SON Automation in Small-Cell Backhaul

Transcription

1 SON Automation in Small-Cell Backhaul The introduction of SON automation is already an essential function of 4G/LTE networks and is at the top of the list whenever operators are asked for small cells and their backhaul. StreetNode is the first solution to offer a full set of automation features addressing all the operational challenges. StreetNode not only accelerates the deployment process literally, but also maintains carrier-grade performance in a dynamic street-level environment. More importantly, its SON Manager automates traditional engineering processes such as design, commissioning and optimization resulting to better engineer work, while radically reducing the operating costs.

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3 1. Introduction... Mobile network operators (MNOs) are deploying outdoor small cells as a means to increase network capacity efficiently, without harnessing the cost of additional macro cells. Deployment at street-level is challenging from many perspectives, but especially due to the absence of backhaul infrastructure. MNOs have ambitious plans with regards to small cells, as shown in analyst reports. Nevertheless, they recognize that making deployment less complex and reducing associated operating costs is the only path to success. Self-Organized Network (SON) principles are also envisioned for small-cell backhaul, as they could accelerate deployment and minimize the cost of ownership. Radio technologies are a cost-efficient solution. StreetNode is the first microwave backhaul radio to incorporate an antenna auto-alignment system, while featuring auto-configuration capabilities for PtP or PtMP operation. Automation is an integral part of the solution; it is applied through its entire life span from network design to operation achieving three important goals: Quick, scalable and error-free deployment. Self-healing ability to overcome incidents occurring during operation. Continuously-optimized network performance in a dynamic environment. StreetNode solution s design primarily targets carrier-grade performance the solution s SON features are a mean to accomplish this objective while eliminating all relevant costs. This document introduces the powerful SON automation features of StreetNode regarding the deployment and maintenance of cost-efficient and carrier-grade small-cell backhaul networks. StreetNode 2. Network Planning Leverages SON Automation... Traditionally, RF planning precedes the deployment of microwave radio links to estimate performance over long distances and complex propagation effects. Regarding street-level backhaul, the calculation is fairly simple due to the very short hop length and clutter interference isolation. In practice, the major risk for performance degradation comes from misaligned antennas. The StreetNode solution has been developed to achieve carrier-grade operation without requiring an RF planning study. For typical small-cell backhaul links, even up to 1 Km, the solution s very high system gain allows compensating any unpredictable losses from obstructed LOS while maintaining a high throughput. Therefore, re-positioning to an adjacent location, for a clear LOS, is not necessary. Most importantly, the StreetNode s internal antenna automatically achieves bulls-eye alignment thus maximizing link performance. Following an accelerated installation, SON automation allows carrying out advanced test plans and performing fine-tuning of the radio parameters. An important task is to measure the interference levels when all links are active and accordingly revise the RF plan when necessary. Within the StreetNode solution, RF planning is recommended to estimate the optimum deployment scenario, hence accelerating equipment installation and facilitating network operations. Commonly-used RF planning tools can accurately predict the network performance under ideal/critical conditions (i.e % availability) and define the optimum radio configuration values. The RF study results are used as reference values by the SON automation and intelligent functions are introduced. A very useful function is the real-time monitoring of installation quality. If there is an obstructed LOS condition, the SON automation will detect it by comparing the initial signal strength measurement with the reference value and immediately advice if equipment re-location is necessary

4 3. Accelerating Deployment with SON Automation... SON technology is the heart of StreetNode solution providing automation across its entire life span. SON accelerates deployment and ensures carrier-grade operation, while minimizing the engineering efforts and costs. Exploiting the RF planning / networking / services study results, the StreetNode s SON Manager generates a planned network model prior to equipment installation. NOC engineers are able to view the planned network and intervene with customizations before (or during) the installation. After the rollout is completed, the network becomes operational. An overview of the automations provided by the StreetNode SON Manager is depicted in Figure 1. One of the SON Manager s advantages is the automatic exploitation of the design study results for completing various tasks. For example, the RF planner can use geo-location information, such as lamp post coordinates and determine the appropriate StreetNode position (height - orientation) on a lamp post. The SON Manager correlates this information in the RF Planning output with a map (i.e. Google Maps) and automatically generates a detailed installation report with street views for each piece of equipment. The design output information is re-used in many functions. In the absence of SON Manager, a qualified engineer must manually prepare installation reports and configuration files, resulting in significant work effort. a. Deployment Preparation As soon as the design study is loaded into the SON Manager, the planned network is automatically generated and visualized, and all the preparatory work is instantly carried out. During this phase, the following actions take place: Setup of performance KPI reference values. Preparation of configuration parameter files (firmware / radio / network / services). BoQ assembly and preparation of the implementation plan / guidelines. For a typical small-cell backhaul project, several days of backoffice engineering and project coordination work is completed in just few hours of automated processing. SON Manager greatly accelerates deployment, and most importantly, eliminates human mistakes that could cause implementation delays. b. Zero-touch Configuration During the rollout the SON Manager performs automatic discovery and zero-touch configuration of the new equipment. Upon the initial link establishment, the following automated actions are performed: Link connectivity quality test (i.e. measured vs. reference RSSI). Automatic firmware verification. Zero-touch configuration. Urgent support & guidance. The link connectivity check identifies any major connectivity problems, such as obstructed LOS or equipment misplacement. It urgently alerts the NOC engineer to provide remote support and guidance to the installers. During the zero-touch configuration, the NOC engineer supports the installers in case of urgent field re-configurations. c. Pre-launch Optimization As soon as the installation is completed, SON Manager detects whether all StreetNode units are active, interconnected and configured, and initiates the pre-launch optimization. The scope of this phase is to deliver a carrier-grade network by automatically carrying out the following actions: Link connectivity fine-tuning (antenna auto-alignment is based on SINR). RF plan revisioning. Once the entire backhaul network is established, the algorithms can be applied end-to-end (E2E). For example, interference from all co-channel links are taken into account during the antenna orientation fine-tuning. Changing the orientation a few degrees can provide higher link quality / throughput. This process takes very little time to complete and all necessary actions are carried out automatically. 4

