Full-Duplex and Dynamic-TDD: Pushing the Limits of Spectrum Reuse in Multi-Cell Communications

Abstract: Although in cellular networks full-duplex and dynamic time-division duplexing promise increased spectrum efficiency, their potential is so far challenged by increased interference. While previous studies have shown that self-interference can be suppressed to a sufficient level, we show that the cross-link interference for both duplexing modes, especially from base station to base station, is the remaining challenge in multi-cell networks, restricting the uplink performance. Using beamforming techniques of low-complexity, we show that this interference can be mitigated, and that full-duplex and dynamic time-division duplexing can substantially increase the capacity of multi-cell networks. Our results suggest that if we can control the cross link interference in full-duplex, then we can almost double the multi cell network capacity as well as user throughput. Therefore, the techniques in this paper have the potentiality to enable a smooth introduction of full-duplex into cellular systems.