Selecting between MIMO and carrier aggregation

1. A method for selecting between multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) and carrier aggregation modes of operation in a wireless network, the method comprising:

monitoring a MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector in the wireless network;

responsive to the MIMO pairing efficiency meeting a threshold, disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector, the inter-band carrier aggregation utilizing a low-frequency carrier and a high-frequency carrier; and

enabling the MIMO mode of operation in the sector, the MIMO mode of operation utilizing the high-frequency carrier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, a potential size of MIMO groups eligible to be formed within the sector, an actual size of MIMO groups within the sector, a predicted spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector, an actual spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector, or historical trends of MIMO pairing efficiency within the sector.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising generating a MIMO pairing efficiency metric, and comparing the MIMO pairing efficiency metric to the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the inter-band carrier aggregation, control transmissions use the low-frequency carrier and, in the MIMO operating mode, control transmissions use the high-frequency carrier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring the MIMO pairing efficiency is performed periodically.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining, after a time period, that the MIMO pairing efficiency falls below the threshold; and enabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector.

7. A system for selecting between multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) and carrier aggregation modes of operation in a wireless network, the system comprising:

a processing node; and

a processor coupled to the processing node, the processor configured to perform operations comprising:

determining that a predicted MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector in the wireless network meets a threshold, wherein inter-band carrier aggregation is enabled within the sector;

responsive to determining that the predicted MIMO pairing efficiency meets the threshold, disabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector; and

enabling the MIMO mode of operation within the sector.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the MIMO mode of operation utilizes the high-frequency carrier for control transmissions.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the predicted MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, a potential size of MIMO groups eligible to be formed within the sector, or a predicted spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise, subsequent to disabling the inter-band carrier aggregation, monitoring an actual MIMO pairing efficiency in the sector.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the actual MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, an actual size of MIMO groups eligible to be formed within the sector, or an actual spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the actual MIMO pairing efficiency falls below the threshold; and enabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector.

14. A processing node for selecting between multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) and carrier aggregation modes of operation in a wireless network, the processing node being configured to perform operations comprising:

determining that an actual MIMO pairing efficiency of a sector in the wireless network falls below a threshold, wherein inter-band carrier aggregation is disabled within the sector;

responsive to determining that the actual MIMO pairing efficiency meets the threshold, enabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector; and

disabling the MIMO mode of operation in the sector.

15. The processing node of claim 14 , wherein the inter-band carrier aggregation utilizes a low-frequency carrier as a primary component carrier and a high-frequency carrier as a secondary component carrier.

16. The processing node of claim 14 , wherein the actual MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, an actual size of MIMO groups eligible to be formed within the sector, or an actual spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector.

17. The processing node of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise, subsequent to disabling the inter-band carrier aggregation, determining a predicted MIMO pairing efficiency in the sector.

18. The processing node of claim 17 , wherein the predicted MIMO pairing efficiency is based on one or more of: a quantity of MIMO-eligible wireless devices within the sector, a potential size of MIMO groups eligible to be formed within the sector, or a predicted spectral efficiency of MIMO groups within the sector.

19. The processing node of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise determining that the predicted MIMO pairing efficiency is below the threshold; and enabling inter-band carrier aggregation in the sector.

20. The processing node of claim 17 , wherein the predicted and actual MIMO pairing efficiency is monitored periodically.