2008
Watching streaming videos, uploading pictures and using cloud-based services will make high demands on mobile networks. At the same time more devices will be connected. Heterogeneous Networks will play an important role to create an optimal customer experience, especially in crowded areas.
Monthly PetaBytes (10 15 bytes)
4,000
Heterogeneous Network involves a mix of radio technologies and cell types working together seamlessly.
2015
Macro base station
Powerful base stations, often installed on rooftops, cover large areas and many users.
This is the backbone in the
Heterogeneous Network solution.
2014
3,000
DATA:
MOBILE PCs/
TABLETS
Wireless transmission
Small, powerful transmission link between base stations and the rest of the network.
2,000
2012
2013
Indoor Pico base station
Takes over the connection when moving indoor. 70% of traffic is generated indoors.
1,000
2011 DATA:
MOBILE
HANDHELD
2009
2010
VOICE
Wi-Fi
Used as a complement in small indoor/outdoor hotspots.
Micro base station
A small base station with full features that can be used to cover indoors and outdoor crowded areas.
In 2016 there will be more than 8 billion mobile subscriptions in the world.
Mobile Broadband subscriptions expected to reach close to 5 billion by end of 2016.
Overall mobile data traffic is expected to grow 10-fold by end of 2016.
Ericsson envisions that there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020.
TO A HIGH-QUALITY
MOBILE USER EXPERIENCE
A Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet) based on a single vendor 3GPP-standardized and coordinated radio network with integrated Wi-Fi, advanced traffic management and high-performance backhaul, will help to deliver a consistent, high-quality and seamless mobile broadband experience.
1
Improve existing macro cells – by enhancing macro cells with more spectrum, advanced antennae, increased order of diversity on the receiver and/or the transmitter, and baseband processing capacity within and between nodes. Continued evolution of HSPA and LTE technology will drive macro network efficiency through specialized features, such as higher-order modulation, higher sectorization, and multi-carrier and multi-antenna solutions, as well as spectrum refarming, using hybrid radio solutions. Increasing capacity and data rates in this way does not require new sites.
Densify the macro network – the capacity and data rates achieved by enhancing the macro network alone, will eventually be insufficient to meet demand. The targeted addition of cells strategically located can improve capacity. This approach keeps the total number of sites relatively low, while network performance becomes less sensitive to traffic location. A simple way to densify a network could be a cell-split, which enables a site from transitioning to a six-sector site from a three,sector site. These strategic cells could use macro equipment, or even micro equipment.
2
Add small cells – by complementing macro cells with small cells and dedicated indoor solutions, based on the 3GPP standard. This approach can include the use of micro cells, pico cells or low-power remote radio units (RRUs), as well as
Wi-Fi. It delivers high per-user capacity and rate coverage in areas covered by the small cells, with the potential to improve performance in the macro network by offloading traffic generated in hotspots. The degree of integration that can be achieved throughout the Heterogeneous Network will determine the overall network performance.
3
TO A HIGH-QUALITY MOBILE
USER EXPERIENCE
In a Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet), the coordination between macro cells and small cells has a positive impact on the performance of the radio network, and consequently on the overall user experience.
Macro base station
Macro for downlink, micro for uplink
In the imbalance area, the downlink signal from the macro is the strongest, because it transmits at a much higher power, whereas the uplink signal from the pico node is much stronger, because it is closer. This provides the user with significantly higher uplink speeds than would be possible with macro coverage alone.
Small cell base station
Coordination between the macro and small cells enables close cooperation on cell selection in areas of signal-strength imbalance.