NSN Intros LTE Mini Base StationNSN Intros LTE Mini Base Station

NSN introduces one-box LTE micro, pico basestations offering full macro capacity and functionality.

October 16, 2013

2 Min Read

ESPOO, Finland -- Nokia Solutions and Networks is introducing new Flexi Zone LTE microcell and picocell base stations that not only are the smallest but also the industry’s only small cell solution with the same features and capacity as macro base stations. This is critical for integration into high-capacity Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets). To complement the base stations, NSN is enhancing its expert Services for HetNets with the use of a new multi-layer hot spot analysis and planning tool to help operators match their network deployments to business objectives.

Daryl Schoolar, principal analyst for Network Infrastructure at Ovum notes: “One of the reasons for reality of small cell uptake not matching early overhyped expectations can be attributed to the fact that maturity of the product offerings had not met operator expectations. Software and feature parity between macro and micro/pico cells is one of the critical steps needed in the small cell market maturation. It will help create tighter integration between the two network layers, which can lead to improved HetNet performance. Along with integration, mobile operators need to have a strategy with how to manage their small cell networks as they scale and traffic hotspots expand.”

Packing up to 5W of output power in an install-anywhere 5 kg/5 liter box, NSN’s new all-in-one base stations will be available in early 2014. They are considerably smaller and lighter than existing microcell and picocell units, enabling them to be mounted closer to the center of traffic hot spots and robust enough to be deployed both outdoors and in public indoor locations. The base stations also feature a built-in GPS module and 1588v2 synchronization, avoiding the need for any extra units, further simplifying and speeding deployment.

Their macro-level processing power comes from an innovative custom System on a Chip that allows the new base stations to run the same software as NSN’s macro base stations. This makes it easy to integrate them into complex HetNets and drastically simplifies software upgrades across the network so that the same features are available everywhere at the same time. Operators will benefit from all the macrocell features, such as easy software upgrade to LTE-Advanced, full support of NSN’s NetAct Operations Support System (OSS), intelligent Self-Organizing Networks (iSON) automation as well as the industry-acclaimed Smart Scheduler* and interference mitigation for superior subscriber performance in dense urban areas.

Nokia Networks

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