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SMALL CELLS TO GO LARGE TO MEET DATA DEMAND

Small cell radio equipment that boosts network coverage is providing big opportunities for telecom operators as they face growing demand for data traffic. Mobile data traffic is experiencing an exponential growth, driven by data capable devices and high bandwidth applications (APPs). Operators are evaluating their options, and small cells deployment figures are high in their priorities.

Industry recognized Small Cell Forum defines small cells as “‘Small cells’ is an umbrella term for operator-controlled, low-powered radio access nodes, including those that operate in licensed spectrum and unlicensed carrier-grade Wi-Fi. Small cells typically have a range from 10 meters to several hundred meters.”

Operators are using small cells to boost signal and to ease pressure on traditional base stations, as they struggle to meet exploding data demand from customers wanting to access the Internet. Thus small cells are viewed as a complement to the rest of the network especially in areas of intense demand, but not as are replacement of the traditional macro network.

Small cells play a pivotal role in bringing huge amount of data capacity, where it is needed the most, by bringing the network closer to the users. It can provide flexibility and increased QoS capabilities at an attractive cost. Implementing a small cell infrastructure is also more environmentally friendly as it will reduce the number of cell towers (maybe even eventually eliminate them) and it provides a cleaner signal with less power.

Higher signal quality leads to better throughput because it allows the system to use a more spectrally efficient transmission scheme where more bits can be transmitted at the same time. Therefore, the areas where users can transmit and receive at higher data rate are larger in a small cell than a macro cell. This is significant because it leads directly to a large increase in overall capacity.

Huawei has deployed Small Cell to more than 120 operators and 170 networks, established cooperative relationships with several renowned application developers and site owners. For outdoor, Huawei provides a highly integrated Small Cell production: the Atom Cell. It’s designed for crowd-sourcing with site owners and operators. Atom Cell has already been integrated into bus shelters and advertisement panels in several cases.

For deployment of indoor MBB coverage with an open application platform, Huawei delivers a solution based on LampSite and Service Anchor. By cooperating with operator and third party application developers, it provides feature-rich applications to enterprise customers thus demonstrating the inherent value of Small Cell.

The future of small cells looks promising, and the opportunities will favour those operators who understand how, where and when to deploy them. Small cells not only address coverage infill and capacity boost scenarios, but also improve user’s experience.

Small cells will be the future because operators face limitations in adding more carriers and base stations.

good post, tks for sharing!