Next Page: Gordon Mansfield, AVP of technology at AT&T

Gordon Mansfield, AVP of technology at AT&T

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Mansfield is really a shoe-in for the Movers & Shakers list as he's been at the forefront of small cells since the very first femtocells went into homes. He not only leads AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s small cell efforts, but also is the chairman of the Small Cell Forum Ltd. , uniting the entire global community and pushing for interoperability between vendors and with the macro network. He has been involved with the group since 2008. (See: AT&T Exec Leads Small Cell Group.)

"Gordon is doing very important work with the Small Cell Forum," Current Analysis analyst Ed Gubbins says. "For example, its publications on deployment models are a really essential resource for an industry that is trying to climb the learning curve of small cell network-building."

In his carrier role, he's also been steering AT&T's Project Velocity IP and working on aggressive plans to use the mini-base stations to complement its LTE network. The carrier now has 3G HSPA+ microcells in 18 states across the US, and Mansfield is currently working on getting Multi-Standard Metrocells (MSMs) that combine LTE with 3G and WiFi ready for deployment next year. (See: AT&T Has LTE Small Cells 'in the Lab', AT&T: 3G Small Cells in 18 US States, and AT&T Puts Up $14B to Boost Broadband.)</ p>

The operator's Lab has also built a new planning tool dubbed HARP to analyze radio waves to help it determine the best positions for the devices to optimize coverage. (See: AT&T Sings Song of Small Cells With HARP.)

Mansfield claims AT&T will deploy 40,000 small cells between now and the end of 2015. Light Reading will be keeping tabs on the operator's deployment and the man behind it between now and then. (See: Small Cells: Who's Buying?)

Next Page: Behrooz Parsay, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations at SpiderCloud

Behrooz Parsay, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations at SpiderCloud

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SpiderCloud Wireless has been vocal about its competitors' small cell "breakthroughs," as it claims to be at least 12 months ahead of the market.

What gives it the confidence to be the David to the wireless vendor Goliaths is the fact that it already has a dual-mode enterprise small cell that can support 4G LTE and UMTS 3G, and it has a named operator customer in Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD). (See: SpiderCloud's New Web: Dual-Mode 4G LTE and Vodafone Deploys SpiderCloud's Small Cells.)

He isn't the one doing the boasting, but the man who is largely responsible for SpiderCloud's head start and its ability to get an enterprise hooked up in a matter of weeks is Behrooz Parsay, SpiderCloud's Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations. He joined the company in 2010 and was responsible for evaluating and selecting its next-gen multi-mode portfolio.

According to SpiderCloud CMO Ronny Haraldsvik, Parsay was also responsible for engineering the company's new 310 radio node, including the single system on a chip, dual-band flexibility for 3G, and LTE or dual-band LTE.

"Much as Aruba and BelAir did for WiFi, SpiderCloud helped refine the segment, and continue to offer quite a distinct vision," says Rupert Baines of consultancy Real Wireless, adding that Haraldsvik should also make the list for his unparalleled energy, his history of being in the right place at the right time with past jobs at Flarion and BelAir, and his charismatic cheerleading of the sector.

SpiderCloud, Haraldsvik, and Parsay, will all be ones to keep an eye on as its larger competitors start to make more noise and encroach on its space in the enterprise.

Next Page: Dr. Alan Law, Vodafone Group’s New Technology Manager

Dr. Alan Law, Vodafone Group’s New Technology Manager

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As vice chair of Europe for the Small Cell Forum, Dr. Alan Law has been carrying the torch for small cells for years, and Rupert Baines of consultancy Real Wireless says he does a good job of communicating technical and commercial aspects of the market in a fluent way. He's been critical in emphasizing the importance of interoperability and standardization.

In his other job as new technology manager for Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD), Law has taken on the task of developing Vodafone's small cell strategy, which differs in each of the carrier's operating territories.

