The performance of repeaters in UMTS networks

Providing full reliable radio coverage within their service areas is a key factor in determining the successful operations of third generation (3G) or further generation mobile communication systems. Thus mobile operators need to build many BS sites to achieve this goal. However, this implementation will definitely increase the total network investment and take much longer in "off-air" time. Furthermore, in some areas where the mobile traffic is low, or areas that experience abnormal attenuation to radio frequency (RF), building new BS sites is not justified. Alternatively, broadband cellular repeaters, which transmit and receive the same RF signal simultaneously, can be used to provide reliable radio coverage in these areas. This paper studies the link level performance of broadband cellular repeaters as components of 3G mobile systems, based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access-Frequency Division Duplex (WCDMA-FDD), that focus on uplink.