107 HetNet SON Overview

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107.07.01
HetNet and SON
Overview
June 2016
Solving the HetNet puzzle

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SMALL CELL FORUM
RELEASE 7.0 scf.io
Small Cell Forum accelerates small cell adoption to drive the

wide-scale adoption of small cells and accelerate the delivery of
integrated HetNets.
We are not a standards organization but partner with organizations that inform
and determine standards development. We are a carrier-led organization. This
means our operator members establish requirements that drive the activities
and outputs of our technical groups.
We have driven the standardization of key elements of small cell technology

including Iuh, FAPI/SCAPI, SON, the small cell services API, TR‑069 evolution
and the enhancement of the X2 interface.
Today our members are driving solutions that include small cell/Wi-Fi
integration, SON evolution, virtualization of the small cell layer, driving mass
adoption via multi-operator neutral host, ensuring a common approach to
service APIs to drive commercialisation and the integration of small cells into
5G standards evolution.
The Small Cell Forum Release Program has now established business cases and
market drivers for all the main use cases. This document is part of
Release 7: HetNet and SON.
Small Cell Forum defines HetNet as a ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

multi-domain, multi-spectrum, multi-operator and multi-vendor. It must
be able to automate the reconfiguration of its operation to deliver assured
service quality across the entire network, and flexible enough to accommodate
changing user needs, business goals and subscriber behaviors.’
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Scope
This overview document is a guide to the latest thinking from Small Cell Forum about
small cell HetNets and SON. It summarizes what’s on offer and then points to the
appropriate content.
Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Issue date: 19 June 2016
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Executive summary
Context
Small cells are now a mainstream element of mobile operators’ network deployments.
Over 14m have been deployed to date and the latest figures from Mobile Experts
indicate that revenues from small cell equipment will reach $6bn by 2020.
Getting an entirely new and often disruptive technology to critical mass is a significant
achievement, in which the Small Cell Forum’s work groups and Release program have
played a major role, driving simplified and standardized ways to deploy and boosting
operator confidence, while continually enhancing the platform to meet changing
commercial needs.
The achievement of the past few years is about a lot more than numbers, however.
Small cells are not just numerous, but mission critical, in operators’ plans to deploy
HetNets between now and 2020. The deployment of HetNets has become urgent and
essential to many MNOs and small cells are at the heart of this.
Small Cell Forum defines the HetNet as ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

multi-domain, multi-spectrum, multi-operator and multi-vendor. It must be able to
automate the reconfiguration of its operation to deliver assured service quality across
the entire network, and flexible enough to accommodate changing user needs,
business goals and subscriber behaviours.’
This encapsulates the way that the role of small cells has evolved. It has expanded
from a mainly residential play to a key enabler of all kinds of dense networks, in
enterprise, urban and rural environments – Mobile Experts shows a 78% growth in
non-residential shipments in the year to Q116. And small cells have moved from being
a relatively niche technology to fill gaps in coverage and capacity, to the central
enabler of the emerging HetNet, and of 5G.
This is the context for the publication of Small Cell Forum’s Release 7, which provides
a detailed technical and commercial blueprint for deploying HetNet and SON self-
optimizing network (SON) and for laying the groundwork for 5G.
Release 7 overview
Release 7’s publication is extremely timely. Mobile operators round the world, faced
with unprecedented levels of data usage and an urgent need to develop new revenue
streams, are embarking on major projects to densify their LTE networks. The activity
is essential to their commercial growth or survival:
• to increase capacity in areas of high usage by a massive amount while

reducing the cost of delivering that capacity;
• to support business critical enterprise communications, especially indoors;
• to enable new revenue-generating services which rely on small cells, such as
context-aware applications; cloud services based on Mobile Edge Computing;
Internet of Things networks; targeted delivery of high bandwidth, high QoS
content like 4K video.
All these opportunities rely on an increasingly dense network, and the technologies
which will enable that density are themselves the stepping stones to 5G –

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virtualization, MEC, context awareness, carrier aggregation and new frequency bands,
for instance.
Release 7, like its predecessors, combines practical commercial and deployment

guides with technical architectures. In this way, it provides a handbook for
deployment, not based on theory or crystal ball-gazing, but on commercial realities
and the requirements of operators. It details technical and commercial best practice
and results in a unified set of guidelines, interfaces and specifications to give
operators confidence that they are rolling out HetNets in an efficient, interoperable
and future-proofed way.
Market and deployments
On the commercial side, the Release includes a detailed analysis of the current state
of the market together with an exclusive survey of mobile operators’ drivers to adopt
HetNet and SON.
A broad collection of deployment case studies helps to disseminate best practice and
real world experiences to ease the path for others. For instance, commercial
deployments today already use SON to automate the integration of small cells into
HetNets. We provide a number of case study deployment stories from our members
showing that their benefits to cost and performance are already being achieved.
The Release also contains an easy deployment guide, and practical support in key
areas such as backhaul, as well as a document dedicated to the regulatory aspects of
HetNet, which are a significant issue in many parts of the world.
HetNet framework and technologies
At the heart of the Release is the Integrated HetNet architecture framework. This
supports deployable networks now, while additional technologies and processes can be
included as they evolve, ensuring that today’s HetNets will enable smooth migration to
5G standards, whatever precise specifications are defined in the coming years.
This framework, and the other technical documents in Release 7, are all summarized
in this overview. Important components are:
Architecture framework for HetNet and SON [SCF172] [1]
From an architecture perspective, the scope of the HetNet can be viewed as

encompassing conventional macro RAN functions, RAN transport capability, small cells
and Wi-Fi functionality, that are increasingly being virtualized and delivered in an
operational environment where span of control includes data center resources
associated with compute, networking and storage.
In this framework, SON is an essential enable to order-of-magnitude network

densification with small cells. Self-configuration or ‘plug and play’ reduces time and
cost of deployment, while self -optimization then ensures the network auto-tunes itself
for maximum efficiency as conditions change. Traffic demand, user movements and
service mix will all evolve over time, and the network needs to adapt to keep pace.
These enhanced SON capabilities will therefore need to take into account the evolving
user needs, business goals and subscriber behaviours.
Importantly, functions associated with HetNet operations and management take

earlier SON capability that may have only been targeted at a single domain and/or

