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DEPLOYING

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DEPLOYING SMALL-CELLS:HOW TO MAKE ROLLOUT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE

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Page 4 Executive summary

Page 5 Section 1Advancing network planning tools for small-cell proliferation

Page 10 Section 2 Simplifying small-cell network deployments

Page 13 Section 3 Small-cell success depends on automationand inventory management

Page 15 Section 4 Conclusions and recommendations

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To satisfy mobile users’ seeminglyunquenchable desire for bandwidth, networkoperators increasingly are turning to small-celltechnology to increase coverage and providebetter data transmission speeds. The idea isthat small-cell coverage can help improve thecustomer experience, and happy customerstranslate to steady, or even increased, revenue.

Traditional mobile networks are basedprimarily on macro-cellular designs, whichdeliver umbrella coverage and capacity acrosslarge geographical areas. Macro-cells arenot well suited to deliver localized capacityand coverage that is increasingly needed formobile broadband services. As a result, serviceproviders have been ramping up small-celldeployments.

Small-cell technology has been deployed for

several decades under the guise of micro- andpico-cells. However, since legacy small-cellnetwork architectures are too expensive andcomplicated to be applied at mass-marketscale, they have only seen modest marketadoption, representing just 10 to 15 percent ofcurrently deployed base stations.

As small-cells proliferate, they create avariety of operational challenges for serviceproviders:

In Section 1 of this report we delve into thenetwork design and planning issues operators

need to consider when installing small-cells.We look at the differences between

deploying macro-cell networks and small-

cell networks, and we look at the planningrequirements network operators mustconsider. For example, they must addressintegration with existing networks, backhaulrequirements and what kind of role networkoptimization plays in deploying small-cells.

In Section 2, we begin to turn the focusto automation and how self-optimizingnetworks (SON) are being used in small-celldeployments. With network operators planningto roll out 1,000 small-cell sites per month,automation will be essential for such anaggressive plan to be economically viable andthat includes simplify installation of small-cellsso that lower-skilled workers can be hired toinstall them.

In Section 3 we dig deeper into automationand SON with a look at how operators can

use it to manage backhaul options. When newsmall-cells are deployed, for example, SONalgorithms can interrogate available wirelesslinks, determine the best link for each small-cell site and then configure the backhaulaccordingly.

We also look at how small-cell deploymentwill affect inventory-management. To deploy1,000 sites per month, inventory-managementsystems must be integrated end-to-end withnetwork planning and workflow functions.

Finally in Section 4 we offer some

conclusions and recommendations to helpnetwork operators transition smoothly tonetworks that will be dominated by small-cells.

Executive summary

“The small-cell revolution has been fueled by the success of femto-cells (low- cost, self-contained base stations) to address coverage and capacity demandsfor residential indoor environments.”




Macro-cells cannot deliver the localized capacityand coverage needed for mobile broadband services

Advancing network planning tools for small-cell prolifer

Section 1

Traditional mobile networks are based primarilyon macro-cellular designs (see Figure 1-1),which deliver umbrella coverage and capacityacross large geographical areas. Macro-cellsare not well suited to deliver localized capacityand coverage that is increasingly needed formobile broadband services. As a result, serviceproviders have been ramping up small-celldeployments.

Small-cell technology has been deployed forseveral decades under the guise of micro- andpico-cells. However, since legacy small-cellnetwork architectures are too expensive andcomplicated to be applied at mass marketscale, they have only seen modest marketadoption, representing just 10 to 15 percent ofcurrently-deployed base stations.

Figure 1-1: Overview of radio network provisioning and management

Traditional radio engineering operations

Radio NetworkProvisioning

Planning

New SiteDeployment

TechnologyOverlay

SiteExpansion

Capacity andCoverage Forecasting

NetworkPlanning Tools

The small-cell revolution has been fueled bythe success of femto-cells (low-cost, self-contained base stations) to address coverageand capacity demands for residential indoorenvironments.

Femto-cells continue to see market adoption,and since they’re deployed indoors, theybenefit from being somewhat isolated frommacro-cellular interference. Outdoor small-cells, on the other hand, tend to be morechallenging to implement. They must be placedcarefully relative to macro-cells to coordinateradio resources and maximize capacity withoutcausing undue network interference.

