Self-organizing network automation technology makes the planning, configuration, management, optimization and healing of mobile radio access networks simpler and faster. SON functionality and behavior has been defined and specified in generally accepted mobile industry recommendations produced by organizations such as 3GPP and Next Generation Mobile Networks.
SON is set to be key in future mobile networks and operations due to increased cost pressure. The main drivers of the implementation of this technology are essentially to reduce capital expense and operating expense, which would otherwise increase dramatically due to increased number of network parameters that have to be monitored and set, along with the rapidly increasing numbers of base stations in the network.
Mobile networks are becoming more complex to configure, optimize and maintain. Many SON functions will bring cost savings and performance benefits from the very beginning of a network deployment. Many SON functions are already available and offer benefits for network deployment. However, the field is still in an early stage and more advanced functions are either not yet implemented or are in the early phase of implementation.
Small cells are key for cellular communications as they provide higher capacity through network densification. Some companies are already implementing self-organizing network technology for small cells. A clear example of this is Qualcomm Research, which is offering small cell technology with a suite of SON features under the UltraSON brand. According to the U.S chipmaker, dense deployments pose multiple configuration, mobility and coordination challenges. Qualcomm’s UltraSON is a suit of self-organizing and management algorithms designed to address these challenges and to realize the vision of plug-and-play, self-configuring and self-optimizing hyperdense networks.
UltraSON features have been commercialized in the U.S and abroad on multiple operators’ networks through LTE small cells powered by Qualcomm chipsets. Qualcomm Research said it has completed multiple small cell network trials to demonstrate SON support for small cell deployments with increased network capacity and a positive user experience. These trials involved multiple operators and covered various deployment scenarios (residential, enterprise and metro/picos) from medium to high density in different regions.
Also, according to Radisys, SON technology is one of the major focus areas for operators as they see it as a mandatory feature for small cell deployments. The reason why operators consider SON as a key element is radio frequency network planning has become complex compared to what it was for a static definition for a macro-cell network. With the large number of small cells, and even Wi-Fi access points constituting heterogeneous networks, there is a need to optimize the effort of RF planning. Also, operators consider the real time dynamic optimization or healing of the network as crucial. This is where SON technology can play a key role and is why operators see SON as a mandatory function as they roll out small cells.
“I see that SON is actually making radio planning much more efficient. So we’re saying that radio planning will still be needed. The HetNet doesn’t exclude the macros at all. SON just makes it easier for the operators to add small cells,” said Renuka Bhalerao, principal systems architect for software and solutions at Radisys.
