Expert’s Forum Why SingleRAN is becoming ubiquitous Why SingleRAN is Becoming Ubiquitous Huawei’s SingleRAN is revolutionizing the global mobile communications industry to the benefit of operators and end users worldwide. By Yu Chengdong

perators today face an inevitable overlap. Anticipating and responding to the Oburgeoning demand for mobile broadband (MBB), LTE is emerging faster than expected, while GSM and UMTS continue to meet the needs of the vast majority of the world’s mobile subscribers. To support three coexisting modes, GSM, UMTS, and LTE, traditional models call for three sets of equipment and three networks, placing major pressure on operators from deployment to operation and maintenance (O&M). Issues such as repeated equipment investment, continuous site upgrades, and the inevitable complexity of O&M only add to the overlap headache. The cause and the cure are both found by addressing the true requirements of MBB. MBB is all about smart thinking: decreasing network update investments while increasing the intelligence of the same to improve end-user experience. Using an integrated network to realize the features of MBB, such as HSPA+/LTE, will help operators effectively and flexibly tackle the aforementioned challenge. But then, as the new industry gradually matures, the inevitability of escalating market competition compels a return to a recurring fundamental question: How Yu Chengdong, can we more efficiently utilize assets? Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Huawei Huawei worked with leading operators to conduct an in-depth analysis of

3 MAR 2011 . ISSUE 59 Huawei Communicate what really mattered most, and found the most quickly and in a cost-effective manner. From important to be site, spectrum, pipeline, user network deployment, to choosing between and staff assets. Fortunately for carriers around various modes changes and between different the world, protecting and maximizing the value features of the same network, SingleRAN offers of these and other assets is achievable. Huawei’s precisely the flexibility that is needed. Operators SingleRAN solution comprehensively assists can choose different features according to the operators in achieving maximum asset utilization stages of market development. At the equipment by transforming various technical modes into level, SingleRAN realizes one network supporting the advantages of just one radio access network. multi-mode deployment. SingleRAN also enables SingleRAN also allows operators to distance comprehensive integration of GSM, UMTS, themselves from the technology and equipment and LTE features. All features can be deployed layers and consider network development strategies within the same network and resources including in terms of true end-to-end O&M efficiency. spectrum, PA, and O&M can be dynamically shared for greater effect and greater efficiency. With SingleRAN, only one integrated management SingleRAN turns GSM, UMTS, system is required for all deployments, regardless of and LTE into features whether GSM, UMTS, or LTE. In place of three, just one team is now required for seamless O&M Huawei introduced the SingleRAN of a multi-mode network. Thus, SingleRAN is solution in 2008 to adapt to rapidly evolving both simple and smart. telecommunication networks. At the core of SingleRAN is convergence, allowing operators to easily accept and assimilate continuing SingleRAN maximizes technological innovations. Huawei’s SingleRAN the efficiency of key related provides an integrated BTS, BSC, O&M management and site solution, supporting assets the convergence and evolution of different technologies. From an operator’s perspective, Site assets: Broader, closer, and greener SingleRAN substantially lowers OPEX and decreases risks conventionally associated with As emphasis on private property rights and new technology selection and network evolution; environmental protection continues to increase, helping to simplify strategy decisions and cost the implications of appropriate site acquisition duplication related to the selection of varied become more challenging. When considering technical modes through the deployment of multi-network deployment, the cost of leasing multiple RANs. With these objectives in mind, sites across numerous countries and regions is SingleRAN is becoming the simple, single decision prohibitive and far exceeds that of purchasing of choice for leading operators around the world. equipment. Looking to maintain existing customer Over the past few years, Huawei has loyalty cost-effectively while profitably expanding continuously worked to promote network business bases and attracting new users, operators convergence, ensuring the SingleRAN solution clearly need to enhance and expand network provides end-to-end support for integrated coverage, but only if the construction of new sites network deployment and O&M. As a result of can be kept to an absolute minimum. To this, has this ongoing dedication, Huawei’s SingleRAN to be added the need for minimal disruption of solution also includes a series of new products such any existing site without which lease terms can be as integrated multi-mode BSC, SDR-based RRU broken, and legacy sites lost. with dual-transmitter capability and SingleOSS, In response, Huawei’s SingleRAN solution significantly strengthening and enhancing the addresses three critical site development criteria: convergence of multi-mode mobile networks. broader, closer, and greener. Huawei’s SingleOSS products provide co- In a world where rapidly increasing data rates management for multi-mode mobile networks and represent a tremendous challenge for mobile greatly increase O&M efficiency. networks, broader efficiencies are mandatory. In today’s fast changing and highly competitive With Huawei’s SingleRAN solution, mobile environment, operators must be able to respond networks minimize the need to add new sites

