IEEE Communication Society
SON for Small Cells
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
IEEE Communication Society
May 8, 2013
Cellular Networks
PrivateBackhaul
Controller
MSC
Core Network(Services)
Access NetworkUser Equipment (Phones)
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
� Maximize spectral efficiency – maximize users, calls, bits per Hz
� Minimize handset cost and complexity, while maximizing battery life
� Seamless mobility, even at very high speeds
� Consistent services – throughout an operator’s network, and across successive generation of technology
PacketCore
Cellular Network Design Objectives
Expensive to Deploy and Optimize
40%
20%
Cellular Base Station
Initial Configuration
Ongoing Optimization
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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Public
• Making cellular networks self-organizing is essential for supporting millions of small cells• SON established as a design goal (for LTE) by NGMN in 2008
40%
Ongoing Optimization
Self-Organizing Network Functionality
� Self-Configuration
– Authentication and setup of secure tunnel to mobile core & OA&M
– Radio parameters (cell identifiers, neighbors, transmit power,;)
– Transport parameters (IP addresses, QoS negotiation, ;)
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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� Self Optimization
– Neighbor list optimization
– Handover optimization
– Load balancing and capacity optimization
Public
Consumer Small Cells (aka Femtocells)
A cellular base station that is
� < $200
� Internet backhaul
� Plug and Play
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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� Plug and Play
With
� No change to handset
� Same services as delivered on macro network
Public
Plug-and-Play Femtocells
InternetSecurity Gateway
Femtocell ManagementSystem
Femtocell Gateway
Femtocell
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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Plug-n-Play
� Authenticate femtocell and get basic configuration information
� Detect location (for regulatory reasons and to get appropriate spectrum)
� Monitor radio environment in operator’s licensed spectrum bands
� Automatically configure radio parameters within network defined constraints
� Adjust/optimize radio parameters as the macro-cellular network changes
� Faults and performance counters for trending and customer support
Public
Dense Small Cell Networks Bring New Challenges
� Interference between small cells
� Mobility between small cells
� Small number of PCIs (or PSCs)
�
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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� Delivering consistent services
� Reducing signaling to core
� Deploying on Enterprise LAN
� Backhaul sharing
Public
SpiderCloud Enterprise RAN
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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Public
Self-Organizing Network Capabilities for Dense Small Cell Networks
Easy to Deploy on Enterprise LAN
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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RNs automatically discover SN. No per-RN configuration required.
Automatic Radio Configuration and Optimization
� Coordinated RF monitoring
� Auto-configuration
CoordinatedREM
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
� Performance Optimization
� Self-Healing
10
Efficient Coverage
Hole Detection
Coverage Hole
Small Cell SON in Practice
� Deployment Overview
– High rise office building
– 500,000 ft2
– 2000+ subscribers
� Installation
© 2013 SpiderCloud Wireless, Inc.
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� Installation
– 65 small cells
– 4 evenings to install
– 1 hour to optimize