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technology, and expand it to deliver automated service quality management across
the entire HetNet.
License-exempt spectrum:
Over the past two years, additional new and exciting use cases for the license exempt
band have emerged and matured. These new use cases go beyond simple data
connectivity, and support enterprise functions such as unified communications, while
also enabling dense capacity to be delivered more cost-effectively. Release 7
documents include:
Small cells and license exempt spectrum [SCF097] [2] – a comparison between
Carrier Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Calling, LTE-LAA and LWA.
LAA and small cells [SCF094] [3] - describes the key synergies between small cells
and LTE-LAA.
The Future of voice: Wi-Fi and licensed calling [SCF164] [4] - pros and cons of
voice services based on licensed small cells, and on Wi-Fi.
Integrated small cell Wi-Fi, with WBA [SCF089] [5] - the adoption of integrated
networks based on next generation hotspot (NGH) Wi-Fi and small cell technologies
and standards.
Trusted WLAN architecture [SCF178] [6] recommendations for integrated small

cell Wi-Fi (with the WBA).
Multi-operator small cells:
Multi-operator small cells and neutral host platforms are considered essential for many
dense HetNets, for practical reasons (avoiding multiple roll-outs in one area) and to
support new service providers. Release 7 includes:
Market drivers for multi-operator small cells [SCF017] [7] – based on an

exclusive survey of MNOs’ plans and attitudes, with recommendations to accelerate
multi-operator adoption
Technologies for multi-operator small cells [SCF069] [8]
Regulatory issues for multi-operator small cells [SCF019] [9]
Building an ecosystem
Technologies do not live in a vacuum and success depends on building a rich

ecosystem around the frameworks. Operators need to be able to mix and match their
technology suppliers to select best-in-class performance and drive innovation.
The Forum is working with industry partners to ensure multivendor interoperability

through contribution to standards and PlugFest inter-operability testing.
Key documents in Release 7 include:
Value of Small Cell Forum Plugfests [SCF085] [10] – an overview of the process
and its contribution to the small cell roadmap

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SON tests for Plugfest 2016 [SCF177] [11] – a full description of the tests at the
fourth Small Cell LTE Plugfest in Naples
Another important element of the ecosystem, especially as IT services converge with

the network, revolves around open APIs to enable interoperability and new services.
In Release 7, the key documents are:
SON API [SCF083] [12] - defines SON functionalities for small cells, based on high-
level requirements that are independent of the particular SON architecture.
X2 Interoperability [SCF059] [13] – cellular/Wi-Fi convergence
5G vision
As we go through the process of commercializing today’s standards based equipment,

we gain insight into how it can be done better next time. The Forum wants 5G
standards to be business-ready from the get go, so the active work program
concentrates on defining practical approaches for the next generation HetNets of
2020.
To enrich this work, the Forum has agreed two work streams, which will provide the
critical enablers for HetNets now and in the future, in two of the most promising use
cases for HetNet and 5G. Each is championed by two operators and two vendors. The
two streams are:
• Urban Densification Deployment, championed by AT&T, Jio

• Enterprise Connectivity and Service Delivery, championed by Orange,
Vodafone
Small Cell Forum has a critical role to play not just in defining the framework for
today’s dense HetNet, but in ensuring this is also a foundation for 5G. This involves
formulating a clear vision of what the Forum believes 5G will be, based on the
contributions of its membership and cooperation with other pivotal 5G organizations
such as ETSI, 5G Americas and the GSMA.
That vision centers on enabling technologies at every layer of the network from
physical access to APIs and services. In each layer, the Forum’s work program will
identify key specifications and market requirements and feed them into its framework
and into relevant standards bodies.
Future-proofing current systems so that operators can migrate to 5G at their own pace
emerged, in a recent MNO survey, as the most important priority for HetNet
deployment, along with cost. This is the purpose of the Forum’s HetNet 2020 Vision –
to enable operators to start benefiting from new approaches, such as virtualization,
now, with confidence that they will not have to start all over again to move to 5G.
This is the critical contribution of Release 7 and all the work which will build on that to
flesh out the HetNet 2020 roadmap. This work would not be done without significant
investment of time and resources by members, and for operators and vendors, it is
more critical than ever to be part of those efforts. Small cells are at the heart of the
HetNet and of 5G, so Small Cell Forum membership is the essential way to have a real
influence on how 5G develops.

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Figure A Small Cell Forum’s HetNet and SON documents

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Contents
1. Introduction .....................................................................1
2. State of the market 2016..................................................3
3. Case study deployment stories .........................................5
4. Market analysis and business case ...................................7
5. Network architectures ....................................................10
6. Deployment ....................................................................12
6.1 Summary of the main SON features in use today................... 13
6.1.1 Self-configuration .............................................................. 13
6.1.2 Self-optimisation ............................................................... 13
6.1.3 Self-healing ...................................................................... 13
7. License exempt spectrum ...............................................14
8. Multi-operator small cells ...............................................16
9. Building an ecosystem around small cell technologies ...18
9.1 PlugFests for interoperability ............................................... 18
9.2 SON tests for Plugfest 2016 ................................................ 19
9.3 SON API ........................................................................... 19
9.4 X2 Interoperability............................................................. 19
9.5 HetNet services ................................................................. 19
10. Regulatory aspects .........................................................20
11. Vision for the future 2020 5G HetNet .............................21
11.1 Physical access layer .......................................................... 23
11.2 Enablers of ultra-dense HetNet – network and management ... 23
11.2.1 APIs and applications ......................................................... 25
11.3 Business models ................................................................ 25
12. Conclusions ....................................................................26
References ................................................................................27
Tables
Table 1–1 Key elements of the HetNet, now and in 5G, mapped to relevant
Release topics ................................................................................ 2
Table 4–1 Application drivers for HetNet development ........................................ 8
Figures
Figure 2–1 Small cells revenue forecast, June 2016 ............................................ 3
Figure 3–1 SON deployment stories .................................................................. 6

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Figure 4–1 Percentage of MNOs placing each HetNet use case into their top three
in terms of potential to deliver additional revenue within 12 months of
deployment. ................................................................................... 8
Figure 5–1 Target integrated HetNet architecture ..............................................10
Figure 5–2 Multi-operator small cell-based shared active DAS architectures ..........11
Figure 9–1 Role of Plugfests in standards and product development and testing ....18
Figure 11–1 Small Cell Forum HetNet 2020 vision ................................................22
Figure 11–2 Enablers of ultra-dense HetNet ........................................................23
Figure 11–3 Small Cell Forum’s target integrated HetNet architecture ....................24

