On the use of radio environment maps for interference management in heterogeneous networks

This article addresses the use of REMs to support interference management optimization in heterogeneous networks composed of cells of different sizes and including both cellular and non-cellular (e.g. WiFi) technologies. After presenting a general architecture for including REM databases in different network entities, the article analyzes the achievable benefits in relation to specific interference management techniques, including a discussion on practical considerations such as information exchange requirements, REM ownership, and security aspects. Finally, several research directions derived from the proposed framework are identified.