He's already made Vodafone a market leader with small cells for its 3G network, and is now turning his attention towards the rollout of LTE as well as figuring out how to improve mobile broadband service in rural areas. As part of its Project Spring plan to invest an extra £7 billion (US$11.11 billion) in its fixed and mobile broadband networks and support systems in the next few years, the carrier will be stepping up its involvement with small cells alongside LTE-Advanced and SON systems. (See: Vodafone to Revamp Top Tech Team and Vodafone Ups 'Project Spring' Capex to $11B+.)

"Vodafone has been the most progressive operator in terms of developing a 3G small cell technology proposition and then deploying it into the network," says Heavy Reading analyst Gabriel Brown. "Its work on femtocells and enterprise small cells, in particular, set it apart. The challenge now is repeat the process for LTE and, where appropriate, make progress in the pico/metro cell category."

Next Page: Iyad Tarazi, Sprint's VP of network development and engineering

Iyad Tarazi, Sprint's VP of network development and engineering

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Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S)'s heritage in small cells goes back to its 2G network, offering them to customers to improve voice coverage in the home. It now has more than 1 million CDMA small cells deployed, making it one of the largest residential femtocell operators.

"Most importantly is the way Sprint has captured the business benefits of femtocells in terms of churn reduction and customer life time value in its business planning: the way they link network performance to business goals is something other carriers should watch," says Rupert Baines of consultancy Real Wireless.

Sprint's VP of Network Development and Engineering Iyad Tarazi has led this charge, and he's now taking on the challenge of LTE picocells, but from the unique perspective of a CDMA-turned-LTE operator. (See: 4G Small Cells Step Out and Sprint Tees Up LTE Small Cells.)

It is deploying Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)'s lightRadio-branded metro cells in its LTE network, alongside Samsung Corp. small cells. The carrier is currently entrenched in deploying the devices in the enterprise and indoor spots such as train stations and big entertainment venues, and it's rumored to already be starting the deployment of a small-cell centric LTE network in some states in the US. Tarazi has said it will really begin focusing on the outdoor market with advanced interference capabilities next year. (See: Sprint Has Samsung 4G LTE Small Cells: Analyst, Sprint's First to Deploy Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio, and Sprint Taps Samsung for More LTE Small Cells.)

Check out the video below to hear from the man himself, speaking at CTIA in 2012, about what small cells mean to Sprint and its Network Vision.

Next Page: Ericsson's Head of Networks Johan Wibergh

Ericsson's Head of Networks Johan Wibergh

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Johan Wibergh is the man behind Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC)'s Radio Dot, which is the company's big move into the small cell space that's already gained the stamp of approval from operators such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless .

Wibergh took on the role of networks chief in 2008. He was initially reserved on the opportunity in 3G femtocells, but sang a different tune on the wider category of small cells. Last year, Ericsson predicted that each macro base station in urban areas will be supplemented by about three small cells by 2017. That amounts to around 2.25 million of them by 2017, so it's clear why it's making a big splash in the market now. (See Ericsson's Small-Cell Crystal Ball, Ericsson Names Networks Chief, and Ericsson's 3G Femto Issue.)

Ericsson, under Wibergh, introduced the Radio Dot system in September, claiming it will help operators tackle coverage in the tricky indoor market in a cost-effective manner. Radio Dot is a big departure for the company in the enterprise market. It filed 14 patents for the system, which supports multiple cellular standards to mimic a macro cell housed in a compact, sleek design. Wibergh claims it reduces cost by 70% compared to a traditional distributed antenna system (DAS). (See: Ericsson Boasts Small Cell Breakthrough and Ericsson's Radio Dot Receives Mixed Reception.)

The system is set to begin trials in the second quarter of next year, so it won't be put to the test until then, but it bears watching as Ericsson's approach to small cells -- emphasizing the RAN as a whole -- differs from most of its competitors.

The networks chief told Light Reading recently that Radio Dot will take a huge portion of the in-building market in the US, promising it would go mainstream after it begins deploying it in the second half of 2014. "We have had very strong feedback from customers and analysts that this is a great solution," Wibergh said at the time. "A lot want it now."

Next Page: Others to keep an eye on

Others to keep an eye on:

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