ng user k given by condition: k = arg max R In case of link adaptation based on power control, this implies that the lowest possible transmit where R is the instantaneous data rate for user i. power can be used for a given data rate and thus minimizes the interference to transmissions in other Although, from a system capacity perspective, max-C/I cells for a given link utilization. scheduling is beneficial, this scheduling principle will not be fair in all situations. If all mobile terminals are, on In case of link adaptation based on rate control, this average, experiencing similar channel conditions and implies that the highest data rate is achieved for large variations in the instantaneous channel conditions a given transmit power, or, in other words, for a given are only due to, for example, fast multi-path fading, all interference to other cells, the highest link utilization users will experience the same average data rate. Any is achieved. variations in the instantaneous data rate are rapid and However, if applied to the downlink, transmit-power often not even noticeable by the user. However, in control in combination with TDM scheduling implies practice different mobile terminals will experience also that the total available cell transmit power will, in most differences in the (short-term) average channel condi- cases, not be fully utilized. Thus, rate control is generally tions, for example, due to differences in the distance and preferred. shadow fading between the base station and the mobile The strategy outlined above is an example of channel- terminal. In this case, the channel conditions experi- dependent scheduling, where the scheduler takes the enced by one mobile terminal may, for a relatively long instantaneous radio-link conditions into account. time, be worse than the channel conditions experienced Scheduling the user with the instantaneously best radio by other mobile terminals. A pure max-C/I-scheduling link conditions is often referred to as max-C/I (or max- strategy may then, in essence, 's