This calls for advanced network design andplanning techniques that enable small-cellsto be an integral part of the overall network

Backhaul &Core IntegrationEF&I

TowerFabricationCivil WorksArchitectural

EngineeringSite

AcquisitionRadio

Engineering

Backhaul &Core IntegrationEF&ICivil Works

ArchitecturalEngineering

LeaseModification

RadioEngineering

EF&ICivil WorksArchitectural

Engineering

Radio

Engineering

Radio NetworkManagement

Network ConfigurationData

Parameter OptimizationAlgorithms

PerformanceReports

ExceptionReports

Other Network andBusiness Intelligence

CallTraces

Network MeasurementReports

Network ParameterOptimization

Engineering Reviewand Analysis





design and to anticipate interferencechallenges and isolation strategies betweenhigh and low powered sites.

As small-cells proliferate, they create avariety of challenges for operators:

n How to ensure that network designs areoptimized with overlaid andheterogeneous architectures thatincorporate both small- and macro-cell – Traditional network planning tools aredesigned primarily to support macro-cellularimplementations. While these tools arecapable of incorporating small-cells innetwork designs, the optimal integrationof small-cells generally requires manualintervention on the part of design engineers.

n Solutions for service providers to deploy

and provision small-cells withoutincurring the overhead associated withconventional deployment approaches – These conventional approaches havebeen refined primarily for macro-cellulardeployments, which involve protracted andcostly network design, site acquisition,provisioning, integration and optimizationactivities. Different approaches are neededto meet the cost structures demanded forsmall-cells.

n Strategies to ensure small-cell backhaul

networks can be efficiently provisionedand deployed – Generally the mostchallenging and costly backhaul hops are thelateral connections to cell sites. In the caseof macro-cells, these lateral connectionsnormally consist of dedicated microwaveradio, copper or optical fiber point-to-point links. In the case of small-cells, it isnecessary to lower the cost of backhauland anticipate that many more connectionswill be needed. As a consequence, serviceproviders are being more opportunistic and

are choosing from a wider range of backhaultechnologies, including point-to-point andpoint-to-multipoint microwave, millimeterwave, digital subscriber line (DSL) and free-space optics.

n Introducing processes to ensure that theongoing operational requirement forsmall-cells be adequately managed, toensure that large scale deploymentsremain economic – In typical networkoperations, service providers are likelyto have one operational staff member onaverage for every 50 to 100 macro-cell sites.The number of small-cell deployments islikely to dwarf that of macro-cell, and theystill incorporate many of the functionalcapabilities of macro-cell, albeit on a smallerscale. To achieve the necessary economics,it is crucial that the operational overhead forsmall-cells be dramatically reduced.

n Upgrades to inventory managementsystems to meet the scalability andextensibility demanded by small-cells –Small-cells introduce a variety of inventorymanagement challenges for service providersas a consequence of the massive increase inthe number of network elements that mustbe monitored, the additional informationneeded to reflect pertinent configurationinformation and capabilities to enable

operational automation.

The underlying objective for networkplanning is to evaluate alternative networkconfigurations and expansion strategies andto identify designs that have the most positiveimpact on overall network performance basedon forecasted traffic demands. Sophisticatednetwork planning tools are used to identify thelocation and configuration of cell sites and theirassociated backhaul requirements.




Planning tools must enable careful site placementand radio spectrum resource planning for small-cells

Most planning tools have been designedprimarily for the purposes of macro-cellularnetwork architectures and require extensiveenhancements to adequately support small-cell planning requirements. Small-cell planningtools must address issues surrounding theavailability of network configuration data,radio performance modeling, integrationwith overlaid and heterogeneous networks(HetNets), and backhaul and Wi-Fi offloadoptions.

Network configuration dataMacro-cells incorporate key radio configurationdata, such as the height, orientation andtransmission power, and antenna patterns toenable engineers to optimize radio networkperformance. This is also a key objectivefor small-cells, but in deploying small-cellsservice providers are likely to find many morealternative implementation strategies and abroader range of trade-offs to consider.

Given their closer proximity and the largenumber of small-cells associated with individualplanning processes, there are typicallygreater trade-offs among individual sites. Thisoptimization requires more granular networkinformation, such as the configuration andavailability of alternative backhaul links, siteaccess and acquisition considerations, the

proximity relative to utilities, and ease of siteinstallation. In addition, small-cell optimizationrequires schemas that span broad technical,commercial and financial considerations andas a consequence will draw upon inventoryinformation from many organizations within aservice provider’s business.

Radio-performance modelingModeling algorithms combine geographicalinformation system (GIS) data withsophisticated radio propagation models and

measurement data to predict the impactof potential configuration changes andexpansions. The modeling resolution of typicalradio networks is calibrated for macro-cellsthat cover several kilometers or more usingGIS data with granularity of up to 100 meters,which is inadequate for small-cells.

