Capacity and Energy Trade-Offs in FR3 6G Networks Using Real Deployment Data

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that deploying 6G in the FR3 band with deployment-informed, data-driven modeling can yield dramatic capacity gains, especially when 6G cells are placed near traffic hotspots rather than co-located with existing sites. Using the Giulia simulator calibrated to real 4G/5G data from City X, the authors compare five deployment strategies and show hotspot-based, non-co-located 6G deployments achieve the highest throughput-to-energy efficiency. The results underscore the importance of proximity-aware densification and traffic-driven planning to realize the full potential of FR3 while keeping energy use in check. Overall, the work provides a practical blueprint for evaluating and optimizing multi-layer 4G/5G/6G networks in urban environments.

Abstract

This article presents a data-driven system-level analysis of multi-layer 6G networks operating in the upper mid-band (FR3: 7-24 GHz). Unlike most prior studies based on 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) templates, we leverage real-world deployment and traffic data from a commercial 4G/5G network in China to evaluate practical 6G strategies. Using Giulia-a deployment-informed system-level heterogeneous network model-we show that 6G can boost median throughput by up to 9.5x over heterogeneous 4G+5G deployments, but also increases power usage by up to 59%. Critically, co-locating 6G with existing sites delivers limited gains while incurring high energy cost. In contrast, non-co-located, traffic-aware deployments achieve superior throughput-to-watt efficiency, highlighting the need for strategic, user equipment (UE) hotspot-focused 6G planning.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: Spatial network layout, along with UE distribution.
• Figure 2: Downlink UE throughput across deployment scenarios.
• Figure 3: Average network power consumption across scenarios.