Exploring spectrum reuse in Wi-Fi 6 using ns-3

In various hotspots, such as airports, shopping malls, and stadiums, it is necessary to have dense Wi-Fi 6 network deployments. Operators may go for a spectrum reuse deployment to maximize channel utilization. However, the dense deployment of Wi-Fi networks with frequency-reuse 1 could lead to high interference in the network. Hence, usually, we deploy Wi-Fi networks with careful channel planning. Still, parallel transmissions from neighboring Wi-Fi networks could lead to exposed terminals and unnecessary channel access delays. This affects the networks’ throughput significantly. In 802.11ax wireless networks, these issues can be limited by enabling careful BSS coloring, such as cellular network base stations operating channel-frequency planning. ns-3 for 802.11ax can also simulate the BSS coloring feature.

In order to analyze the BSS coloring feature of Wi-Fi 6, we planned a hands-on activity with the following activities:

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