As a result, planning tool providers havebegun incorporating high-resolution 3Ddata with less than 5-meter resolution intheir platforms. While this high resolutiondata enables operators to derive first orderestimates for small-cell performance usingadvanced radio propagation techniquessuch as ray tracing, additional granularity isneeded. This granularity comes directly fromnetwork measurement data, which will forman increasingly important role in the overallplanning process.

Network integrationIntegrating small-cell deployments withoverlaid and heterogeneous networks isnecessary as small-cell technology adoptiongrows and small-cells carry an increasingproportion of the overall mobile network traffic.Full-fledged HetNet architectures cannot berealized with current 3G and LTE technologies,which depend on advancements in interferencemanagement that enable high-powered macro-

cell sites to coexist in the vicinity of low-powered small-cells.

Interference management advancementsinclude enhanced Inter-cell InterferenceCoordination (eICIC), a technique that changespower and frequency to mitigate interferencefrom neighboring cells, and innovative radioresource-scheduling techniques. In theabsence of these enhancements, networkplanning tools must be capable of enablingcareful site placement and radio spectrumresource planning to ensure that small-cells





can be deployed reliably and optimized withexisting macro-cells.

Network operators should look for planningtools that incorporate enhancements likeeICIC, while at the same time supportinglegacy network requirements. They should payparticular attention to the actual as opposedto theoretical performance improvementsenabled by the techniques, which will requirelive network measurements so that networkplanners can calibrate modeling assumptions.

Backhaul and Wi-FiBackhaul is challenging for small-cells becauseof the large number of links required andthe need to capitalize opportunistically onavailable backhaul technologies, such as digitalsubscriber line (DSL), point-to-multipointmicrowave and gigabit passive optical network(GPON).

Since most network planning tools havebeen designed primarily to address macro-celldeployment, they lack functionality neededfor small-cell backhaul planning, both from theperspective of integrating versatile backhaulconfigurations into the network design andincorporating backhaul network considerationsas part of the radio network optimizationprocess.

For small-cell designs, it might be necessary

to handicap different radio network designsbased on the implied backhaul requirements

and the associated technical, commercial andfinancial implications.

Some network operators also are offloadingto Wi-Fi to manage mobile network traffic.The mobile industry generally resisted theinsurgence of Wi-Fi into the mobile broadbandmarket, regarding it as substandard andincapable of meeting the performancedemands of mobile broadband.

However, in recent years they’ve adoptedit, which means it has to incorporated inplanning strategies. This is particularly the casefor small-cells which commonly have dual-mode wireless mobile and Wi-Fi technologycapabilities.

Changes on the horizonOver the next 24 to 36 months, serviceproviders are expecting technologies likeAccess Network Discovery and ServiceFunction (ANDSF) and Hotspot 2.0 to enablethe intelligent use of Wi-Fi as part of theiroverall networks and ultimately integrated aspart of HetNet architectures.

Network planning tools must be capable ofaccounting for Wi-Fi as part of their overallnetwork architecture. This can be expectedto ultimately span public, residential andenterprise Wi-Fi access points and Wi-Fi-enabled small-cells. While network planning

tools will leverage static information regardingthe location and configuration of Wi-Fi access

“Backhaul is challenging for small-cells because of the large number of linksrequired and the need to capitalize opportunistically on available backhaultechnologies”.




Planning and optimization are convergingas network designs become more dynamic

points, it is likely that they will becomeincreasingly reliant on information gleanedfrom mobile broadband devices to identify andmodel the availability of available Wi-Fi networkresources.

Advancing network planningSoftware vendors are aggressively advancingtheir network-planning capabilities toincorporate many of the requirements forsmall-cells. These requirements will evolveas small-cells become more popular. Inaddition, as small-cells drive increased networkcomplexity and advanced architectures suchas software-defined networking (SDN) startto gain traction, it will become necessary fornetwork-planning tools to provide a meansof simplifying network complexity to makeplanning easier.

It will also be necessary for tools to providea way to integrate with automated functionssuch as self-optimizing networks (SON) andcreate standardized blue-prints to make iteasier for lower-skilled workers to install small-cells. We will discuss this in more detail inSections 2 and 3.

While network planning has traditionallybeen regarded as somewhat distinct fromnetwork optimization, the roles of planning andoptimization are converging as network designs

become increasingly dynamic, small-cellsbecome more widely adopted and advanced

interference management techniques becomemore common. In addition, conventionalnetwork planning tools are generally focusedtoward achieving optimal engineeringperformance as opposed to optimizing thetotal cost of ownership of alternative networkdesigns, which will be required in the future.

