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