NETWORK MANAGEMENT
Benefits of hybrid SON across 3G and LTE networks The True Value of SONs
By Gerry Foster, Director of Technology Engineering at AIRCOM International (With Mark H Mortensen, Principal Analyst at Analysys Mason)
Gerry Foster discusses the benefits of hybrid self- organising networks across 3G and LTE networks.
Self-organising networks (SONs) will play a prominent role in delivering operational efficiencies across mobile operators’ (MNOs) network architecture. Originally considered a core feature of LTE networks, hybrid SONs can also deliver massive value when retrofitted into existing 2G and 3G networks. However, until now the true value of SONs has not been fully considered. A cost model, created by AIRCOM International and independently validated and endorsed by Analysys Mason, has identified the commercial benefits that hybrid SON architecture could deliver to mobile operators.
Identifying Value SONs bring a multitude of benefits to almost all phases of a mobile network. These benefits include increasing quality of service, better RF network optimisation, backhaul optimisation (which can account for up to 20 percent of a mobile network according to Analysys Mason) power conservation, personal productivity increases as well as automating operations. This automation applies to
self-configuration functions in the planning and deployment of networks, self-optimisation and energy saving functions. This all combines to reduce CAPEX and OPEX and improve network performance. SONs can reduce the manual processes associated with the planning, configuring, commissioning, integrating and managing of network operations. Thus potentially eliminating time-consuming, and potentially flawed, processes in an environment of rapidly- changing network topologies and operating conditions.
Hybrid SON Generally based in the operations and maintenance centre (OMC), hybrid SONs merge the qualities of distributed SONs, in which SON algorithms are deployed locally in the base station/ controller and centralised SONs, where algorithms are deployed above the network infrastructure. For hybrid SON, these techniques are combined in a two-stage control architecture.
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The manufacturer deploys distributed algorithms at the base stations and provides a set of open interfaces to allow the CSP to use a control algorithm that operates on a wider geographic area on a slower time scale. As SON is evolving, in practice,
operators and vendors alike offered many different perspectives on the mobile infrastructure market and associated merits of distributed and centralised algorithms. But most agree that a hybrid solution offers the most beneficial approach.
Commercial Benefit The cost model developed by AIRCOM and endorsed by Analysys Mason demonstrates the commercial benefits that hybrid SON architecture could deliver to mobile operators. The study findings show that overall, deploying hybrid SON architecture across both 3G (UMTS) network environments today and across LTE networks in the future, could reduce mobile network CAPEX and OPEX by 25 percent. In addition, SON could deliver an EBITDA boost of 5 percent a year. The calculations explore the
advantages that hybrid SON could deliver to mobile operators over three years. Through upgrades to existing UMTS infrastructure, and by also applying them to modest LTE deployments (across 20 percent of cell sites), hybrid SON could on average reduce total cost of network deployments and operations (CAPEX and OPEX) by more than 25 percent. For large operators in Europe, this figure could be as large as 50 percent as economies of scale dominate in dense subscriber regions
• Potential cumulative net benefit savings over a three year period:
• More than US $3bn to a large US operator
• More than US $1 billion to a large European operator
• More than US $200 million to a large APAC-based operator
• Lead to EBITDA 5 percent larger than if SON features were not implemented
www.netcommseurope.com
Why Now? Surprisingly, the benefits that can be realised in a 3G environment are several times larger than those with LTE. So while adding data capacity to networks, operators should convert their 3G networks to SON operations and then add them to emerging LTE infrastructure, unifying SON functionality across UMTS and LTE. Introducing SON across 3G networks
can result in gains several times larger than those for the LTE over the next few years. So while adding data capacity to their networks, MNOs should ideally convert the 3G portion of their network to SON operations, while deploying SON in all LTE additions and conversions. In addition, network implementation of SON improves and unifies network operations across UMTS and LTE, which also improves SingleRAN optimisation.
The Future While LTE network migration is an inevitable capacity generator for mobile operators around the world, it is a potentially complex and disruptive process that requires careful planning in terms of both safeguarding customer experience and maximising existing network assets. Mobile operators must determine their own LTE migration strategies taking into account their own marketing needs, the spectrum available, congestion in the cell sites and the benefits that SON can apply to UMTS, HSPA, HSPA+ and LTE. In most cases, more is to be gained by operators undertaking a controlled and measured approach to LTE, harnessing SON capabilities across these multiple technologies, in a timeframe that suits them.
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