In practical cellular radio and personal communication systems the power levels transmitted by every

MS (Mobile station) are under constant control by the BS (base stations). This is done to ensure that
each mobile transmits the smallest power necessary to maintain a good quality link on the reverse
channel. Power control not only helps prolong battery life for the subscriber unit, but also
dramatically reduces the reverse channel S/I in the system.

As BS in CDMA and other cellular systems receive transmissions from different mobile subscribers, it
is required to equalize the power level from these subscribers.
There are two main types of power controls: open loop and closed loop.

Closed Loop Power Control

In Closed Loop Power Control, feedback mechanism
is used for adjusting the transmitted power level.

BS receives the mobile signal sent from the MS.

Based on this received power level as well as other
parameters such as SNR and BER, Base station
determines what is the optimum power level mobile
need to transmit to achieve effective communication
link performance. This estimated power level is
communicated to the MS by the BS over control
channel. MS adjusts the power level accordingly
using the feedback provided by the BS.
Often MS estimates the base station power level and
communicates base station to adjust its power level to
achieve effective reverse link performance.

With closed-loop power control of the user, the BS measures its received signal strength, then
compares it with some reference and relates to other present users and then sends a corresponding
power control command to MS to adjust its transmit power to a desired level. At the MS, power-
control information is received from the BS and it adjusts its transmitted power. The power control
command indicates either an increment or decrement in the transmit power. This process happens in a
closed loop constantly.

By transmission power control, the user can obtain a constant communication environment regardless
of the location. The user who is far from the base station sends a higher transmission power than the
user who is nearer to the base station. Also by this transmission power control, we can reduce the
effects of fading. This means that the variation of the received power due to fading can be suppressed
by the transmission power control. Power control can compensate the fading fluctuation. Received
power from all MS are controlled to be equal. Near-Far problem is mitigated by the power control.
2
BS measures received power
1
MS Transmits

MS
Receives the command
Adjusts Transmit power
Compares, Relates with other users 4
Send power control command
3