Densifying the networks with small cells is a key part to making 5G a reality
Network densification has been used in 4G LTE for a while. As the 3GPP standards committee meets in Busan, South Korea this week, let’s take a look at some recent network densification efforts in 5G.
Networks need to be made more dense or just extended in areas with high concentration of mobile users, such as urban areas and large public venues. As with all 5G, the tech industry anticipates explosive growth of applications, some of which will require massive bandwidth. 5G network densification has become a priority in both fixed and mobile wireless for network operators.
One method of network densification is to use the heterogenous networks or hetnets, which consist, among other iterations, of an army of small cells precisely placed to extend existing networks so they can provide enough coverage for more devices and using millimeter wave spectrum, which need the extra handoffs to occur physically closer to each other. A good explanation can be found on a 3GPP blog.
C-RAN (cloud or centralized radio access networks) is another route that supposedly avoids any interference that having so many small cells so close by virtualizing the radios near the users into one cell not multiple cells. CommScope provides a good basic explanation of C-RAN in small cells. Centralized RAN also enables operators to save money in several ways.
The Small Cell Forum, a carrier-led organization also having an event this week in London, says two work streams are helping het/nets become viable. The forum points to use cases for het/net and 5G championed by two operators:
- Deploying hyperdense networks, championed by AT&T, Jio
- Enabling digitized enterprise, championed by Orange, Vodafone
Not a 5G trial but worth mentioning is Sprint’s deployment of 200,000 Sprint Magic Boxes to consumers and businesses in more than 200 cities. Sprint says it is one of the largest small cell deployments in the U.S. The Magic Box is manufactured by Airspan, which will probably pick up Qualcomm’s 5G NR chip next year when it launches.
Here’s a short list of various densification efforts in no particular order:
- AT&T’s Project AirGig Trials: The famous “puck” brings ultra-fast Internet over power lines
- China Mobile‘s base stations trials.
- Samsung’s multidevice trial at a stadium in Japan.
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