Antenna Systems & Technology - Summer 2014 - (Page 18)

FEATURE ARTICLE Capitalizing on Network Architecture Trends Tormod Larsen, Vice President and CTO - ExteNet Systems Wireless networks are at the epicenter of the dramatic changes in mobile connectivity over the past decade. We have witnessed the evolution of networks from a 2G voice-based emphasis, to 3G and today's standard 4G LTE data-centric networks. However, as mobile data usage continues to surge, even todays most advanced networks may reach its limits. This has forced every player in the ecosystem, from carriers and enterprises, to technology enablers such as network infrastructure manufacturers, to consider the impact of the new era of mobile connectivity. Rather than new generations of technology, the biggest advances may well come in how networks are architected, deployed and operated. For example, a common approach to dealing with network capacity issues has been simply to add to the status quo by increasing the number sectors per tower or adding additional towers. Although increasing sectors or towers has worked well historically, today higher productivity and user demands are driving many carriers and businesses to consider alternatives. One of the fastest growing trends to address these issues in recent years are the emergence of distributed network architectures, which include distributed antenna systems (DAS), distributed RANs, small cells and mobile Wi-Fi, all of which provide greater mobile connectivity and performance. DAS Installation - Outdoor Street Lamp Moving Beyond Legacy Network Architectures Traditionally, telecommunications networks have been architected; deployed and operated with consistency and conformity in mind. This has led to homogenous network architectures with mainly centralized functions and standardized purpose built network infrastructure. The centralized functions are often controlled by the core, or switch. The radio access network, which is the interface with users, has consisted of tall towers supporting high power base stations. These provide a fairly large and consistent coverage footprint. However, due to the rapidly changing use of mobile connectivity today, many of these legacy networks are straining to provide optimal service. Part of the issue lies within the overall network architecture which were designed for a different purpose: voice, not data. These same traditional, centralized network approaches are also commonly used in crowded indoor venues and expansive outdoor areas where the required network capacity per square mile might be several orders of magnitude different. Adding to the challenges is the location of centralized tower-based infrastructures, which are often positioned too far from users to ensure consistent coverage and capacity. The rapidly emerging distributed networks, including DAS and various small cell technologies, address some of these issues by distributing cost-effective nodes or mini antenna systems into areas with significant demands. These mini sites are critical to enhancing connectivity because they deliver service closer to individual users. These technology advancements ultimately enable networks to ensure consistent coverage and capacity. This is important in order to relieve the considerable strain that accompanies traditional centralized architectures. Both theory and practice have proven that when mobile traffic is redistributed among smaller distributed installations, data speeds and voice quality greatly improve. A recent report from the Small Cell Forum estimates that small cell deployments could top 11 million by 2018 from relatively small numbers today. This may explain the growing interest in distributed networks. However, there are additional reasons that distributed networks are on the rise. One is the dramatically reduced costs and time required to create network densification compared to using a tower-based approach. For example, historically carriers and tower companies built tower infrastructure to support their specific 18 Antenna Systems & Technology Summer 2014 www.AntennasOnline.com http://www.AntennasOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Antenna Systems & Technology - Summer 2014

Editor’s Choice
Optimizing RF Signal Performance to Improve LTE Coverage and Capacity
Managing the Tower Top for LTE Advanced
Connectivity for Internet of Things Success
Capitalizing on Network Architecture Trends
Antennas
Components/Subsystems
Short-Range Wireless
Software / System Design
Test & Measurement
Industry News
Marketplace
Insatiable Hunger Feeds DAS

Antenna Systems & Technology - Summer 2014