Small cells are a new architectural approach to increase
capacity of service provider networks. Essentially miniaturized base stations,
they combine licensed and unlicensed radio technology with wireless backhaul.
The result: Short-ranged, lower-powered wireless signals that deliver better
signal coverage, improved voice quality, and higher data performance to mobile
users.
Small cell technology can be used to generate high-quality
mobile signals indoors and at remote outdoor locations. It can also satisfy the
growing demand for mobile data by expanding a macro network’s data capacity at
a fraction of the cost.
Robert Joyce, chief radio engineer at Telefonica UK, noted
that the major obstacle to deploying small cell was finding a reliable and yet
inexpensive way to backhaul traffic from hundreds or even thousands of small
cell nodes.
That is where Ruckus Wireless’ Smart Mesh technology comes
in. Smart Mesh combines advanced self-organizing network (SON) principles with
Ruckus-patented adaptive antenna arrays and predictive channel management
techniques. The synergized technologies and techniques result in Wi-Fi mesh
backbone links between nodes that are highly resilient and rated at speeds of 5
GHz.
These links automatically adapt to changes in environmental
conditions. Wireless service providers like O2 and its owner, Telefonica UK,
can use those links to mesh traffic. The innovative method will allow delivery
of reliable backhaul for licensed cellular and unlicensed Wi-Fi traffic in both
line of sight and non-line of site environments.
The Ruckus SmartCell system allows the innovative use of LTE
small cells to give mobile operators a boost in capacity. By co-locating and
combining LTE small cells with Wi-Fi access points, which allows LTE small
cells to share site-lease agreements and backhaul, wireless network operators
can simplify operations and save money.
In addition, by integrating Wi-Fi and LTE small cells within
the cellular core, operators can better optimize network utilization across the
radio access network. Subscribers will get to enjoy further improvement in
performance and a seamless Wi-Fi experience.
Mr. Joyce can attest to the effectiveness of the
SmartMesh-empowered mobile backhauling services. "With Smart Mesh,” said the
Telefonica chief radio engineer, “we are running fiber to just one of every
five nodes.” Reducing the amount of fiber led to savings in capital and OPEX.
It also allowed faster deployment of the system and similarly speedy delivery
of the wireless service.
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