Sustainable Communication Systems: A Graph-Labeling Approach for Cellular Frequency Allocation in Densely-Populated Areas

The need for smart and sustainable communication systems has led to the development of mobile communication networks. In turn, the vast functionalities of the global system of mobile communication (GSM) have resulted in a growing number of subscribers. As the number of users increases, the need for efficient and effective planning of the “limited” frequency spectrum of the GSM is inevitable, particularly in densely-populated areas. As such, there are ongoing discussions about frequency (channel) allocation methods to resolve the challenges of channel allocation, which is a complete NP (Nondeterministic Polynomial time) problem. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for channel allocation which takes into account soft constraints (co-channel interference and adjacent channel interference). By using the Manhattan distance concept, this study shows that the formulation of the algorithm is correct and in line with results in the literature. Hence, the Manhattan distance concept may be useful in other scheduling and optimization problems. Furthermore, this unique concept makes it possible to develop a more sustainable telecommunication system with ease of connectivity among users, even when several subscribers are on a common frequency.