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1. Introduction
Operators are preparing to transform their networks more radically than ever before,
in order to respond to the rising demands of mobile data users, and to enable new
revenue streams such as cloud services and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The
definition of the HetNet is starting now and will continue to evolve well into the 5G
era, with small cells at its heart.
This makes Small Cell Forum’s Release 7, which focuses on HetNet and SON, perhaps
its most important ever. While early small cells, and Releases, addressed essential
issues of improved coverage and targeted capacity, in 2016 the small cell has become
mission critical for many operators because it underpins most of the defining elements
of the HetNet, from dense capacity, to flexible resource allocation, to massive
scalability.
The Forum’s definition of a HetNet is of a ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

multi-domain, multi-spectrum, multi-operator and multi-vendor. It must be able to
automate the reconfiguration of its operation to deliver assured service quality across
the entire network, and flexible enough to accommodate changing user needs,
business goals and subscriber behaviors.’
This definition is applicable to the HetNets evolving in the 4G era and to those of the
future. In that context, the key requirement for 5G – whatever its precise technology
components – is a core framework, to ensure that there is interoperability at every
layer of the multi-x network, so that innovation in technology and business cases can
continue, but without the danger of fragmentation or technology dead ends.
The Release, and the Forum’s rich 2016 work program, will lead the industry in
developing that framework, and defining a dense HetNet based on operator
requirements, and ensuring it is deployable and future-proof.
The latter point is the other reason why this is such an important Release. Not only is
it addressing the needs of the current HetNet, but it will provide stepping stones
towards 5G. Because small cells will be the foundation for HetNet and 5G, so the
Forum has a central role to play in ensuring that early platforms are flexible enough to
be evolved to support any future 5G standards.
This is vital because many operators have started planning for their next generation
networks well before the 5G standards are finalized. To support the business
objectives and challenges of operators, 5G will have to be an evolving platform, not a
big bang upgrade sometime after 2020.
Operators need to introduce new capabilities right now. They cannot wait for 2020 to
improve their efficiency, cost-effectiveness and flexibility in delivering huge quantities
of data; or to start launching differentiated services harnessing rich media, 4K video,
context awareness, and delivery to multiple screens from cars to spectacles.
But they also need to be sure that these new platforms can migrate smoothly to 5G,
whatever the details of its specifications turn out to be. Some basic concepts of the
new network will be introduced with LTE-Advanced and will be enhanced in 5G. Many
of these are enabled by small cells, and all of them will affect the way the small cell
platform matures, so they are all significant in the Forum’s work program and in this
Release.

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Table 1–1 summarizes these key elements of the HetNet as it is emerging in 2016,
and how those elements can be expected to evolve in 5G, based on current R&D
projects around the world; operators’ commercial requirements; and the early work
being done by standards bodies, operators, vendors and academic institutions. Each
element relates to one of the topics covered by the Release 7 documents (see
column 4). More detail is then provided on each topic within this overview document.
Core HetNet Current small cell Expected 5G Release document

element developments evolution
Radio network LTE-A Pro, advanced 3GPP Rel 15/16 Multiple radio
RRM architecture, dynamic technologies
RRM, evolved air Network
interfaces architectures
Integrated HetNet
architecture
Densification Ease of deployment Hyper-density (100s Deployment and

at mass scale esp of cells per square backhaul [SCFxxx]
indoors kilometer)
Virtualization Virtualized small cell Dense Cloud-RAN, Virtualized RAN
gateways and ‘$100 cell site’,
clusters, NFV network slicing,
dynamic virtualized
cells
Automation SON, orchestration of Common SON engine Automation and SON
virtual network for all network Management and
functions technologies, Cloud- orchestration
SON, Cognitive SON
Multiple spectrum Carrier aggregation High frequency License exempt
bands inc unlicensed, LTE in spectrum, dynamic spectrum
5 GHz, shared spectrum allocation Regulatory aspects
spectrum
Targeted allocation of Network on demand Network slicing, huge Virtualized RAN
capacity numbers of virtual
providers
Multi-operator MOCN, MORAN, Dynamic SCaaS, Multi-operator small
support neutral host network slicing cells
IoT services NB-IoT, Dedicated network
layer or slice for IoT
Personalization Location and Hyperlocal context HetNet services
presence awareness awareness based on
small cells and MEC
Distributed IT and Mobile Edge Evolved MEC, flat HetNet Services
cloud services Computing, open distributed cloud
platform APIs (FDC)
Open interfaces FAPI, nFAPI, SON API 5G APIs Plugfests
SON API [SCF083]
[12]
X2 Interoperability
[SCF059] [13]
Open interfaces for
interoperability
Table 1–1 Key elements of the HetNet, now and in 5G, mapped to relevant Release topics

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2. State of the market 2016
Small cells are now shipping in volume to the mainstream market, proving that the
technology has come of age and is scaling rapidly. The industry is no longer focussed
on just proving that small cells work, our current challenge is scalability. This is
addressed by considering their role in the wider HetNet and the role of SON in
automating their deployment and integration.
Small cell market status [SCF050] [14]
Latest market statistics: 14 million small cells shipped to date; 78% growth in non-
residential in year to Q116; revenues will hit $6bn in 2020 (Mobile Experts)
• Overall small cell revenue growth: 41% CAGR through 2020

• Enterprise small cell revenue growth: 61% through 2020
• Urban small cell revenue growth: 25% through 2020
These market status headline statistics are from a regular Mobile Experts report
commissioned by the Small Cell Forum tracking small cell market development.
The recent uptick in enterprise small cell shipments indicates the technology has
‘crossed the chasm’ to mainstream adoption
Figure 2–1 Small cells revenue forecast, June 2016
Source: Mobile Experts
The latest figures show the total small cell market reaching some 14 million units with
around 3 million units shipped in 2015 alone. Significantly, urban and business sales
dominated small cell revenues in the year, accounting for 65 percent of the total as
the market topped $1 billion for the first time. Forecasts show that this figure is set to
reach $2.4 billion in 2016.
The figures also show that in 2015, Enterprise small cell shipments reached 400,000,
more than doubling in the year, while the urban market grew nearly four-fold in 2015.
In fact, Mobile Experts predicts that the rise of the Enterprise will continue in 2016,
with forecasted shipment growth of 270 per cent in 2016. In fact, the latest report

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shows a 78% growth in non-residential shipments from 1Q2015 to 1Q2016. This
maturation of the enterprise market is also reflected in the commercial deployments
reported by SCF operator and vendor members. For example, China Mobile has bought
45,000 nanocells so far, with a tender for 1 million units coming toward the end of
2016.
See also Crossing the chasm: small cells industry 2015.

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3. Case study deployment stories
Small cell HetNets and SON are already being deployed today. Our collection of
deployment stories provide real world testaments of how these technologies are
saving time and money for operators as well as enhancing the experience of end
users. A selection available at the time of writing is shown below. Readers are
encouraged to check our website as many more are being added on a regular basis.
Please get in touch if you have a story you’d like to share.

