Alcatel-Lucent

Small Cell Solution

Where small is the next big thing

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution costeffectively extends wireless network coverage
and capacity while simultaneously offloading
voice and data traffic from the mobile operators
macro network. Flexible enough to be deployed
in homes, enterprises, and metro hotspots,
Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells dramatically improve
subscribers quality of experience (QoE) no matter
where they are. Alcatel-Lucent self-organizing
network algorithms a Bell Labs innovation
automate the configuration and optimization
of Small Cells, keeping network deployment
costs low. With Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells higher
throughput and faster, more reliable data
connections, the uptake of multimedia services
is also driven up, increasing revenue. Moreover,
the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution greatly
enhances the potential for new, innovative
services offerings by providing application
programming interfaces (APIs) that can be
easily integrated with applications.

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

The current situation

Mobile broadband usage is exploding, fueled by changing communications patterns and the
introduction of new wireless devices, such as smartphones, that are making anytime, anywhere
multimedia communications an integral part of everyday life. Although operators are planning
to significantly boost the capacity of their networks to accommodate this surge in traffic, the
reality is that traditional network architectures will still be unable to handle the extra load
efficiently or economically.
Even with additional cell sites, low data throughput will still be an issue as more and more
data users compete for the same spectrum. Additionally, weak signal strength at the periphery
of a cells coverage area will continue to limit the quality of service at these locations.
By extending the reach of mobile networks, Alcatel-Lucents Small Cell solution provides
a more efficient, cost-effective option for growth. Not only do small cells greatly increase
network capacity, but more importantly, they provide dedicated capacity to residents,
enterprises, and metro hotspots, where most data usage occurs.

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Addresses the need for

Quality of Experience
The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution dramatically improves
the end users QoE. By bringing the base station closer
to the end-user device, the signal to noise ratio (SINR) is
improved, providing faster, more reliable data connections
and higher data throughput. Excellent coverage also means
mobile subscribers experience crystal clear voice quality
with no dropped calls due to dead zones. The battery life
of mobile devices is also extended since they now only
need to transmit at a very low power.

With the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution, mobile operators

can cost-effectively target coverage where subscribers need
it the most in the home, enterprise, and public hotspots.
Users not only benefit from extended network coverage,
but from localized, dedicated capacity as well (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution enhances Quality of Experience

Better coverage
distribution

Average throughput
Better capacity
distribution

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Macro cells + small cells

Throughput

Macro cells only

Average throughput
Cell center
throughput

Addresses the need for new cells

while decreasing OPEX and CAPEX

Increasing a networks capacity through the addition of new macro sites is often
impractical for operators because of regulatory constraints, complexity in finding
new sites, the CAPEX investment required, and the installation time needed to
deploy them. Alcatel-Lucents Small Cell solution solves these problems.

Figure 2. Small Cells Alcatel-Lucent devices

Integrate new cells where needed

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution provides the flexibility to directly target
cost-effective network coverage and capacity, and integrate new cells where
they are needed most in the home, enterprise, and metro hotspots. Moreover,
they leverage the existing backhaul infrastructure. The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell
solution uses an existing broadband Internet connection, such as xDSL or fiber, to
carry mobile voice and data traffic back to the operators core network. As such,
deployment of new backhaul facilities is often avoided. Transmission is always
secure because IP secure (IPSec) tunnels are established to protect mobile
communications between Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells and the core network.

Lower installation complexity

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells are self-installed devices that are easily deployed without
the complexity associated with macro cell site installation. Small Cells leverage
plug-and-play, self-organizing/self-optimization capabilities (SON). With the
Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution, site visits by expensive skilled technicians are
eliminated: through use of SON technology Small Cells automatically come into
service after being connected to a broadband Internet service (see Figure 3).
This reduces OPEX and eliminates the need for massive re-provisioning following
typical base station installations.

Figure 3. Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution plug-and-play capabilities

PLUG

Authenticate

Download
standard
parameter

Environment
scanning

Adjust
parameters

PLAY

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Outstanding performance with Alcatel-Lucent self organizing networks

Alcatel-Lucent SON technology is a key element for reducing operational costs, quickly adapting cell
sites to network conditions and improving network quality. It significantly reduces network planning
and deployment costs, and improves network performance and operational efficiency by automating
configuration and optimization (see Figure 4).
SON empowers the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution to automatically configure itself to its surrounding
network at power up and enables it to periodically monitor, update and optimize its neighbor relation lists
and handover parameters, reducing handover failures by as much as 80 percent. With SON, the Small Cell
solution also has the capability to intermittently adjust its transmit power and the scheduling of resource
settings to avoid inter-cell interference.
Bell Labs studies have found a 20 percent CAPEX savings and 50 percent OPEX savings using SON features.

