The current and envisaged increase of cellular traffic poses new challenges
to Mobile Network Operators (MNO), who must densify their Radio Access Networks
(RAN) while maintaining low Capital Expenditure and Operational Expenditure to
ensure long-term sustainability. In this context, this paper analyses optimal
clustering solutions based on Device-to-Device (D2D) communications to mitigate
partially or completely the need for MNOs to carry out extremely dense RAN
deployments. Specifically, a low complexity algorithm that enables the creation
of spectral efficient clusters among users from different cells, denoted as
enhanced Clustering Optimization for Resources' Efficiency (eCORE) is
presented. Due to the imbalance between uplink and downlink traffic, a
complementary algorithm, known as Clustering algorithm for Load Balancing
(CaLB), is also proposed to create non-spectral efficient clusters when they
result in a capacity increase. Finally, in order to alleviate the energy
overconsumption suffered by cluster heads, the Clustering Energy Efficient
algorithm (CEEa) is also designed to manage the trade-off between the capacity
enhancement and the early battery drain of some users. Results show that the
proposed algorithms increase the network capacity and outperform existing
solutions, while, at the same time, CEEa is able to handle the cluster heads
energy overconsumption