In the case of macro-cell network design, thefinancial justification and prioritization of cellsites usually can be made independent of thenetwork-planning process. As small-cells aredeployed on a large scale, service providerswill be confronted with trade-offs amongconfigurations that achieve comparable radioperformance, but have different deploymentrequirements and cost implications.

For example, a network operatormight consider two comparable networkconfigurations, one relying primarily on DSLbackhaul and another that uses wireless linksto fiber connections. The relative benefit ofeach solution depends on a variety of technical,commercial and financial factors, such asthe cost of the wireless links, radio trafficexpectations and site deployment costs.

To enable service providers to adequatelyassess the trade-offs between solutionsrequires network planning tools thatincorporate optimization algorithmsspanning technical, commercial and financial

considerations and that enable analysis ofvarious scenarios.

“Software vendors are aggressively advancing their network-planningcapabilities to incorporate many of the requirements for small-cells.”





Electronic infrastructure accounts for 20 to 30percent of the overall cost of a typical macro-cell implementation. The remaining costs areassociated with deployment activities such assite acquisition, radio engineering and design,architectural engineering, civil works, andengineering furnish and installation (EF&I).

The mass-market success of small-cellsdepends on innovation that cuts costs byincreasing automation and making it easierfor lower-skilled workers to install cell-siteequipment.

In a typical North American or WesternEuropean market, site acquisition for eachmacro-cell costs about $30,000 to $50,000for a green-field site and $5,000 to $10,000for lease amendments on collocated sites.The acquisition process involves a varietyof activities including negotiations withlandlords (and possibly municipalities in thecase of microcells) and in many cases zoningapprovals.

Site acquisition costs are dramaticallyreduced in cases where equipment iscollocated and in cases where landlordsand service providers have master leaseagreements in place. The site acquisitionprocess for small-cells is easier because ofthe miniaturization and standardization ofequipment, but landlord negotiations are still

necessary, and in the case of outdoor small-cells, zoning approval might still be necessary.

To reduce the costs of small-cells further,we believe it will be necessary for landlordsand municipalities to package suitable sitesinto clusters or zones under master leaseagreements with umbrella zoning approval. Inaddition, it would be advantageous if landlordsand municipalities could create standardizedsite configurations with pre-provisioned utilitiesand backhaul to ease the design process.

Given the small-cell density service providers

are contemplating, it is likely that many ofthe pre-provisioned sites will have multiplecollocated small-cells, similar to today’spractice of tower outsourcing.

Existing public Wi-Fi sites also providepotential venues for small-cells. Serviceproviders in the U.S., for example, are wellpositioned to capitalize on their establishedpublic Wi-Fi access point installations, whichcan be easily upgraded to support mobiletechnologies.

In future, the public Wi-Fi itself will becomemore strategic as technologies like ANDSF andHotspot 2.0 are introduced. These technologieswill enable Wi-Fi to be integrated as part of themobile broadband networks (as opposed to anoffload technology).

Engineering small-cellsIn macro-cell networks, architectural engineersdesign the physical layout of cell sites toensure that they meet the engineering codeand zoning bylaws of the particular marketwhere the base station is being installed. Insome markets like the U.S., state certificationis required, so operators must often turn tolocal engineering companies for help.

The architectural engineering requirementsfor small-cells are dramatically reduced withintegrated small-cell equipment installed on

existing structures such as lampposts andbuilding walls. Service providers can furtherreduce these requirements by adoptingstandardized architectures that conform tospecific regional codes.

With streamlined site selection/acquisitionand architectural engineering processes, avariety of alternative small-cell designs willemerge, such as those with different backhaulor those that require stealth antennas. Thesedesign considerations must be incorporatedas part of the network planning and design

Simplifying small-cell network deployments

Section 2




Self-optimizing neworks reduce deployment costby enabling unskilled workers to install small-cells

process to ensure that sites are not onlyoptimized based on performance, but alsobased on cost and deployment complexity.This broadens the demand of network planningtools and also increases the scope of inventorymanagement, which we will discuss further inSection 4.

The EF&I activities associated with macro-cell involve installing electronic equipment,programming site parameters and integratingwith the live network. In a typical U.S. market,EF&I activities for a macro-cell cost about$5,000 to $10,000 per site depending on thecomplexity of the installation and require thespecialist support of trained technicians. Whenfemto-cells were introduced, the equivalentEF&I operational activities were essentiallyeliminated with self-optimizing networks(SON), which enables automated ‘plug-and-play’ functionality for femto-cells so thatconsumers can install the units in their homes.