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Figure 3–1 SON deployment stories
See more at: http://www.smallcellforum.org/resources/deployment-stories/

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4. Market analysis and business case
Demands on the network are increasing all the time as operators look well beyond
their commercial roots. Their challenge for 2020, if they are to reap healthy profits
from their network investments, is to undergo digital transformation, which involves
branching out from the homogeneous business model, as well as the homogeneous
networks, of the past. They will become IT platforms, cloud providers, wholesalers and
vertical market specialists as well as MNOs, and will be handling a huge diversity of
devices with different demands on the network. All this will require dramatic change to
their processes, partnerships, management systems and, of course, their networks.
The Small Cell Forum now defines the HetNet as a ‘multi-x environment – multi-
technology, multi-domain, multi-spectrum, multi-operator and multi-vendor. It must
be able to automate the reconfiguration of its operation to deliver assured service
quality across the entire network, and flexible enough to accommodate changing user
needs, business goals and subscriber behaviours.’
In a survey of 72 Tier 1 and 2 MNOs worldwide, conducted by Rethink Technology

Research in the first quarter of 2016, two-thirds of respondents said that a HetNet
deployment would be either ‘critical’ or ‘very important’ to achieving their business
objectives in 2020. In their definition of the key elements of that HetNet, most of the
most significant enablers were at the heart of the Small Cell Forum’s current work
program and its new Integrated HetNet Architecture. 1 These include support for
multiple radios, spectrum bands and domains, as well as self-organizing networks
(SON), virtualization, integrated management and support for the IT cloud and mobile
edge environments.
According to the survey, the key drivers for investing in these new HetNets (and in
time, 5G), will expand between 2016 and 2020. For the short term (2016-2018), the
use cases which were most commonly cited by the respondents are dominated by the
enterprise (a top three priority for 36%). This was followed by various use cases
driven by consumer video, including the rise of multiscreen viewing and multi-play
bundles.
By 2020, the use cases for the HetNet are expected to be more diverse and driving
brand new revenue streams. For incremental revenues, there will be a shift to
connected ‘things’ as well as people, to wholesale models and to a new generation of
video-based services and user experiences.
1
Small Cell Forum, ‘Integrated HetNet Architecture Framework’, May 2016

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40
35
30
% of MNOs
25
20
15
10
5
0
2016 2020
Figure 4–1 Percentage of MNOs placing each HetNet use case into their top three in terms of
potential to deliver additional revenue within 12 months of deployment.
Source: Rethink Technology Research operator survey Q116.
Among some of the most prominent specific application drivers, by environment, are:
2016-18 2020
Consumer Multiplay and multiscreen Video-driven user experiences
video – e.g., virtual reality gaming
Mobile multicast services
Enterprise High quality voice and data for IoT and Industrial Internet
mobile-first New mobile cloud services for
VoLTE and ViLTE productivity and customers
MEC applications e.g., local Big data analytics
PBX integration On-demand capacity for
enterprises
Urban and Rural (outdoor) Dense targeted capacity esp Fully integrated smart
for video transport and city services
Full coverage for remote New interfaces to urban
communities and M2M services – e.g., virtual reality
Smart city applications Big data analytics
Temporary or moving D2D applications
networks – e.g., public safety
Wholesale Flexible allocation of Network slicing to enable

bandwidth to MVNOs large numbers of specialized
Wi-Fi/cellular managed providers – e.g., in IoT
services
Table 4–1 Application drivers for HetNet development

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While operators have a clear view of the potential of HetNets of various kinds to
address their key business drivers, there are, of course, challenges to achieving their
goals. The Small Cell Forum’s work program has recognized and is addressing these
key challenges:
Multi-vendor interoperability
HetNet SON parameter coordination for interoperability and deployment cost reduction
for both C-SON and D-SON is still maturing, some difficult issues remain to be solved
and some interfaces implementations are fragmented.
SON evolution
SON features are evolving with each 3GPP release and SON API must evolve and
adapt as SON becomes increasingly a tool for end-to-end automation.
SON benchmarking
Functional and performance expectations for SON features in the HetNet are not well
defined.
Backhaul SON
Backhaul evolution including self-backhaul is a key component of the HetNet and small
cell deployment.
Deployment
Deployment of SON small cell solutions can have broad network implications. What are
the deployment and maintenance challenges?
HetNet capacity planning

Capacity planning in the HetNet is complex and directly impacts the role of Small Cells
in the HetNet.
NFV implications
NFV is impacting the deployment options and interfaces of the HetNet. What are the
implications of network virtualization on SON for small cells?
Unlicensed spectrum in the HetNet

New dimensions of the HetNet are gaining traction with Wi-Fi offloading and LAA as
primary examples. What are the driving use cases for coordinated network operation
with LTE? What are the technical challenges to co-exist in the HetNet?
Indoor location
E911 and Enterprise enterprise applications require indoor location technology. How
do small cells meet the requirements? How to ensure multivendor interoperability?
Energy savings
Leveraging SON for significant energy savings requires clear coverage and capacity
use cases in the HetNet.
Operational support implications

OSS systems need to evolve from siloed capabilities responsible for a single domain
into services that deliver automated service quality management across the entire
HetNet (see [SCF172] [1] for the way forward in addressing this challenge).
The Forum is committed to a program which puts building blocks in place to support
current market drivers, and to address challenges to deployment - but which are also
open and adaptable, so that operators can invest now in platforms which will later be
able to support unforeseen new use cases and 5G.

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5. Network architectures
Architecture Framework for HetNet and SON [SCF172] [1]
From an architecture perspective, the scope of the HetNet can be viewed as

encompassing conventional macro RAN functions, RAN transport capability, small cells
and Wi-Fi functionality that are increasingly being virtualized and delivered in an
operational environment where span of control now includes data center resources
associated with compute, networking and storage. Importantly, functions associated
with HetNet operations and management take earlier SON capability that may have
only been targeted at a single domain and/or technology, and expand it to deliver
automated service quality management across the entire HetNet. These enhanced
SON capabilities will therefore need to take into account the evolving user needs,
business goals and subscriber behaviours.
Leveraging concepts conceived by the TMForum for managing a composite service that
is comprised of multiple technologies, [SCF172] [1] introduces the forum’s HetNet
Architectural framework. This architecture, illustrated below, builds on a
transformation in operational support systems that is seeing such capabilities
transformed from vertically siloed systems into generalized real-time analytics
systems that are increasingly being used to support automated decision making in
terms of composite system optimization.
Figure 5–1 Target integrated HetNet architecture
Importantly, [SCF172] [1] describes how the HetNet/SON architecture enables mobile
operators to quickly introduce profitable new services to address consumer and
enterprise requirements. As a consequence, this integrated HetNet framework needs
to be able to support the new value chains being discussed in the definition of 5G
system requirements. Using APIs to expose actionable intelligence derived from
HetNet operation, the framework delivers critical business agility enablers so that
service providers are able to easily address new value propositions.

