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

Preface

This book provides an in-depth description of multi-technology Self-Organizing Networks (SON) for 2G, 3G and Long Term Evolution (LTE), and presents critical business aspects of the proposed SON functionalities. Multi-technology SON allows operators to completely transform and streamline their operations, and extends the automation-related operational savings to all radio access technologies. The availability of a multi-technology SON solution results in more comprehensive, holistic and powerful optimization strategies that deal with several radio access technologies simultaneously.

The book is primarily aimed at engineers who manage or optimize mobile networks, though major network operators, business leaders and professionals of academia will also derive value from the included chapters. With the deployment of LTE, most operators will have three simultaneous radio access technologies to manage, which will add extra pressure to their already tight cost structures. Deploying and operating cellular networks is a complex task that comprises many activities, such as planning, dimensioning, installation, testing, prelaunch optimization, postlaunch optimization, comprehensive performance monitoring, failure mitigation, failure correction and general maintenance. Today, such critical activities are extremely labor-intensive and, hence, costly and prone to errors, which may result in customer dissatisfaction and increased churn.

In order to alleviate this situation, clear requirements ...