Today SON is being enhanced to eliminateEF&I activities for both indoor and outdoorsmall-cells, and ultimately macro-cells. In thecase of small-cells, SON enables equipmentto be installed by less highly-skilled personnel,requiring only equipment mounting andtermination of backhaul and utility connections.(A more detailed explanation of how SON

supports automation is provided in Section3.) In many cases, installers may not evenbe employed by the network operator, ratherthey could be municipal workers who maintainstreet lighting, for example.

Operators generally find few surprises wheninstalling macro-cells, meaning the ultimateconfigurations are generally a relatively closereflection of the original design. In the case ofsmall-cells, however, installers commonly faceconditions unforeseen in the planning process,which results in the potential for significantdesign changes upon installation.

Tools for unskilled workersA variety of tools are needed to enableunskilled installers to adapt small-cellconfigurations, including tools to analyze thedeployment location at the time of installationand possibly make adjustments to improvethe overall outcome. For example, the installercould be equipped with an intelligent handheldspectrum analyzer to refine and optimize thelocation of the small-cell. The analyzer mightuse a color-coding scheme to indicate to theinstaller whether a location is desirable.

The same tool might account for theplacement of the small-cell relative to backhaulnetwork resources. Mapping technology could

“The mass-market success of small-cells depends on innovation that cutscosts by increasing automation and making it easier for lower-skilled workersto install cell-site equipment.”





be used to ensure that the site is located inclose proximity to fiber or copper backhaul, orsignal strength measurements could be usedto ensure the site has adequate coverage towireless backhaul connection points, in caseswhere microwave, millimeter wave and free-space optic systems are used.

Alternative approaches that use SONtechniques to automate backhaul configurationand deployment could also be included in theanalysis tool. This type of solution has yet to bedeveloped and creates opportunities for test-and-measurement equipment vendors.

While the intention is for small-celldeployments to be handled by lower-skilledworkers, some operators also are consideringcamera technology to supervise installationsremotely. The camera could be as simple asa handheld device operated by the installer,or it could be mounted temporarily at the site(or on the cell itself) and operated remotely bysupervising engineers. In addition, the videoinformation collected from the site could betagged to the associated site and stored innetwork planning and inventory managementsystems.

Disruptive changes

Overall, the operational changes requiredfor small-cell deployments are disruptive toestablished operational models, and networkoperators must keep that in mind when

planning rollouts. A couple of potential troublespots are worth noting:

n In some cases the new operational modelsmay be in conflict with established employeeunion agreements, particularly in caseswhere automation eliminates the need forskilled workers. Service providers bound byunion agreements are likely to be slowerto adopt automation and should aim tonegotiate solutions that pre-empt conflict.

n Given the rate at which operators expectto deploy small-cells and the changes inprocesses and procedures needed, thepotential for operational errors increases,particularly as operators begin rampingup small-cell deployment. To reduce thepotential for deployment errors, detailedauditing processes must be developed.

n Finally, network planning tools, remotesurveillance and supervision solutions, andinventory management systems will requiresignificant enhancements. For example,each deployment should be packaged withworkflow charts summarizing the deploymentprocesses, site access guidelines, health andsafety requirements, and implementationdiagrams, along with photographs and

barcode or RF-ID tagging technology toorchestrate the installation process. (Weexplore changes to inventory managementsystems further in the next section.)

“While the intention is for small-cell deployments to be handled by lower- skilled workers, some operators also are considering camera technology tosupervise installations remotely.”




Automation is necessary for operatorsto roll out large numbers of small-cells

The success of small-cells hinges onautomation to ensure that service providerscan operate large numbers of them withoutincurring excessive costs. This automationspans all the major operational processes,including provisioning and configurationmanagement; performance monitoring andoptimization; fault management; maintenance;site capacity expansions; and forecasting andinventory management.

Since service providers already have well-established operational models, automationcannot be introduced without phasedimplementations and change-managementinitiatives. In an effort to standardize, networkoperators and their vendors are working onthe self-configuration, self-optimization andself-healing aspects of self-optimizing networks(SON).

Self-optimizing nework technology heats upGiven the wide variety of service providers’operational models, SON has many potentialuse cases. Therefore, rather than defininga strict standard, it essentially provides aframework through which service providers canintroduce automation capabilities. At first, therelikely will be myriad SON use cases, but over

time, they will become refined as the SONcapabilities mature.

