Genetic algorithms to optimize base station sitting in WCDMA networks

In UMTS network, radio planning cannot only be based on signal predictions, but it must also consider the traffic distribution, the power control mechanism as well as the power limits and the signal quality constraints. The present work aims to optimize the number of base stations used in the WCDMA radio network. In this paper, we propose a mathematical programming model for optimizing the base station locations considered for the uplink (mobile to BS) direction, and which considers the typical power control mechanism of WCDMA. The two contrasting objectives of the optimization process are the traffic coverage maximization and the installation costs minimization. A mimetic algorithm (AM) (genetic algorithm+ a local search) is proposed to find good approximate solutions of this NP hard problem. The Numerical results are obtained for reels instances, and generated by using classical propagation models.