Towards Cognitive Autonomous Networks

3Self‐Organization in Pre‐5G Communication Networks

Muhammad Naseer‐ul‐Islam, Janne Ali‐Tolppa, Stephen S. Mwanje, and Guillaume Decarreau

Nokia Bell Labs, Munich, Germany

The concepts of Self‐Organizing Networks (SONs) for mobile networks were introduced to cater for the increasing network management complexities. This complexity arises from the simultaneous operation of multiple cellular mobile technologies as well as multiple layers of cells within each of them. With the evolution of each mobile technology, the network elements (NEs) have also become more complex in terms of number of tuneable parameters they provide to meet the diverse service requirements. SON aims to minimize this complexity by automating most of the laborious repetitive network management tasks like NEs' configuration, optimization, and troubleshooting, both during the network's deployment and throughout its operational life. This helps to reduce the amount of manual effort needed for network management and ultimately also reduces the possibilities of human error.

The shift from manual operation of mobile networks makes SON the first generation of network management automation. And, by eliminating the lengthy manual analysis of network problems, SON makes mobile networks more responsive to the changes in their operating environment including, amongst others, appearance of new buildings, weather changes, and mobility changes. This chapter presents the state‐of‐the‐art concepts on SON.

Firstly, it compares ...