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QoS-Aware Energy Optimization via Cell Switching in Heterogeneous Networks

Maryam Salamatmoghadasi, Amir Mehrabian, Halim Yanikomeroglu, Georges Kaddoum

TL;DR

This work tackles energy efficiency in dense heterogeneous radio access networks by introducing a QoS-aware cell-switching framework. It jointly optimizes BS activation and user association through a mixed-integer linear program, incorporating real-time channel conditions and enforcing a minimum received power threshold $P_{\min}$ to guarantee QoS for offloaded users. Solved with the SCIP optimizer, the approach achieves up to 30% power savings while preserving QoS across diverse HetNet deployments, and offers flexible operation modes by adjusting $P_{\min}$. The results demonstrate robustness and scalability in realistic, multi-SBS environments, highlighting the method's potential for sustainable 6G RANs.

Abstract

The growing demand for mobile data services in dense urban areas has intensified the need for energy-efficient radio access networks (RANs) in future 6G systems. In this context, one promising strategy is cell switching (CS), which dynamically deactivates underutilized small base stations (SBSs) to reduce power consumption. However, while previous research explored CS primarily based on traffic load, ensuring user quality of service (QoS) under realistic channel conditions remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel optimization-driven CS framework that jointly minimizes network power consumption and guarantees user QoS by enforcing a minimum received power threshold as part of offloading decisions. In contrast to prior load-based or learning-based approaches, our method explicitly integrates channel-aware information into the CS process, thus ensuring reliable service quality for offloaded users. Furthermore, flexibility of the proposed framework enables operators to adapt system behavior between energy-saving and QoS-preserving modes by tuning a single design parameter. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves up to 30% power savings as compared to baseline methods while fully maintaining QoS under diverse network conditions. Scalability and robustness of the proposed method in realistic heterogeneous networks (HetNets) further highlight its potential as a practical solution for sustainable 6G deployments.

QoS-Aware Energy Optimization via Cell Switching in Heterogeneous Networks

TL;DR

This work tackles energy efficiency in dense heterogeneous radio access networks by introducing a QoS-aware cell-switching framework. It jointly optimizes BS activation and user association through a mixed-integer linear program, incorporating real-time channel conditions and enforcing a minimum received power threshold to guarantee QoS for offloaded users. Solved with the SCIP optimizer, the approach achieves up to 30% power savings while preserving QoS across diverse HetNet deployments, and offers flexible operation modes by adjusting . The results demonstrate robustness and scalability in realistic, multi-SBS environments, highlighting the method's potential for sustainable 6G RANs.

Abstract

The growing demand for mobile data services in dense urban areas has intensified the need for energy-efficient radio access networks (RANs) in future 6G systems. In this context, one promising strategy is cell switching (CS), which dynamically deactivates underutilized small base stations (SBSs) to reduce power consumption. However, while previous research explored CS primarily based on traffic load, ensuring user quality of service (QoS) under realistic channel conditions remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel optimization-driven CS framework that jointly minimizes network power consumption and guarantees user QoS by enforcing a minimum received power threshold as part of offloading decisions. In contrast to prior load-based or learning-based approaches, our method explicitly integrates channel-aware information into the CS process, thus ensuring reliable service quality for offloaded users. Furthermore, flexibility of the proposed framework enables operators to adapt system behavior between energy-saving and QoS-preserving modes by tuning a single design parameter. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves up to 30% power savings as compared to baseline methods while fully maintaining QoS under diverse network conditions. Scalability and robustness of the proposed method in realistic heterogeneous networks (HetNets) further highlight its potential as a practical solution for sustainable 6G deployments.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 17 equations, 4 figures, 2 tables, 1 algorithm)

This paper contains 13 sections, 17 equations, 4 figures, 2 tables, 1 algorithm.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. System Model and Problem Constraints
  3. Network Model
  4. Channel Model
  5. Network Power Consumption
  6. Problem Formulation and Solution Approach
  7. Performance Evaluation
  8. Comparative Methods
  9. All-ON
  10. Sorting-Based CS
  11. CS without QoS
  12. Simulation Results
  13. Conclusion

Figures (4)

  • Figure 1: HetNet architecture with SBS-to-MBS offloading and energy-efficient CS.
  • Figure 2: Total power consumption vs. load intensity for various CS methods, with $P_\mathrm{min}=-70\; \mathrm{dBm}$.
  • Figure 3: Total served traffic with QoS vs. load intensity for various CS methods, with $P_\mathrm{min}=-70\; \mathrm{dBm}$.
  • Figure 4: Total power consumption vs. $P_\mathrm{min}$ for the proposed CS method and benchmark algorithms, with $\alpha = 0.5$.