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Architectures for multi-operator small cells [SCF069] [8]
First published as part of the Forum’s Release 2 ‘Enterprise’, [SCF069] [8] discusses
the topic of multi-operator small cells, describing MOCN, GWCN and ‘equivalent PLMN’
approaches for sharing small cells as well as introducing Distributed Antenna Systems.
[SCF069] [8] now includes updated information on MORAN based sharing.
Furthermore, the DAS sections have been updated to reflect the increasing adoption of
active DAS systems for supporting multi-operator deployments, including options for
driving those systems using small cells.
Figure 5–2 Multi-operator small cell-based shared active DAS architectures
Finally, recognizing that licensed-exempt solutions have inherent characteristics that

lend themselves to multi-operator support, [SCF069] [8] introduces the topic of
shared WLAN infrastructure, illustrating how trusted and untrusted WLAN solutions
lend themselves to supporting multi-operator use cases.

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6. Deployment
As we transition from one-size-fits-all outdoor macro network to a dense multi-x

HetNet, the complexity of planning, installing and operating the network would
become intractable if it were not for automation using SON technology. The Role of
SON in HetNet deployment [SCF173] [15] describes how SON is revolutionising
processes for deploying small cells into HetNets. The paper is organised around
answering key questions set by our operator members, starting with:
1. What is SON and why is it so important for the deployment of small cell
HetNets?
Self-organising network technology automates the configuration and tuning of network

equipment settings. It makes networks easier to deploy and operate, and achieves
better performance than a fixed configuration would. The importance of these benefits
becomes obvious when we consider the scale and complexity of the dense HetNets
needed to meet growing consumer expectations for mobile connectivity – and the
price they’re prepared to pay for it.
Consumers and businesses now recognise indoor coverage as a ‘must have’, and their
operators are meeting this need with residential femtocells and enterprise small cell
networks. Deployments of this scale and cost constraints are only possible because
small cells are simple enough to be self-deployed by the consumers and IT services
teams themselves. Once plugged-in to power and backhaul, self-configuration SON
does the rest to get the small cell into an operation state. Once the radio is on, self-
optimisation SON fine tunes settings to adapt to local conditions. In the case of
malfunction, self-healing SON mitigates localised outages.
The simplicity of the user experience belies the sophistication of the underlying SON
features which ensure the newly deployed cells integrate seamlessly with existing
HetNets. In [SCF173] [15], we look under-the-bonnet at what those features are, and
how they benefit the deployment processes for different types of small cell.
The paper goes on to answer the following questions:
2. How does SON save deployment effort and fit into the deployment process
for…?
a. Residential femtocells
b. Enterprise small cell networks
c. Dense urban and public access HetNets
3. What is the maturity of SON features today?

4. Why is multi-vendor SON important for small cells HetNets in particular?
5. What deployment effort is needed to deploy SON systems themselves?
6. What is the SCF’s long term vision for the SON assisted deployment process?
Overall we see that SON has already achieved great things by enabling the self-install
deployment model for residential and enterprise small cells. Many SON features are
now proven and trusted by operators to autonomously manage key parameter settings
in radio access networks, and list of these is provided in the next section.
Looking ahead, we now want to take SON to the next level and prove itself in
automating more complex sets of inter-related parameters. Our vision set out

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requirements for a more holistic end-end SON which acts on RAN, transport and core
to optimise end user experiences and operator business goals
6.1 Summary of the main SON features in use today

6.1.1 Self-configuration
• Basic setup: Backhaul configuration and interface setup

• Automatic inventory and software update
• ANR Automatic neighbour relation, defines mobility paths for
handover between cells
• Auto cell ID: Assigns cell IDs (or scrambling codes), avoiding issues of ID
conflicts and confusion
6.1.2 Self-optimisation
• MLB Mobility load balancing adjusts handover settings to balance

loading across adjacent cells
• MRO Mobility robustness optimisation adjusts settings to
maximise handover success rates
• RACH optimisation adjusts its settings to minimise access attempts
• FHM Frequent handover mitigation: adjusts handover settings
and neighbour lists,
• (e)ICIC (enhanced) Inter cell interference co-ordination - manages
resource re-use across a cluster of cells, improving signal quality which
assists cell range extension.
• CCO Coverage capacity optimisation aims to enhance overall
signal strength and quality
• MDT Minimisation of drive testing, crowd sources UE
measurement reports
• Energy saving adjusts power of cells according to traffic demand –
switching off when not needed.
• FHO Forward handover
6.1.3 Self-healing
• COD Cell outage detection: identify and compensate for adjacent

cell outages
• CDD Cell degradation detection: identifies symptoms of poor
performance and flags issues
• COR Cell outage recovery automates recovery from detected Cell
Outages
• COC Cell outage compensation adjusts neighbour power, tilt etc.
to mitigate localised outages.
• RCOC Recovery from cell outage compensation: Once the outage
cell is operational again, reverts compensated neighbour cells to their original
settings.

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7. License exempt spectrum
Over the last two years, additional new and exciting methods for utilizing licence
exempt spectrum have emerged and matured. Using Small Cells as the catalyst for
Carrier Wi-Fi, LWA, LWIP, LTE-U/LAA, etc. have enormous potential to help operators
meet the skyrocketing demand from their users for mobile broadband
Small Cell Forum has developed a series of documents covering these important
technologies and how they can be used, in conjunction with small cells, to provide
enhanced coverage, capacity and overall enhanced user experience. This document
list also addresses specific use cases such as the future of voice which discusses the
trade-offs of licensed and unlicensed calling.
Small cells and license exempt spectrum [SCF097] [2] Carrier Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi
Calling, LAA and LWA – this paper looks to compare and contrast the different
approaches to licensed and license-exempt system integration, to examine how small
cells can enhance the core capabilities and to focus in on key system requirements
that may lead operators to prefer one approach versus alternatives.
Combining the benefits of licensed and unlicensed technologies [SCF094] [3]

