Power save analysis of cellular networks with continuous connectivity

In this paper, we analyze the power save and its impact on web traffic performance when customers adopt the continuous connectivity paradigm. To this aim, we provide a model for packet transmission and cost. We model each mobile user's traffic with a realistic web traffic profile, and study the aggregate behavior of the users attached to a base station by means of a processor-shared queueing system. In particular, we evaluate user access delay, download time and expected economy of energy in the cell. The model is validated through packet-level simulations. Our model shows that dramatic energy save can be achieved by both mobile users and base stations, e.g., as much as 70% of the energy cost due to packet transmission at the base station. © 2011 IEEE.