Cellular Spectrum Occupancy Probability in Urban and Rural Scenarios at
Various UAS Altitudes
Abstract
The ever-growing demand for wireless connectivity, coupled with limited
spectrum resources, has resulted in spectrum congestion and
interference. This research investigates the probability of occupancy in
common sub-6 GHz cellular network bands based on measurements conducted
in urban and rural environments. Specifically, we analyze the spectrum
occupancy of various long-term evolution (LTE), 5th generation (5G) and
Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) bands used in the United States,
considering both uplink and downlink transmissions at altitudes up to
180 meters. Additionally, we explore the influence of altitude on the
probability of spectrum occupancy in these bands.
Our findings reveal that the probability of occupancy is generally
higher in the downlink compared to the uplink. Moreover, we observe that
line-of-sight (LoS) signals play a critical role in higher altitudes.
These results provide insights spectrum utilization in various cellular
bands across different altitudes, with implications on interference and
spectrum coexistence between terrestrial networks and unmanned aerial
systems (UASs) in the future.