Densification with small cells and access to more spectrum are two solutions to
address the capacity challenge. In particular, this paper addresses how the abundance
of unlicensed spectrum can be leveraged by operators, together with their existing
licensed spectrum, using EUTRAN integration directly into small cells to enable a great
user experience and extra capacity well into the future. Technologies that aggregate
LTE in licensed and unlicensed spectrum and Wi-Fi (e.g. LTE-U/LAA, LWA, LWIP) are
introduced in this paper. Users can now be connected on licensed and unlicensed
spectrum simultaneously under one technology. The mechanisms involved in these
different technologies determine how tightly the licensed and unlicensed spectrum can
be aggregated and whether parts of the existing network can be re-used. Features
that allow LTE to co-exist with Wi-Fi in unlicensed spectrum are also described.
The Future of voice: Wi-Fi and licensed calling [SCF164] [4] With significant
market interest in Wi-Fi Calling, this paper provides a timely analysis of the pros and
cons of voice services based on licensed small cells, and on Wi-Fi. It examines the
benefits and challenges of small cell VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and over-the-top options,
and where these may work well together.
Integrated small cell Wi-Fi, with WBA [SCF089] [5] explores the benefits,
opportunities and challenges of the adoption of integrated networks based on next
generation hotspot (NGH) Wi-Fi and small cell technologies and standards. It presents
detailed accounts of use cases, architectures, network elements, network functions
and exemplary implementations, as well as underlying standards
Trusted WLAN architecture recommendations for integrated small cell Wi-Fi

[SCF178] [6] This is part of the ongoing collaboration between the Small Cell Forum
(SCF) and Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) in the area of integrated small-cell Wi-Fi
(ISW) networks. The first white paper provided an overview of the various ISW
network architectures and highlighted various deployment aspects. It was then
observed that an important part of the architecture, namely the trusted WLAN that
connects the Wi-Fi access points, access controllers and 3GPP-defined gateways
(TWAG/TWAP), was not being addressed by any standards development organization
(SDO) or by any industry body. So, SCF-WBA Joint Task Force (JTF) took up the task
of examining and documenting the architectural options, interfaces and deployment
aspects of the TWAN.

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See also:
Small cell and Wi-Fi coverage study [SCF063] [16]

Wi-Fi/Cellular radio co-existence [SCF064] [17] early investigation into ensuring
co-located Wi-Fi access point with 3G and 4G small cells

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8. Multi-operator small cells
Beyond of the absolute reduction in numbers, many key stakeholders are significantly
underserved without multi-operator capability and need it to support and enhance
their business cases and accelerate their deployments.
So this capability is critical for several reasons:
• To improve the economics and deployment process of dense indoor or urban

networks.
• To enhance the revenue opportunities for mobile network operators (MNOs)
investing in small cells, or to support third-party neutral host models.
• To enable services, including those in mobile commerce and the Internet of
Things, which rely heavily on the participation of all MNOs to support the
widest range of customers, and deliver full value from data.
Market drivers for multi-operator small cells [SCF017] [7] Multi-operator support
will be essential to unlock many new applications and business cases for small cells.
This paper provides a detailed analysis of the drivers to develop and deploy multi-
operator platforms, based on input from across the ecosystem, and a major market
survey of service providers, conducted by Rethink Technology Research. It also
describes and discusses current and future architectures to support multi-operator
networks.
SCF recommendations to accelerate MO include:
• Identify the scenarios where there is the highest demand and most
immediate return on deploying multi-operator networks – e.g. medium-sized
enterprise or public venue, and target those with optimized solutions and
with awareness programmes.
• The MNO’s caution about enabling competitors is the critical issue. Lessons
should be learned from the history of how macro RAN sharing and MVNO
models were made acceptable in the face of similar concerns. For example:
• Assemble more comprehensive, evidence-based arguments for the

positives for MNOs.
• Ensure these are targeted at CxO level, focusing on TCO, profitability
etc. – this was the breakthrough for the macro sharing case. CxOs are
accustomed to high degrees of cooperation with rivals (e.g, France
Telecom/Deutsche Telekom infrastructure alliance), but the shared small
cell argument has rarely reached that level and remains the preserve of
network executives.
• Support development or implementation of technologies which improve the

cost:risk equation for MNOs. In particular, radio resource management
approaches which allow the host operator to organize capacity to suit its own
business model – e.g., to reserve some capacity for itself, to retain first
mover advantage; or to enable a large number of tenants in order to
maximize revenues especially from non-competitive specialists. Another
example is the refinement of multi-operator load balancing techniques across
large clusters of cells.
• Contribute actively to the development of virtualization technologies and
standards, which will further improve the business case by providing the host
operator with very high level of control and multi-tenancy. Accelerate trials
and deployments of existing solutions to virtualize radio resources, or –

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where these have been developed for the macro environment – to adapt
them for MOCN/MORAN small cell clusters.
• Lobby regulators and contribute to trials and debates around new spectrum
approaches such as licensed shared access. Spectrum which is dedicated to
shared networks reduces the MNO’s conflicts of interest over using its own
expensive spectrum to host others; and enables new neutral host start-ups.
• Work to improve regulatory environment for neutral host and XaaS
specialists, which often create fewer conflicts of interest for MNOs than
hosting rivals (or being their tenants).
• Develop templates or blueprints to address complex process and legal
aspects of multi-operator deployment and sharing e.g. for identifying
optimum sites, legal contracts, service level agreements, integrator or
management contracts etc.
• Develop or enhance services APIs to make it easier for hosts, MVNOs or
MVNO enablers (MVNEs) to support diverse tenants while enabling them to
differentiate themselves, improving the business case for all.
• Take lessons from the Wi-Fi and DAS communities and apply to small cells
e.g., DAS resource management techniques; emergence of on-demand or
‘pay as you go’ MVNOs in Wi-Fi; capacity marketplaces to optimize usage of
spectrum and network (e.g., BandwidthX).
• Co-operate more closely with DAS and Wi-Fi communities to understand how
various combinations of the technologies may provide optimal solutions for
different scenarios – and to look ahead to greater convergence in the 5G
phase.
Technologies for multi-operator small cells [SCF069] [8] examines the

challenges and options including both protocol options with classic Iu-h small cell
architectures (such as MOCN) as well as alternative solutions such as DAS. It also
considers the challenges of management of the enterprise solution when split across
the operators sharing the access network.
Regulatory issues for multi-operator small cells [SCF019] [9] A review of

regulation surrounding spectrum sharing for multi-operator small cells finds that in
most countries there are unlikely to be any fundamental legal obstacles which would
prevent MOCN deployments. Spectrum sharing is possible through joint ventures in
some regions and license trading/leasing arrangements in others. New schemes are
being defined for licensed shared access in Europe and authorised shared access in the
US, which could bring further opportunities for multi-operator small cells in the near
future.

