Pragmatic network layouts in 3GPP LTE

In the development of new wireless technologies, accurate system-level simulations are of paramount importance to unearth the effects that only emerge when the system operates as a whole. In this paper we evaluate the very first open-source, MATLAB-based, LTE System Level simulator available to researchers in the public domain. The simulator evaluates physical layer parameters by abstracting the link measurement model. It is shown that the hexagonal layout built into the simulator is a limitation that precludes the simulation of several important network topologies. The paper goes on to show how to modify the simulator to cope with a much wider variety of node topologies and user mobility scenarios. Finally results of simulations of several nonhexagonal topologies are described.