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or disturb existing leased space. With improves spectrum efficiency through As a true end-to-end a much smaller footprint than any two key techniques. solution, Huawei’s traditional BTS, just one SingleRAN Multiplication: Multiple-Input site or cabinet supports five frequency Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology SingleRAN is all about bands and three modes, providing high achieves improved spectrum efficiency. capacity and high power with much The majority of Huawei BTS products end-user experience. more efficient resource management. are currently being optimized to support The management This assists wireless operators worldwide MIMO, with single modules supporting in achieving ultimately efficient single- two transmitters. systems help operators network deployment of GSM, UMTS, Coordination: Huawei’s SingleRAN and LTE as well as single-network supports and coordinates deployment quickly respond to O&M. Through SingleRAN’s “broader” of GSM/UMTS, UMTS/LTE, GSM/ user complaints, features, operators are able to more LTE, and GSM/UMTS/LTE over easily meet the challenge of rapidly shared frequency bands. Huawei’s multi- precisely locate and increasing data rates. frequency, multi-mode Software Defined “Closer” refers to using Huawei’s Radio (MFMMSDR) can also be used resolve issues, and femtocell pico technologies to to increase spectrum efficiency. In the continuously improve supplement any mobile network, near future, Huawei’s MFMMSDR will bringing deployment and applications also support combinations spanning user satisfaction. closer to users. As data rates across technologies and frequency exponentially increase, femtocell pico bands. also help reduce the pressure on the network by sharing the ever expanding User assets: Providing five load. billion users with the perfect “Greener” means lowering the power experience consumption of sites from year to year through technical solutions. Huawei Users are clearly an operator’s most technologies, such as IP microwave precious asset. As mobile networks backhaul, can also substantially reduce continuously evolve, loss of users during the cost of site construction. a network upgrade process is the greatest risk facing operators. Ensuring smooth Spectrum assets: Increasing network evolution and maintaining efficiency a level of service that satisfies users becomes a topic of utmost concern. With the majority of spectrum Despite rapid development of already allocated, an operator’s existing data services, voice remains at the spectrum resources largely dictate core of mobile service. Consequently, its competitive strength. And with a SingleRAN continues to focus on and scarcity of available spectrum, operators improve the experience of the five billion wishing to purchase additional spectrum voice service users worldwide, working resources must spend exorbitant sums to ensure crystal-clear sound quality. of money. The ideal solution is for Working with our operator partners, operators to leverage extant spectrum Huawei is carefully leading users into resources to deploy different modes an age of rich mobile broadband of mobile networks or reuse legacy communication while ensuring the spectrum resources as new generations combined development of data, voice, of networks evolve. Only in this fashion and GSM/UMTS services. As LTE will operator spectrum resources become becomes a more widespread reality, a continuous source of profit while also high-quality, seamless connections will gaining in value. become the norm, providing an always- With this well-documented need to on and always-connected experience. protect and enhance spectrum assets in As a true end-to-end solution, mind, Huawei’s SingleRAN solution Huawei’s SingleRAN is all about end-

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user experience. The management of various modes of technology, and network performance. In addition, systems help operators quickly respond of the entire end-to-end network it reduces the complexity of O&M to user complaints, precisely locate and without challenges to human resource operations, lowers skill requirements resolve issues, and continuously improve overheads. This same integrated for O&M staff, and lowers the costs user satisfaction. management system allows integrated stemming of network planning, O&M of GSM, UMTS, and LTE optimization, and deployment. Staff assets: Increasing networks, which lowers OPEX while Looking ahead, the accelerating productivity without added increasing the efficiency of CAPEX. The application from Huawei’s SingleRAN cost same integrated O&M also includes solution will contribute to a world a valuable transition of focus from where integrated mobile networks will Skilled engineers, network equipment alone to O&M responding become ubiquitous and SingleRAN management and maintenance to and enhancing the experience of will also be essentially responsible employees are a major asset for all users. for helping operators realize future carriers but, when added human Huawei also stands at the forefront network experiences such as HSPA+/ resources are required for improvement of self-organizing network (SON) LTE. Supporting our prediction and of network performance and capacity, technology. Early in the second quarter the viability of Huawei’s SingleRAN, these same assets also create added of 2009, Huawei announced a SON as of Q4 2010, Huawei had deployed pressure in the form of increased commercial solution, forming an more than 80 SingleRAN networks for payroll, benefit and liability costs. In important component of Huawei’s leading carriers including Telefónica O2 this fashion, a final primary concern leading LTE solution package. SON Germany, Telenor, Net4Mobility and of operators relates to avoidance of is a crucial aspect of LTE network TeliaSonera. any large-scale growth in personnel technology, allowing LTE networks while enhancing existing networks and to achieve self-configuration, self- Editor: Ranajit S. Dam ranajit. [email protected] expanding for future growth. optimization, and self-recovery. When Huawei’s SingleRAN solution the network topology changes, Huawei’s The electronic version and subscription information are assists operators in achieving integrated SON technology ensures network available at www.huawei.com/communicate. Questions and suggestions may be directed to the editor concerned. management of equipment and sites, connectivity and maintains optimal

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