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9. Building an ecosystem around small cell technologies
The success of the small cell ecosystem relies on the Small Cell Forum’s continued
focus on the fundamental technologies and activities which foster a healthy
ecosystem. The Forum has defined open APIs for the small cell reference architecture
and SON to encourage competition though interchangeability of parts between
multiple vendors.
We also maintain a program of interoperability testing to ensure these and other small
cell standards are clear and unambiguous so that the implementations from multiple
vendors all work together. Further details on the range of ecosystem building activities
undertaken by the forum can be found in our Release Roadmap [SCF100] [18].
9.1 PlugFests for interoperability

A strong small cell ecosystem requires that operators have a wide choice of
interoperable equipment from a range of suppliers from which to build their
heterogeneous networks. Manufacturers also benefit from the economies of scale that
a successful ecosystem brings.
Achieving a state of ecosystem interoperability requires both good quality standards

and equipment that conforms to them. Our Value of Small Cell Forum Plugfests
[SCF085] [10] paper describes the role of interoperability testing. The process can be
summarized like this:
Figure 9–1 Role of Plugfests in standards and product development and testing
• Equipment from different manufacturers is connected and operated in a

range of real life scenarios. This tests both the suppliers’ implementation of
the standards, as well as the quality of the standards themselves.
• Failed tests drive debugging of implementations, as well as resolution of
ambiguities, gaps and incompatible options in standards.
• Successful testing demonstrates mature and interoperable standards and
equipment.
• Conformance testing later checks that products correctly implement the
requirements of the interoperable standard.
The SCF, ETSI and NGMN alliance have been working together since 2010 to conduct
Plugfests to accelerate alignment of small cell network technologies.

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9.2 SON tests for Plugfest 2016
In June 2016, the fourth Small Cell LTE Plugfest organized by the Small Cell Forum, in
partnership with ETSI, took place in Naples at the Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM)
specialist labs. The Plugfest enabled small cell firms to test their products and
solutions for interoperability and reliability in mixed vendor environments.
The two-week Plugfest also provided the opportunity for remote testing as well as
collaborative work in the TIM Labs. The Plugfest had a special focus on the self-
organizing network (SON) capabilities of small cells in a HetNet environment, including
interference management/self-configuration and small cell/macro-network interaction
(interference coordination). A full description of SON tests will be available in
September 2016 [SCF177] [11].
Other areas tested included traffic offloading, closed subscriber groups, and the
impact of LTE-A aggregation.
As part of the Plugfest, TIM invited participants to connect small cells using unlicensed
spectrum to its network and to test them for interoperability and interference.
9.3 SON API
The self-organizing network application platform interface SON API [SCF083] [12]
defines and enabler of SON functionalities for small cells, based on high-level
requirements that are independent of the particular SON architecture. This document
explains how the SON API is based on high-level procedures for exchange of
information between cSON and dSON, which are grouped into global procedures
(general character) and function specific procedures (for a particular SON function).
For each procedure, the detailed definition of exchanged information is an integral part
of the SON API and covers in general parameters, performance statistics and
notifications. The work also provides useful guidelines for SON API adoption and
integration it into existing management interfaces for small cells.
9.4 X2 Interoperability
Multi-vendor HetNet is to improve opex and capex by enabling deployment flexibility

and increasing vendor competitiveness. X2 interoperability is one of the key areas of
multi-vendor HetNet. On X2 interface implementation, 3GPP leaves some gaps and
semantic uncertainties, which may present as barriers to multi-vendor
implementation. [SCF059] [13] addresses the gaps and provides clarifications for X2
based SON functionality ICIC, eICIC, MRO, and MLB, to facility easier X2
interoperability and multi-vendor HetNet deployment with SON
9.5 HetNet services
Providing a seamless experience to users as they move between elements of the

network is one of the objectives of HetNet & SON. This requirement for seamless
service applies not only to network connectivity but also to the applications and
services being accessed by the user. To this end, SCF has developed Enterprise
small cell network architectures [SCF067] [19] to ensure enterprise services can
be delivered over both cellular and W-LAN networks. It is our intention to have a
common set of API supporting both cellular and W-LAN which carriers and developers
can use to provide services such as location and Unified communications [SCF165]
[20].

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10. Regulatory aspects
Regulatory aspects of small cells [SCF076] [21]
The Small Cell Forum is committed to working with its members and international
regulators to encourage a positive regulatory environment for small cell deployments.
While there are some potential regulatory issues associated with small cells, in general
small cells create several opportunities to meet the objectives that regulators set out
to achieve. For example, small cells provide a cost-effective means of improving
consumer access to mobile services in a number of both indoor and outdoor
environments without recourse to large numbers of macro base stations. They tend to
be visually unobtrusive. They are spectrum efficient. In addition, by reducing the
deployment and operating cost of mobile broadband services, small cells increase the
value of services for both consumers and service providers. They increase the range of
service models available to operators, encouraging competition and efficiency. They
also enable newer technologies to be delivered to customers more quickly and provide
a platform for delivering new applications and services to existing devices with
attractive tariffs.
More broadly, the Forum continues to forge still deeper relationships with regional
carriers and industry bodies to ensure its roadmap reflects the major differences
between operators’ concerns in different parts of the world. It is actively participating
in initiatives geared to regulatory change and simplified, more cost-effective
deployment in key markets.
• LATAM – working with GSMA TECT on dense deployments project and

regulator outreach aimed at accelerating roll out and preparing the way for
5G.
• Americas – working with 5G Americas on communications aimed at
regulators and federal authorities on speeding small cell deployment and on
neutral host.
• Middle East – supporting MENA carriers with regular outreach highlighting
social and economic value of dense networks and supportive regulation
• Asia – driving deployment best practice to support carriers as biggest
deployments in world kicked off, from Jio’s huge small cell network in India to
China Mobile’s nanocells to Singapore’s smart city.
• Europe – SCF driving carrier requirements and interoperability through
partnerships with ETSI and GSMA.

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11. Vision for the future 2020 5G HetNet
As indicated in the introduction to this document, Small Cell Forum has a critical role
to play not just in defining the framework for today’s dense HetNet, but in ensuring
this is also a foundation for 5G. This involves formulating a clear vision of what the
Forum believes 5G will be, based on the contributions of its membership and
cooperation with other pivotal 5G organizations such as ETSI, 5G Americas and the
GSMA.
Of course, it is too early to be specific, let alone prescriptive, about what technologies
will enable that vision – 3GPP’s first 5G standards will not be finalized until 2018.
However, many of the operators’ commercial priorities for 5G have little to do with
3GPP standards, and they can start to be addressed now.
In a recent survey of mobile operators, they were asked them to name what they
considered to be the essential requirements for 5G.
Future-proofing current systems so that operators can migrate to 5G at their own pace
was equal to the cost of data delivery in the minds of MNOs, while multivendor
systems, the integration of IT into the heart of the network, and the ability to mix
virtual and physical domains were also high on the agenda. All of these factors live at
the heart of the Small Cell Forum’s HetNet 2020 work programs, and therefore its
vision of 5G.
The overriding requirement of mobile operators is that broad HetNet frameworks are
devised now, which provide a migration path to future network generations, but with
the flexibility to adapt to any precise technologies and processes which emerge in the
coming years. That means they can start to tap the advantages of new approaches,
such as virtualization, now, with confidence that they will not have to start all over
again to move to 5G.
The Forum’s vision at every layer of the network:
The HetNet framework within which 5G can evolve must address every layer of the
network, as set out in the Forum’s HetNet 2020 roadmap (Figure 11–1).