For many service providers, small-cells area good opportunity to incubate operationalautomation based on SON. Many have alreadyused SON to automate the basic configurationof small-cells during deployment by buildingon solutions that have been developed for thefemto-cell market.

Here’s how self-configuration works todayin many vendor implementations: When anew small-cell is deployed and powered on

Small-cell success depends on automationand inventory management

Section 3

for the first time, the network recognizes andregisters it. The cells neighboring the small-cellare identified and their parameters adjusted toaccount for its presence.

The parameters of the small-cell are alsoadjusted to include handover relationships andthresholds and radio resource allocations. Thisself-configuring functionality will continue toevolve, particularly as new radio technologiesand features are introduced and as vendorsroll out their own proprietary features todifferentiate their solutions.

Backhaul automationNetwork operators also are using SON toaddress the complexities of small-cell backhaul,both during deployment and in failoverconditions when self-healing capabilities areneeded. When new small-cells are beingdeployed, the SON algorithms interrogate theavailable wireless links, determine the best linkfor each small-cell site and then configure thebackhaul accordingly.

This self-configuration approach is particularlypertinent to small-cell backhaul networksthat have overlapping point-to-multipointconfigurations. Once the small-cell backhaulconnections are established and operational,

SON self-healing features enable the small-cells to fail-over and reconfigure their backhaullinks to bypass points of failure as necessary.

While SON is capturing tremendous marketattention and is crucial for mass-market small-cell implementations, service providers aretaking a measured approach to its adoptionbecause of the disruptive impact automationcan have on organizations within a serviceprovider’s business.

It has the potential to be particularlydisruptive to existing technical organizations,





but in many cases these are the groupsdeciding on its adoption, which is stiflingprogress. To overcome this challenge, it isimportant that service providers establishstrategies to phase the adoption of automationand to introduce suitable employee incentives.

Inventory managementSmall-cells also place new demands oninventory-management systems in terms ofthe increased volume and dynamic nature ofinventory information that must be stored.As small-cells reach mass-market scale, theirnumbers will dwarf macro-cell, which meansthat inventory-management systems must becapable of scaling to meet the increased datacapacity demanded.

As operators employ more unskilled workersto perform installations, detailed informationsuch as site location and conditions, physicaland logical network design information, andinstallation and configuration guidelines will beneeded for SON automation. It is crucial thatthe underlying data schemas of the inventorymanagement systems are highly extensibleand scalable to support this.

It is conceivable that in the near future largeTier 1 operators will be deploying in excessof 1,000 small-cells a month. To achieve thisrate of expansion, inventory-management

systems also must be integrated end-to-end

with network planning and design tools, andwith workflow, work-order and field-servicesfunctions. This integration must be streamlinedto insure that information integrity can bemaintained as small-cell rollout accelerates.

Finally, operators must address inventoryforecasting. The forecasting of networkresources becomes more complicated withthe introduction of small-cells because of thealternative network-expansion strategies theyoffer.

For the purposes of forecasting, serviceproviders require voice and data trafficestimates and the associated radiotechnologies and spectrum bands used totransport the traffic.

In the world of macro-cell expansion,strategies such as cell-splitting are wellunderstood, and network planning toolsprovide relatively accurate estimates of thenetwork elements needed and their associatedconfigurations. In the case of small-cells,however, traffic profiles for individual cells areless certain and there are greater variationsin how the cells are configured, particularly interms of their backhaul architectures.

Tight integration between inventorymanagement and network planning isimportant for enabling efficient scenarioanalyses for small-cell deployment.

“It is conceivable that in the near future large Tier 1 operators will bedeploying in excess of 1,000 small-cells a month. To achieve this, inventorymanagement systems must be integrated with other OSSs.”




Small-cell deployment will outpacethat of macro-cells in the near future

After much anticipation, widespreaddeployment of small-cells is finally gettingunderway and will result in small-cellsdeployment dramatically outpacing macro-celldeployment in the coming years. Small-cellsare needed to address the relentless growthin mobile data traffic, but implementing themcreates a variety of challenges for mobileservice providers, whose operations are gearedprimarily to macro-cell implementation.

Small-cell deployment challenges span allfacets of network operations from planning toinventory management. Following is a briefrecap of the some of the major operationalimpacts of small-cell deployment and ourrecommendations for how to address them.

