Heavy Lifting Analyst Notes More Heavy Lifting Analyst Notes
Self-Organizing Networks & LTEGabriel Brown, Senior Analyst
The idea of self-configuring, self-optimizing wireless networks is not a new one, but as the mobile industry moves toward commercialization of next-generation "4G" systems, the ability to automate the management processes has emerged as a key technology requirement. The idea is to minimize the lifecycle cost of running a network by eliminating manual configuration of equipment at the time of deployment, right through to dynamically optimizing radio network performance during operation. The ultimate aim is to reduce the unit cost and retail price of wireless data services. The belief among operators is that 3G represents a missed opportunity to automate network processes, and that much of the ongoing cost to configure and manage Node Bs, radio network controllers, and core network elements is accounted for by the need to allocate expensive technicians to mundane, yet cumbersome, tasks. Operators are thus increasingly vocal in their determination not to forfeit the benefits of automation in the move to Long Term Evolution (LTE) and are working to enshrine self-organizing network (SON) principles in vendor roadmaps and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards process. This is being done most notably through the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) initiative, which has produced a White Paper on "Use Cases Related to Self Organizing Network." More formally, SONs as they relate to UTRAN LTE are the subject of a 3GPP Technical Report issued earlier this year, entitled "Self-Configuring and Self-Optimizing Network Use Cases and Solutions." SONs are also required domain expertise for hotshot executives in the CTO office and increasingly a feature of technology conference keynotes, as leading operators evangelize the message to the wider technology community. At Light Reading's own Backhaul Strategies for Mobile Operators: Europe event last week, Arnuad Cauvin of Orange SA , representing the NGMN as backhaul project manager, spoke about the importance of self-optimizing backhaul for converged LTE/3G/GSM networks. Elsewhere, Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) has been vocal on the subject with Kenny Graham, head of new technologies and innovation, highlighting the crucial role of SONs for metro-zone LTE deployments (see Vodafone Dreams of Metro Femto.) T-Mobile International AG , arguably the operator pushing hardest for SONs through its work in the 3GPP and NGMN, is equally forthright. Emin Gurdenli, T-Mobile UK's director of technology, recently described network automation as critical to investment in next-generation wireless technologies at a London conference. That's all good, of course. But is the SON concept attainable in the near to medium term? Or are operators getting ahead of themselves? And is the never-ending drive to cut the cost of infrastructure really compatible with the R&D investment required to make SONs viable? What I'm hearing from the vendor community privately is that there are some relatively easy kills to be had, but operators are overly optimistic when it comes to the hard stuff. 2G and 3G femtocells, which are unmanaged by definition, are likely to be the first area in which SON techniques are applied commercially. And there are significant improvements to be made in terms of auto-configuration of new base stations at site setup, as well as to network management systems to automatically reconfigure live networks, instead of having to manually re-tune the network each time a small change is required. Taking the SON concept to its logical conclusion, however, and expecting self-organizing, self-optimizing radio networks in multi-vendor environments, in multi-layer topologies, to work in a plug-and-play fashion – that's challenging, to say the least. — Gabriel Brown, Senior Analyst, Heavy Reading |
![]() |
Resources
Automation Exchange
Your marketplace of companies, news and people forging the world of automation Testapedia
The ultimate information source and directory covering the telecom test and measurement industry
Upcoming Live Events
![]()
April 15, 2021, Digital Symposium
SD-WAN Digital Symposium
![]()
May 12, 2021, Digital Symposium
Optical Networking Digital Symposium
![]()
May 25-27, 2021, Digital Symposium
5G Orchestration & Service Assurance Digital Symposium
![]()
June 1, 2021, Digital Symposium
Cable Europe Digital Symposium
![]()
June 22-24, 2021, Digital Symposium
Asia Tech 2021 Digital Symposium
![]()
August 3-5, 2021, Digital Symposium
Optical Networking Digital Symposium
![]()
September 14-16, 2021, Digital Symposium
Edge Computing Digital Symposium
![]()
September 30, 2021, Digital Symposium
Cable Next-Gen Digital Symposium
![]()
October 12-14, 2021, Two Day Digital Symposium
5G Ecosystem and Private Networks
![]()
October 19-21, 2021, Two Day Digital Symposium
Cloud Native World Digital Symposium
![]()
October 26, 2021, Digital Conference
5G Transport & Networking Strategies
![]()
November 2-4, 2021, Two Day Digital Symposium
SD-WAN Digital Symposium
![]()
November 16, 2021, Digital Symposium
Open RAN World Digital Symposium
![]()
November 30 - December 2, 2021, Digital Symposium
Service Provider Security Strategies for the Hybrid Era Digital Symposium
![]()
December 8, 2021, Digital Symposium
Infographics
More from Heavy Reading
![]()
Market and Technology Briefings
Gain market insight from Heavy Reading Analysts through an interactive session located at your companys location. Schedule a Market & Technology Briefing Today. ![]()
Become a Heavy Reading VIP
Sign up now to get exclusive previews of Heavy Reading's upcoming research, discounts on research purchases - and even the chance to earn free reports and free passes to Heavy Reading events! Join Now ![]()
Research Calendar Request
Click here to receive a guide to our upcoming reports Request for information ![]()
For More Information
Click here for more information on any Heavy Reading report, or call Sales Director David Williams @ 858-829-8612 Request for information ![]() |