-- Wireless service providers must now support a growing number of higher-
bandwidth data applications and services on their networks
-- Operators must drive down the delivery cost per bit
-- Radio access network complexity will increase through additions of
small cells such as femtocells, picocells as well as WiFi access points to
increase and improve coverage and capacity
These and other trends portend ever-increasing demands upon service
providers in the areas of network performance and operations.
Initial solutions are offered in the 3GPP Release 8 specifications, which
were completed in March 2009, and include SON features such as automatic
inventory, software download, neighbor relations and PCI assignment that
would be built over 3GPP network management architecture. LTE SON features
begin with 3GPP Release 8 and evolve with the expected LTE network
evolution stages. In 3GPP Release 9, other SON features are addressed, such
as the optimization of coverage and capacity, mobility, RACH, load
balancing and support of SON features in multi-vendor network environments.
Other organizations such as the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) have
contributed significantly to the development and standardization of SON at
3GPP.
"Self-optimizing networks are a key part in the future-proofing of network
reliability and operational efficiency," said Dr. Peter Meissner, Operating
Officer of the NGMN Alliance. "NGMN established a set of initial
requirements and since then has worked with its partners to define the
remaining requirements and to drive forward the early adoption in the
standardization."
Previous 3G Americas white papers and technical studies have shown that
LTE -- with its wideband, highly spectrally efficient, low latency and
cost-effective technology -- is ideally suited to serving new
higher-bandwidth applications. LTE is the next-generation wireless technology
adopted by leading GSM and CDMA operators worldwide.
"SON is supported by a host of global organizations as well as leading
vendors and operators, and will be an essential and well-developed solution
for the successful management of wireless networks in our future," Pearson
said.
The white paper, "The Benefits of SON in LTE", was written collaboratively by
members of 3G Americas and is available for free download on the 3G
Americas website at www.3gamericas.org. The recommendations on SON, in the
document, "NGMN Recommendation on SON and O&M Requirements," are available
for free download on the NGMN website at www.ngmn.org.
About 3G Americas: Unifying the Americas through Wireless Technology 3G Americas is an industry trade organization composed of telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization's mission is to promote, facilitate and advocate for the deployment of the GSM family of technologies including LTE throughout the Americas. 3G Americas has contributed to the successful commercial rollout of GSM across the Americas and its place as the number one technology in the region, as well as the global adoption of EDGE. The organization aims to develop the expansive wireless ecosystem of networks, devices, and applications enabled by GSM and its evolution to LTE. 3G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, with an office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Dallas, Texas. More information is available at www.3gamericas.org. 3G Americas' Board of Governors members include Alcatel-Lucent, América Móvil, AT&T, Andrew Solutions, Cable & Wireless, Ericsson, Gemalto, Huawei, HP, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Research In Motion (RIM), Rogers, T-Mobile USA and Telefónica. About the NGMN Alliance The NGMN Alliance (www.ngmn.org) is an open group of the world-leading operators, technology vendors and research institutes. The primary objective is to create a virtuous cycle of innovation, investment, and adoption of true mobile broadband services with attractive cost-performance ratios. About 60 partners have signed up to this objective and developed requirements to shape the evolution of the mobile ecosystem. Focus in 2010 will be on operational efficiency, co-ordination of trials and tests, device availability, roaming, and assessment of IMT-Advanced technologies. Achievements and future roadmap will be presented at MWC and NGMN's Industry Conference in Shanghai, June 2010.
Contact Information: Contacts: 3G Americas Vicki Livingston +1 262 242 3458 NGMN Natacha Schubert +4969907499823