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will rapidly be swamped by users exchanging photos, consolidating and maintaining base stations in a central
videos, and data files. 3G data services are further straining location where they are easier to maintain. Moreover, the
existing backhaul networks. Carriers implementing new facilities costs of distributing radios are far lower as they
4G architectures will need even larger backhaul pipes, can be mounted on utility poles or overhead lines.
and they should try to reduce costs at the same time.
As network capacity grows along with subscriber counts and
There are dozens of vendors offering hundreds of service demands, carriers will have to address the backhaul
products to meet these challenges but it is difficult to problem. Here again, base station consolidation makes sense.
develop a strategy without a list of business priorities. It allows carriers to aggregate backhaul capacity in a single
The key to successful 4G deployment will be to align location rather than paying for individual connections throughout
infrastructure migration with business needs. a geographically-dispersed network of base stations. IP
technologies like Ethernet will give carriers maximum transport
Maintaining subscriber revenue efficiency at the lowest cost, with easy scaling to support
bandwidth growth. In addition, fiber or microwave backhaul
While the goal behind the move to 4G networks is to increase technologies can offer the ability to transport multiple bands
ARPU with new services, carriers must first ensure that existing of traffic, thereby increasing flexibility as well as capacity.
subscriber services are not disrupted. Early adopters will be
willing to pay for new advanced services, but carriers must Improving efficiency
continue to provide service to the majority of subscribers who
are not willing to pay and want only basic services. As a result, Operating efficiency is always an important goal. By centralising
new 4G equipment must integrate with the network separately base stations and distributing signals with DAS solutions,
or must offer backward support for previous services. carriers can make more efficient use of scarce wireless
spectrum. Distributing coverage over a larger number of
To ensure effective rollouts of new services, carriers will smaller cells means carriers can capitalise on frequency
need a range of specific equipment options to address the re-use thereby making the most of the limited spectrum.
coverage and capacity needs of many different environments. Carriers can maximise capacity within the cell for 4G services
Carriers will also need solutions that can cost-effectively while reusing this limited commodity over multiple non-
distribute new 4G services to low-capacity environments adjacent cells. And as we have seen, centralising base
while providing options to cover existing services. Using stations also enables better use of backhaul resources.
distributed antenna systems (DAS), allows carriers to
deploy a single base station and distribute the signal over Throughout their networks, carriers will leverage IP-based
an urban or enterprise location with low-cost radios. technology, either via metro Ethernet or customer-owned DSL
connections. IP transport allows carriers to precisely match
New 4G solutions should also be capable of being the bandwidth being used with the service level desired, it
added incrementally to a network on a build-as- eliminates the need to lease backhaul circuits from potential
you-go basis to minimize upfront investment by competitors, and it offers easier maintenance with lower costs.
carriers and shorten the return on investment.
Minimising management costs
Making the right changes at the right time
Finally, the overall 4G wireless infrastructure will benefit
But if 4G services will require changes for coverage, capacity, from a unified management system that enables radios,
and backhaul, which changes come first? Most important base stations, network links and switching systems to be
is getting the right coverage. Although there may be few monitored and configured more easily. IP-based technology
subscribers for a new service at the outset, they will still allows for carriers to accomplish such management
demand ubiquitous coverage. Carriers must find ways to with standard SNMP-based network management tools,
deploy networks in the most cost-effective manner while bringing an end-to-end control never before possible.
allowing easy scaling to support additional coverage as the
user base grows. In the old macro network model, extending As wireless carriers explore the most efficient ways to deploy 4G
coverage required installation of new base stations but services, they will face numerous challenges. However, with the
newer solutions allow carriers to expand via remote radios range of solutions that will be available at their disposal, they will
and independently of more expensive base station gear. also have to opportunity to shorten their return on investment,
improve operating efficiency, and increase revenues. The key
As the subscriber count ramps up, the capacity issue rears is to align business challenges with infrastructure choices.
its head requiring more base station and switching capacity.
Even though more base stations are required, it is more cost- Tony Lefebvre is director, product management,
effective to use distributed radios to deliver the signal while Outdoor Wireless products at ADC
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