A GNN-Based Approach to AP Cooperation Cluster Formation in Cell-Free Massive MIMO

Abstract

[Abstract]: Forming effective access point (AP) cooperation clusters is a key challenge in user-centric cell-free massive MIMO (CF-mMIMO). Existing approaches to this task are either computationally prohibitive or overlook the complex interrelationships within communication networks. In this context, we introduce an innovative approach based on graph neural networks (GNNs). By leveraging the inherent graph structure of CF-mMIMO networks, we transform the rate maximization problem into a node classification task, enabling a competitive and robust solution. Simulation results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms conventional baselines in terms of spectral efficiency, computational complexity, and scalability.