The 3 Major Trends for

Outdoor Cell Sites in 2016

Ben Cardwell, Senior Vice President, CommScope Mobility Solutions, CommScope

The wireless industry is currently in the middle of the 4G technology cycle. The major LTE coverage builds in
first-mover markets are largely done, and we are now in the phase of adding capacity to those networks.
The industry is also in the midst of the evolving to the next generation of virtualized wireless networks. The 5G
vision is blurry, but there are three primary trends for the evolution of the outdoor radio access network (RAN):
densification, virtualization and optimization.

Densification

Virtualization

A recent report predicts that total monthly mobile data traffic

will increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 45
percent from 2015-2021. The ever-pressing need for wireless
operators to add capacity to their networks to meet this
demand will continue over this span. Small
cell deployments were expected to be
the leading network densification tool.
However, operators continue to face some
serious challenges when deploying small
cells outdoors, namely site acquisition,
power and backhaul. Getting access and
permits to tenable sites, and delivering power
and backhaul to them, can be roadblocks. And the cost
factors can be prohibitive depending on these variables
and the number of users that can be served by them.

The long-term goal of many network operators is to evolve to

Cloud RAN architecture. Cloud RAN moves the baseband
processor into the core network from the cell site. A network
that is completely run in the cloud would have equipment
placed centrally in a big data center with digital to RF
converters located at the edge. To accomplish this, you need
dedicated fiber links with very low latency and very high
capacity from every cell site to the central core.
Cloud RAN architecture will improve network performance
with capacity that can be optimized dynamically. We are
already seeing the benefits of this model inbuilding where centralized capacity can be
adjusted dynamically to meet actual usage.
For example, when all employees gather in
a large auditorium in a large office building,
Cloud RAN architecture enable capacity to be
re-allocated automatically to these areas.

Some operators have devised creative solutions, such

as Vodafone when it collaborated with advertising giant
JCDecaux to put small cells in bus shelters in Amsterdamii. But I
expect more macro network solutions to be deployed in 2016
than small cells. A leading way to add capacity in the macro
network is via sector splitting. Taking a three sector site and
turning it into six sectors basically doubles the capacity. Sector
splitting tends to be more cost-effective and I expect to see
more focus on such macro network solutions this year.

The next phase of Cloud RAN will be outdoors. This

evolution will not be completed in 2016, but some operators
are making significant progress. I expect to see more cell sites
with baseband processing moved into centralized locations. Of
course, the challenges of site acquisition, power and backhaul
apply to these centralized sites, as well.

Optimization
In the midst of this Cloud RAN evolution, one rule still applies.
Network operators need to squeeze every bit of capacity out
of their existing networks as possible. Optimization is like what
you might do to make your car more energy efficient.
You take the excess weight out of the trunk, use
better gasoline, drive on good tires and other
measures. When it comes to optimizing the
RAN, its largely about having the best signal to
noise ratio. Simplistically, you want the desired
signals to be really loud and everything else to
be really quiet. In LTE networks, the most significant
source of interference is passive intermodulation (PIM). PIM
can result in significantly degraded voice quality, dropped
calls and reduced data throughput. The effects of PIM can
be drastic just a one decibel drop in uplink sensitivity due
to PIM can shrink the wireless coverage area by more than
10 percent. Network operators continue to address PIM in all
phases of network deployment. They are even raising their key
performance indicators to further decrease its impact on their
networks.
The next year will be an interesting one for the wireless industry.
On the one hand, we are in a lull between the major roll-outs of
LTE and future deployment of 5G. But the seedlings of what will
ultimately make 5G are appearing now. More sites, with more
virtualization and a continued emphasis on optimization, will
undergird the wireless networks of tomorrow. A denser, more
nimble and more efficient network is the goal. 2016 will be an
important significant milestone on that journey.
i

Ericsson Mobility Report, November 2015

Ben Cardwell is the senior vice president

and segment leader of CommScope
Mobility Solutions at CommScope, a
global leader in infrastructure solutions
for communications networks. His group
is responsible for the strategy and
development of wireless infrastructure
solutions including product lines such
as coaxial and fiber cable, antennas
and filters, amplifiers and repeaters,
distributed antenna systems and
small cells, microwave backhaul and
consulting and construction services. Ben graduated from
Davidson College in North Carolina with a bachelor of
science degree in physics. He holds an MBA from Kellogg
Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) helps

companies around the world design, build and

manage their wired and wireless networks. Our
network infrastructure solutions help customers
increase bandwidth; maximize existing capacity;
improve network performance and availability;
increase energy efficiency; and simplify technology
migration. You will find our solutions in the largest
buildings, venues and outdoor spaces; in data
centers and buildings of all shapes, sizes and
complexity; at wireless cell sites and in cable
headends; and in airports, trains, and tunnels. Vital
networks around the world run on CommScope
solutions.

http://www.ericsson.com/res/docs/2015/mobility-report/ericsson-mobilityreport-nov-2015.pdf

Small cell expanding with Vodafone, JCDecaux deal,

RCR Wireless, December 22, 2014

ii

http://www.rcrwireless.com/20141222/hetnet-news/small-cell-expandingvodafone-jcdecaux-deal-tag17

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CO-109928-EN (12/15)