Network planning

n Network planning systems must evolve toincorporate detailed network configurationand cost estimates to enable alternativesmall-cell implementations to be evaluatedand optimized according to technical,commercial and financial considerations.

n Radio planning systems must evolve tointegrate high-resolution 3D GeographicalInformation System data with advancedpropagation modeling techniques, suchas ray tracing, in conjunction with granular

measurement data from the field.n Predictions must account for technology

advancements in radio resourcemanagement and scheduling andinterference management techniquessuch as enhanced inter-cell interferencecoordination. Ultimately, they mustenable the efficient modeling of HetNetarchitectures.

n Planning tools must explicitly accountfor the varied backhaul configuration andoptimization requirements for small-cells andthe implications of Wi-Fi, particularly whentechnologies like ANDSF and Hotspot 2.0 ortheir equivalents are introduced.

Network deployment

n Implementation must be simplified sothat lower-skilled workers can install sites,and network operators must supply themwith onsite tools and detailed deploymentinstructions to reduce the likelihood of errors.This could also be complemented withremote video surveillance and supervision.

n Site selection and acquisition processesmust be streamlined, with landlords andmunicipalities pre-packaging sites with utility(and possibly backhaul) resources, masterlease agreements and umbrella zoningapprovals.

n Once the physical sites have been installed,SON self-configuration managementfunctionality plays an important role inconfiguring the parameters for the small-cellsand their neighboring sites and possibly thebackhaul circuits.

Network operations

n Automation will be necessary for large scalesmall-cell implementations.

n In an effort to standardize, network operatorsand their vendors are working on the self-configuration, self-optimization and self-healing aspects of SON.

Conclusions and recommendations

Section 4





n Automation has the potential to beparticularly disruptive to existing technicalorganizations, so service providers shouldestablish strategies to phase the adoptionof automation and to introduce suitableemployee incentives.

Inventory management

n Inventory management systems must scaleto support the increased data demands forsmall-cell inventory.

n They must be streamlined to supportdeployment of at least 1,000 or more sitesper month, and incorporate the addedphysical and logical inventory that is neededto enable automated operations.

n Small-cells complicate network infrastructureforecasting by creating greater uncertainlyin terms of the quantity, configurationand traffic demands of the cells. Thisnecessitates tight integration betweeninventory management and networkplanning systems to enable efficientscenario analyses.

Making progress on standards for asset managementTM Forum is undertaking work in the area of asset management. In October 2012, a team ledby individuals from Deloitte Consulting developed a Fixed Asset Lifecycle Management Guidebook (GB950 ) www.tmforum.org/assetlifecycleman1 , which outlined a holistic approachto aid communications service providers who are faced with the complex task of managingnumerous fixed assets distributed over a vast coverage area.

Currently, there is interest among the TM Forum membership to continue this work anddocument the impact digital services are having on asset management. A nomination hasbeen made for a new project lead to form a team that will get underway in early October 2013.

For more information, please contact Steve Cotton, Director, Business AssurancePrograms, via [email protected] .

Inventory management is part of assetmanagement, which is becoming anincreasingly important issue as of serviceproviders strive to compete by cutting costsand reducing risk, without affecting customerservice. TM Forum is undertaking a program ofwork in this area (see panel below).

Although small-cell adoption will be stifledearly on in many markets as a consequenceof operational complexities, the ultimate shiftin network architecture and operations toembrace them is inevitable. Service providerswho aggressively pursue the operationalchanges needed will reap the long-termbenefits of improved network efficiencies.And the changes incubated with small-cells willultimately drive operational automation withinmacro-cells, particularly as heterogeneousnetworks are adopted.




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18 www.tmforum.orgQUICK INSIGHTS

In recent years, network operators havebeen hard pressed to keep up with themassive explosion in traffic spurred bysubscribers using an increasingly diverseset of mobile devices for business andsocial networking. The exponential growthshows no signs of stopping, and by manyestimates, global mobile data traffic isexpected to increase 20- to 30-fold duringthe next five years.

To keep up, mobile operators areincreasingly turning to small cells tofill in coverage gaps and provide fastertransmission rates, to improve customerexperience. According to researchconducted by Rethink TechnologyResearch, more than 80 percent ofoperators globally believe that small cellswill be the first or second most importantfactor in meeting their capacity needsbetween 2012 and 2017, and almost two-thirds of operators expect to see at least a10-fold increase in the total number of cellsites by 2017.

Many operators are planningaggressive deployment schedules ofmore than 1,000 small cells per month.One North American operator has evensaid it intends to install up to 10,000small cells per month. With such hugevolumes, operators recognize thatexisting back-offices systems and

Planning and process automationcrucial for mass small cell deployment

processes are not scalable and in needof significant overhaul.

