In this work, we consider a sparse code multiple access uplink system, where J users simultaneously transmit data over K subcarriers, such that J > K, with a constraint on the power transmitted by each user. To jointly optimize the subcarrier assignment and the transmitted power per subcarrier, two new iterative algorithms are proposed, the first one aims to maximize the sum-rate (Max-SR) of the network, while the second aims to maximize the fairness (Max-Min). In both cases, the optimization problem is of the mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) type, with non-convex objective functions, which are generally not tractable. We prove that both joint allocation problems are NP-hard. To address these issues, we employ a variant of the block successive upper-bound minimization (BSUM) [1] framework, obtaining polynomial-time approximation algorithms to the original problem. Moreover, we evaluate the algorithms' robustness against outdated channel state information (CSI), present an analysis of the convergence of the algorithms, and a comparison of the sum-rate and Jain's fairness index of the novel algorithms with three other algorithms proposed in the literature. The Max-SR algorithm outperforms the others in the sum-rate sense, while the Max-Min outperforms them in the fairness sense.

This paper analyzes the efficacy of decoupled wireless access in a two-tier heterogeneous network. The decoupled wireless access and its performance benefits have been studied in different scenarios recently. In this paper, an in-depth analysis on its efficacy from spectral efficiency perspective is provided. To achieve this task, (i) new closed form expressions for probability of association of user equipment with different tiers employing different frequency bands (i.e., microwave and millimeter wave) with different pathloss exponents are derived using univariate Fox's H-functions; (ii) Distributions of the distance to the serving base stations are also derived; (iii) Exact expressions of spectral efficiency for different association cases are further obtained using bivariate Fox's H-functions. Furthermore, rigorous simulation results are provided which validate the aforementioned analytical results. In addition to that, a detailed discussion on the decoupling gain of decoupled wireless access and its efficacy is also provided. Lastly, despite the improvement provided by the decoupled wireless access, which is evident from the results presented in this paper, few questions are raised on its pragmatic value.

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In this paper, we analyze the association of a user terminal in a two-tier network (i.e., macrocells and millimeter wave small cells). We assumed a decoupled wireless access where a user terminal has the liberty to choose different base stations (BSs) in uplink and downlink based on the received power and the channel quality. A practical blockage model where a human body is a blockage to millimeter wave (mmW) is considered. An in-depth simulation study is done to explore the effectiveness of decoupled wireless access in a crowded environment. In addition to that, a detailed analysis on the intuitiveness and the mathematical tractability of the blockage model used is also provided. In the end, few research questions on the efficacy of decoupled wireless access are raised in this paper. Index Terms-Millimeter wave, fifth-generation networks, heterogeneous network, cell association, urban environment, humanbody blockage.

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