This paper presents results from extensive simulation and real world deployment of higher order horizontal sectorisation (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 sectors) when applied to a 3G/HSPA+ network in order to determine the downlink capacity gains available from this technique. Simulation results are presented for homogenous networks based upon a 3GPP HSPA/LTE network model in order to find the theoretical downlink capacity gains from higher order horizontal sectorisation and the optimum horizontal antenna beamwidth to maximise capacity without significantly reducing coverage and other network Key Performance Indicators. Further simulations have also been performed to ascertain the potential gain seen for Telefonica UK??s Central London 3G/HSPA+ network and these results have also been verified using live network field results from the deployment of six sector sites into Telefonica UK??s 3G/HSPA+ network. All results suggest that the gain is very much dependent on traffic location, but simulations and results from live network deployment of higher order sectorisation do verify that in the densest traffic locations higher order sectorisation does indeed provide a significant downlink capacity gain.
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