Physical layer security strategies for downlink heterogeneous cloud radio access networks

Abstract Cloud radio access networks (C-RANs) were proposed as promising solutions to increase both spectrum and energy efficiency performance in next generation wireless communication systems. Much works discussed the concrete implementation technology to justify the huge development potential of C-RAN. However, only a few litterateurs focused on characterizing the physical layer security in the downlink. The authors studied the physical layer security in downlink heterogeneous C-RAN systems in the article. To characterize the random deployment of remote radio units (RRUs) with single antenna configuration, the stochastic geometry is based to evaluate the proposals' secrecy transmission capacity performances, where the closed-form expressions are derived. Furthermore, two security strategies based on eavesdropper neutralization region to protect the target RRU user against eavesdropping were presented and analyzed. Simulation illustrates the secrecy transmission capacity performance limits on different system parameters. The presented security strategies show a significant enhancement on the secrecy performance.