Figure 4. Alcatel-Lucent and a self-organizing network

Self-organizing
network
Commissioning
backhaul

OAM

Continuous
optimization

Integration

Optimization

Selfconfiguration

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Automatic
neighbour
relation

Site acceptance

Inter-cell
interference

Load
balancing

Handover
optimization

Leverages a flat IP architecture

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution uses a flat IP architecture (see Figure 5)
with direct access to the Internet to substantially reduce CAPEX and offloads traffic
from the macro layer. With flat IP, radio access network elements are integrated
into the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell, simplifying network architecture and reducing
OPEX. Flat IP also provides low latency, enabling delay-sensitive applications, such
as gaming, to run on mobile networks with a much better QoE.

Figure 5. Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells Flat IP architecture

W-CDMA
backhaul
W-CDMA macro cell

RNC

Mobile core
Public
Internet
backhauling

W-CDMA/LTE
small cells

Security
gateway

Small cells secured traffic

Internet

Best-in-class network management

By combining the strengths of Alcatel-Lucents Wireless Management System,
Wireless Provisioning System and the Motive Femtocell Device Management
Solution (HDM), the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution takes advantage of
proven wireless management capabilities and an industry-leading management
solution for TR-069 devices. Alcatel-Lucent HDM manages over 30 million devices,
providing zero-touch service provisioning and real-time Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells
troubleshooting capabilities.

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Enabling applications development

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution enables mobile providers to leverage unique network capabilities,
such as location, presence, Quality of Service (QoS) and trusted security for applications development.
This can be done by the service provider or third parties.
Through the use of APIs that can be integrated with applications, the Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution
significantly enhances the potential for innovative services creation. For example:
Small Cell Inform provides presence information generated from the small cell.
Small Cell Locate provides mobile location, enabling the delivery of localized services.
Small Cell Local Connect offloads traffic from the core network by redirecting user traffic
in the local network.
Small Cell Intelligent Notification allows a notification message (audio, text or video for example)
to be sent based on presence information, to the user or another predefined person.
Small Cell Mobile Extension provides an IP-private branch exchange (PBX) interface connection
between the small cell and the enterprise PBX.
Small Cell Net allows a group of small cells to self-organize into a meshed network of extended
coverage that continuously monitors and adjusts to other small cells neighbors and changes in the
surrounding macro network.
Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells APIs enables operators to realize new business models in cooperation with
application developers and content providers.

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

A suitable portfolio for any topology

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell solution is suitable for indoor
and outdoor hotspot coverage areas for Wideband-Code
Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) and Long Term Evolution
(LTE) networks (see Figure 6).

Figure 6. Alcatel-Lucent Small Cells targeted market segments

Residential indoor

The Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell portfolio enhances QoE in:

Homes for residential services
Enterprises for business services

Enterprise indoor

Public area hotspots such as shopping malls, train stations,

city squares and rural locations
Buildings to complement or substitute distributed antenna
systems (DAS) for capacity expansion

Public indoor

Public outdoor

Alcatel-Lucent Small Cell Solution

Alcatel-Lucent
Small Cell Solution
Portfolio

Small Cell solution for the home

Addresses the residential market need for high-speed data and crystal clear voice
Application enabled for delivery of at-home services
Integrated management and customer care service
Used with either open or closed access (restricted to predefined users)
Self-installed by the end user

Small Cell solution for the enterprise

Addresses the enterprise market need for coverage and high-speed data
Application enabled for delivery of business applications (such as connection to a PBX)
Integrated management and customer-care service
Used with either open or closed access (restricted to predefined users)
Self-installed by local IT team

Small Cell solution for the metro

Addresses indoor and outdoor public hotspot coverage and capacity needs
Used with open access
Installed by the operator or building owner
For more information on Alcatel-Lucent products please go to:
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wireless

www.alcatel-lucent.com

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are trademarks of Alcatel-Lucent. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The information presented is subject to change without notice. Alcatel-Lucent assumes no responsibility
for inaccuracies contained herein. Copyright 2010 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved.
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