5 ... d. E2E Service Provisioning After the rollout and pre-launch optimization are completed, the radio backhaul network is ready for the provisioning of individual small-cell services. The following actions are carried out: Automatic E2E services configuration. Investigation for bottlenecks and automatic E2E QoS & latency verification. SON Manager introduces a powerful E2E configuration scheme. Service flows are established by selecting the starting and ending points and by defining the QoS attributes. Across a complex multi-hop network, the SON Manager automatically configures all intermediate nodes to preserve the QoS of each individual service flow. The automatic cross-correlation of different service flows eliminates bottlenecks and achieves carrier-grade networking KPIs. Following the completion of services provisioning, the NOC engineer is ready to deliver the network. Figure 1: Overview of StreetNode SON Manager s automations Design Input:» RF Planning» Networking Profiles» Service Profiles» Inventory SON Preparation:» Reference Values» Pre-Provisioning Profiles» Firmware Files» Configuration Files Planning Project Planning:» BoQ Assembly» Equipment Pre-Provisioning» Installation Plan & Guidelines Rollout StreetNode SON Manager Installation Support:» Real-Time Link Connectivity Monitoring» Zero-Touch Configuration / Assisted Field Configuration» Urgent Support & Guidance» (Back-office) Pre-Launch Advanced Testing & Optimization Maintenance:» Link / Services Self-Healing Expansion:» Proactive Network Analysis Operation On-Going Optimization:» Frequency Planning» Capacity Planning» Services / QoS Planning

6 4. Sustaining Cost-efficient, Carriergrade Operation... During the network life span, the SON Manager supports operations in many ways. Three characteristic functions are presented herein. First, the mechanisms that detect link degradation and perform self-healing. A common cause of such degradation is the placement of celebration or advertising banners on lamp posts or walls along the link path. Interference originating from newly-established links or external sources is another cause. Remote antenna fine-tuning could solve such problems. An impressive feature of the SON Manager is the simulation of complex propagation phenomena. Link performance could be correlated with publicly-available weather data to investigate the actual link availability and average throughput. In case of a low performance link, the source of degradation can clearly be defined. Such sources could include misalignment, interference or rain effects. An even more important task is the optimization of service flows according to the actual small-cell traffic patterns. The initial service creation is based on initial predictions, but actual traffic may be quite different or change with time. During idle network periods, the SON Manager performs detailed service selfconfiguration, optimizing the capacity flows, QoS and latency. The adopted backhaul solution must be scalable and capable to efficiently extend the connectivity to new small-cell locations. For any live StreetNode network, SON Manager monitors the throughput utilization and congestion conditions at any time. It can instantly inform the NOC engineer whether the network can be extended; either by deploying links to reach new locations or by offering higher throughput / new services to existing smallcells. 5. Benefits of SON Automation... StreetNode s SON Manager: Accelerates backhaul deployment by: Reducing the back-office and field installation works Eliminating project delays due to errors or unforeseen conditions. Supporting massive deployment with many teams working in parallel projects. Reduces deployment costs by: Enabling hiring of non-telecom installers, meaning substantially-lower daily costs. Allowing for zero-touch configuration (and thus less workload onsite). Avoiding additive costs from installation errors and re-visits. Achieving higher initial capacity and quality for budgeted network. Minimizes operating costs by: Reducing the need for re-configuration studies (i.e. capacity) with self-optimization. Reducing onsite troubleshooting with self-healing. Accelerated backhaul deploymemt Minimized operating costs StreetNode SON Manager Reduced deployment cost

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