The mobile data crunch has created a real need for more and more bandwidth. Since there is a limit to what can be done to defeat physics, this increase in demand has created a need for a new paradigm in mobile networks’ architectures. One possible solution is the “small cell” – a smaller version of the traditional base station in size, cost and transmission power (so the covered radius is smaller too). The magic is that the spectral efficiency of the small base stations is higher, allowing them to send more bits on a specific spectrum bandwidth. Using a higher average transmission modulation than a typical macro cell results in high average bandwidth in small coverage areas over the same frequency band.
New Concepts Bring New Challenges – New Challenges Bring New Solutions
As a result of the limited coverage radius and the deployment methodology, the number of “small cells” will be higher in an order of magnitude than the “macro cells” number. This new scale of RAN and mobile networks calls for new types of technologies – dynamic in nature, and able to handle this large scale. Examples for such technologies are Self-Organizing Networks (SON) and MPLS to the cell site.
SON is an industry term for technology aimed to ease the configuration, manageability, optimization, and healing of the radio access networks (RAN). One of the real paradigm changes SON introduces is the fact that the dynamic processes may now negotiate configuration parameters that were only set manually in the past by the operators. This is a major change from the current work done by RF planning engineers who carefully (and manually) engineer and optimize their RF network. Although SON functionality is being integrated as part of the 3GPP standards, there are implementation differences between the different vendors.
Bringing MPLS to the cell site requires similar paradigm changes – getting people to accept a dynamically configured network as opposed to a statically configured one. As packet-based transport technologies are replacing the old SONET/SDH transport technologies, there are few technologies to choose from in the mobile backhaul space. Operators often choose to adopt static technologies as this was the way they used to work with SONET/ SDH networks. This causes some to perceive the dynamic nature of MPLS not as an advantage, but rather as a disadvantage. Is it the time to change that mindset? We, as well as many carriers, believe the answer is yes.
MPLS brings a compelling functionality advantage to the table. As the core “de-facto” technology, MPLS is a mature, field proven, and more importantly, interoperable technology. It offers higher service scalability and better security. It also provides the dynamic nature of routing combined with the low delay and jitter performance associated with switching. MPLS was designed to provide high resiliency (sub 50ms using Fast ReRoute [FRR] and dual homing, for example) and extend it from the core to the edge, simplifying the network resiliency so operators can avoid switching between the MPLS and Ethernet protection mechanisms. MPLS was designed for very high levels of traffic engineering. In fact, as it has such dynamic and rich traffic engineering capabilities, it can really help to reduce OPEX as it better utilizes the physical infrastructure and can autonomously adopt to changes in the networks.
Up until now, the major claims against MPLS to the edge were higher CAPEX costs, and more complex operations. However, the new Telco Systems’ solutions dramatically reduce MPLS price differences compared to Ethernet solutions. Moreover, there is an increasing amount of MPLS-educated engineers who have a better understanding of the technology and its potential to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO), making it easier to deploy than in the past. Market pressure to reduce expenses and increase mobile network scales are a key driver in the increasing demand for MPLS to the cell site.
“Small cells” is a hot topic in the mobile world today as it presents one of the possible solutions to help mobile providers cope with the mobile data demand tsunami. Changing business environments call for changing paradigms that can only be achieved by adopting novel technologies and concepts like SON and MPLS to the cell site. Operators who don’t adopt fast enough may find it harder and costlier to do so further down the road, and may struggle to offer a competitive solution to their customers.
We hope that you’ll stop by our Booth #G3 at Broadband World Forum 2012 to share your view of these options and the way you are planning to integrate them in your network, and to discuss the experiences and deployment plans we’ve heard from other operators and mobile backhaul providers like yourself.
Related Info: WHITE PAPER: Better Backhaul with MPLS to the Cell Site