Coverage and Capacity Analysis for Machine Type Communications in LTE

Abstract

Machine type communications (MTC) is defined as data communication among devices without the need for human interaction. Examples of MTC services include security, tracking, payment, smart grid, and remote monitoring. With the widespread introduction of LTE and decommissioning of legacy systems, migration of MTC devices to LTE is under investigation by many cellular operators. This paper examines LTE uplink coverage and capacity for machine type communications. It is seen that LTE provides similar coverage to other cellular systems but significantly higher capacity for MTC services. Capacity, however, may be significantly reduced for devices with lower maximum transmit power devices or QPSK-only modulation. MTC on LTE is also shown to be robust to interference and can be deployed in unlicensed band with only a moderate reduction in capacity.