Self-Organizing Networks (SON) Techniques for LTE

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Course Summary

Self-Organizing Networks (SON) technology is becoming an essential part of LTE Networks. The number of ‘customer deployed’ femtocells is on the increase, creating challenges for network planners aspiring to create the right balance of macro and micro cells. The exact number and precise locations of all active femtocells will be unknown to a mobile network operator and they may be relocated or switched off at any time. The number of radio network parameters has also become very large and complicated. These include things like cell identities, transmit power levels, power control parameters, cell selection parameters, cell reselection parameters, handover parameters, neighbour lists and so on. It takes highly skilled engineers to plan and configure these parameters, following which teams of engineers must drive-test the radio network and analyze performance statistics. If we consider that the rollout of an LTE network will include thousands of base stations, then in order for a network operator to reduce both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) there is a need to reduce human involvement in the planning, configuration and optimization of those base stations. SONs help to resolve some of these issues. A SON can be identified as one that requires minimal human intervention, made possible by autonomous and/or automatic features. These features enable a cell to configure itself by downloading the necessary software and operating parameters from the network. It will then ‘listen’ to the air interface and autonomously optimize its parameters so that it can be integrated seamlessly into the network, adapting based on changes to the radio environment.

Who would benefit

This course would benefit those with a keen interest in the issues surrounding the deployment of self-organizing techniques in LTE networks.

Prerequisites

Existing knowledge of cell planning principles in a mobile environment would be beneficial.

Topic areas include

• Self-establishment
• Automatic PCI configuration
• Automatic neighbour relations
• Inter-Cell Interference Co-ordination (ICIC)
• Enhanced ICIC
• Mobility load balancing
• Mobility robustness
• RACH optimization
• Energy saving
• Minimization of drive testing