Self-Organizing Networks: Self-Planning, Self-Optimization and Self-Healing for GSM, UMTS and LTE

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Multi-Technology SON

Rubén Cruz, Khalid Hamied, Juan Ramiro, Lars Christoph Schmelz, Mehdi Amirijoo, Andreas Eisenblätter, Remco Litjens, Michaela Neuland and John Turk

3.1. Drivers for Multi-Technology SON

Whereas current commercial and standardization efforts are mainly focused on the introduction and Self-Organization of Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, there is significant potential in the extension of the scope of the Self-Organizing Networks (SON) paradigm to also cover GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSPA radio access technologies, as well as of course LTE. Throughout the rest of the book, such extended concept is referred to as multi-technology SON.

The implications of multi-technology SON are manyfold. On one hand, the adoption of a multi-technology approach allows operators to completely transform and streamline their operations, not only applying an innovative, automated approach to the new additional LTE network layer, but also extending the key benefits from SON to all radio access technologies, thereby harmonizing the whole network management approach and boosting operational efficiency. The aforementioned key benefits from SON are the following:

• Reduced Operational Expenditure (OPEX) through: (i) automation; (ii) energy saving; and (iii) lower need for leased transmission lines due to optimized resource utilization.
• Reduced Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) through: (i) more technically sound capacity planning processes; and (ii) higher effective system capacity due ...