Energy efficiency optimization for downlink cloud RAN with limited fronthaul capacity

In the downlink cloud radio access network (C-RAN), fronthaul compression has been developed to combat the performance bottleneck caused by the capacity-limited fronthaul links. Nevertheless, the state-of-arts focusing on fronthaul compression for spectral efficiency improvement become questionable for energy efficiency (EE) maximization, especially for meeting its requirements of large-scale implementation. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a low-complexity algorithm with closed-form solution for the EE maximization problem in a downlink C-RAN with limited fronthaul capacity. To solve such a non-trivial problem, we first derive an optimal solution using branch-and-bound approach to provide a performance benchmark. Then, by transforming the original problem into a parametric subtractive form, we propose a low-complexity two-layer decentralized (TLD) algorithm. Specifically, a bisection search is involved in the outer layer, while in the inner layer we propose an alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm to find a closed-form solution in a parallel manner with convergence guaranteed. Simulations results demonstrate that the TLD algorithm can achieve near optimal solution, and its EE is much higher than the spectral efficiency maximization one. Furthermore, the optimal and TLD algorithms are also extended to counter the channel error. The results show that the robust algorithms can provide robust performance in the case of lacking perfect channel state information.