Targeting high-value customersSmall cells typically provide coverage thatrange from just 10 meters in the case ofresidential femtocells to a few hundredmeters for public access pico- andmetro-cells. Most operators are focusingon public access small cells deployedin high-value ‘hotspot’ areas such asshopping malls, apartment buildings andoffice complexes, wherever there is aconcentration of ‘high-value’ users.

High-value customers require ahigh-quality customer experience, andoperators know they cannot affordto lose such customers by deliveringunacceptable quality of service. Public-access small cells supporting 16 to 32 ormore simultaneous calls can be installedon buildings or street furniture, such aslamp posts, every few hundred metersin areas where high-value users clustertogether. This provides better coverageand higher data rates. Identification of thehigh-value users and accurate locationof the small cells is key to successfuldeployment.

Overcoming the backhaul challengeInstallation of small cells can be an

arduous and expensive process. Today,it costs around $7,000 to $12,000 todeploy a small cell, which includes thecost of hardware and backhaul from thesite. If you multiply that by the thousandsof sites operators say they need todeploy monthly, it’s clear how quickly theproposition breaks down. It also takes toolong to deploy small cells today. By thetime a network operator identifies the site,gets permission to build, gains access,sends out technicians and arranges third-party backhaul agreements, it can takeweeks to deploy a single cell.

Typically there are several backhauloptions to get traffic from a small cellsite to the aggregation or core network.The operator might need to pull newfiber, use a digital subscriber line (DSL)or install a microwave link. If the operatordoesn’t have any of its own networkinfrastructure near the proposed smallcell location, it might be needed tonegotiate with a third-party provider.

Operators need network planning andprovisioning solutions that industrializethe process, providing high-levels ofautomation. Using an automated systemwith predefined business rules that canintelligently auto-select the preferredoption and/or guide the planning engineerto quickly select the best option based on

30x more mobiledata trafcoverwhelmingcurrent cells

1000 s of small cells to deploy per month

10xincrease

in cell sites




time and cost estimates can significantlyreduce deployment time.

Who will install small cells?Another challenge for service providerslies in finding the right workforce toinstall the small cells. Sending out teamsof highly trained telecommunicationstechnicians is too expensive, so operatorsare looking to utilize lower-skilled workers,often by outsourcing. These may be localfield force for a municipality who aretrained to install street lighting or signage.

The goal for service providers orprofessional services companies is to beable to supply contractors with an easy-to-follow installation guide for settingup small cells. In some instances the

operator may supply the contractor withan application that can run on a tabletthat gives them a task list to follow withstep-by-step instructions for how toinstall the unit, where to place it, whichdirection it should point, and how itshould be secured and powered. Theapp would synchronize with a workforcemanagement and inventory system inan operator’s back-office to provide up-to-date information such as equipmentdetails, weather and site location maps forthe technician as well as to track progressand update the project plan in real time.

Key to successUltimately, the decision to deploy smallcells is all about improving the customer

Copyright © 2013 Amdocs. All Rights Reserved.

SMALL CELLS, BIG ISSUE?

So what’s the big issue about small cells? Only thatoperators will need to shrink conventional cell site rolloutcosts by up to 5 times to make them viable. And that meansa whole new level of end-to-end management and control.

Amdocs provides the means to automate and accelerate complexplanning processes required for small cell rollout.

Amdocs OSS. Design once, deploy many times.

To learn more, visit:www.amdocs-marketing.com/oss/small-cells/

experience to reduce churn. Operatorsknow if their high-value customers arehappy, they will continue to subscribe toexisting services and may even buy newservices or promote the company withfamily, friends and colleagues, whichcould pave the way to more revenueopportunities.

Operators need to move faster tocompete effectively in the mobileservices market. Small cells offer asolution but network rollout has to meetstringent time, cost and quality targets tomake the business case work. The key tosuccess is end-to-end process automationin planning, project management andsmall cell network rollout.




Everything that can be digital will be.We’ve seen the future. And it’s digital. In justten years, the way we communicate,consume information and entertainment hasbeen changed forever. And that’s just the start.

The Digital Revolution is transforming ourpersonal and professional lives. We demandsimplicity, but the complexity behind ourinterconnected digital lives is only growing.

TM Forum’s Digital Services Initiative focuseson overcoming the end-end managementchallenges of complex digital services,enabling an open, vibrant digital economy.

There are ve core principles of the Initiative:


qi deploying small cells

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