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Figure 11–1 Small Cell Forum HetNet 2020 vision

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Source Small Cell Forum, 2016
11.1 Physical access layer
At the physical access layer, there will be increasing density, and increasing diversity
of spectrum bands and physical access points.
By 2020, over 80% of the base stations will be small cells, but these will come in a
variety of form factors including Wi-Fi and cellular; high powered cells for rural
markets and low powered ones for M2M, virtualized controllers, distributed antennas
or radios. The Forum’s interoperability frameworks and interfaces will allow all these to
interoperate seamlessly, and to support potential future developments like extremely
stripped-down radio/antenna units priced at a few hundred dollars.
The key attributes of the physical layer are:
• Multiple domains – SCF defines the key HetNet domains as small cell, macro,
Wi-Fi, NFV, transport and core network.
• Multiple spectrum bands – Sub-6GHz, microwave, mmWave – including
unlicensed and shared spectrum to support both LTE and Wi-Fi
• Multiple access point form factors – Small cells, distributed antennas,
distributed radios
• Multiple vendors
• Multiple duplex modes: FDD, TDD, and potentially Dynamic TDD and Full
Duplex
The Forum’s vision also includes virtualization of the small cell network. A highly
significant work items is looking to adapt the current FAPI MAC-PHY platform
decomposition, into a networked interface suitable for supporting small cell
virtualization. This enables multivendor interoperable physical and virtual small cell
network functions. The work inputs to 3GPP/RAN 5G study items, & aligns with ETSI
NFV.
11.2 Enablers of ultra-dense HetNet – network and management
Figure 11–2 Enablers of ultra-dense HetNet
The heart of the Forum’s work is in technologies and services to enable the new
density of the access network and make it efficient and affordable. This involves work

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on a range of core enablers of dense networks, whether they use current or emerging
technologies.
This is the basis of the Forum’s Integrated HetNet Architecture Framework, part of
Release 7, which ‘supports the integration of services across multiple domains, using
multiple technologies, from multiple suppliers’. This is explicitly designed to be
relevant now, but also to pave the way to next generation networks (Figure 11–3).
Figure 11–3 Small Cell Forum’s target integrated HetNet architecture
The core functions of this service quality assurance architecture are to:
• Generate service quality information

• Automate and reconfigure HetNet domains
• Account for changing user needs, business goals and subscriber behaviors
• Use (self) optimization to consume service quality across the HetNet
• Algorithmically determine recommendations on how service quality metrics
can be enhanced
• Prioritize multiple candidate optimizations according to policies
SON will be an essential enabler of dense HetNets, because it will be impractical to

optimize large numbers of small access points without a considerable degree of
automation and flexibility. The rise of vRAN will intensify this interest among carriers,
and give rise to new categories such as Cloud SON. The Forum’s existing work for SON
in dense networks will be an important foundation for future developments and its
technical efforts. For instance, in the area of interoperable SON, the Forum has
defined a SON API [SCF083] [12], which enables SON functionality in small cells, but

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is based on high level requirements which are independent of the individual SON
architecture underneath.
11.2.1 APIs and applications
The 5G network will be an IT platform as well as a communications enabler. The

Forum has been working on applications and open APIs to encourage new small cell-
enabled services since its inception, and has enriched this work in recent years with
industry collaborations. Important ones include:
• GSMA’s OpenAPI program

• ETSI’s Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) initiative
• The Open Mobile Alliance
11.3 Business models
The greatest certainty of all about 5G is that it must not just be about clever
technology, or even cost efficiency. For operators to invest, it must enable brand new
revenue streams, as well as boosting the performance, quality and affordability of the
existing business models.
By focusing on real world operator models and deployments, the Forum keeps its 5G
vision away from the crystal ball and firmly focused on commercial reality. An example
of a work item which could transform the economics and revenue potential of a small
cell network is multi-operator and neutral host. The Forum is working to define a
seamless migration from current multi-operator enablers like MOCN to 5G concepts
like network slicing. These create new ways for more providers to harness cellular
networks, while an IT ecosystem, enabled by open APIs and Mobile Edge Computing,
provides the ground for innovation by applications developers to enable new services.
Nobody knows precisely what radio technologies will become part of 5G, or what new
use cases they may enable, but it is likely that there will be ongoing evolution on both
fronts, for decades to come. The Small Cell Forum’s work on interfaces, management
frameworks and use cases for the multi-x HetNet can provide a strong basis for this
work, bringing together the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders and partner
organizations.

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12. Conclusions
This overview has provided a taste of the richness, diversity and commercial relevance
of Release 7. With this collection of essential documents, Small Cell Forum is not just
offering a blueprint to ease deployment and address challenges now – as with all its
Releases. It is also defining a framework within which operators can plan and migrate
to 5G when their commercial needs demand that, evolving from their 4G HetNet
foundations, which will continue to deliver value well into the 5G era.
Next, the Forum will build on these foundations with new work items and further
Releases, adding increasing levels of substance to the framework as standards and
technologies appear.
It has agreed two work streams, which will provide the critical enablers for HetNets
now and in the future, in two of the most promising use cases for HetNet and 5G.
Each is championed by two operators. The two streams are:
• Deploying Hyperdense Networks, championed by AT&T, Jio

• Enabling Digitized Enterprise, championed by Orange, Vodafone
Each stream consists of a group of work items which will feed into the overall
framework. Within the urban densification program, these relate to practical
deployment, use case and interworking issues such as interoperability, backhaul, site
acquisition, SON, IoT and unlicensed spectrum. The work items with the Enterprise
stream also cover IoT and unlicensed spectrum issues, as well as Mobile Edge
Computing and multi-operator business cases and platforms.
By listening to its members’ requirements for 5G, and translating those into workable
specifications and processes, the Forum has a unique opportunity to influence the
critical 5G decisions which the industry will make in 2016 and beyond.
This work would not be done without significant investment of time and resources by
members, and for operators and vendors, it is more critical than ever to be part of
those efforts. Small cells are at the heart of the HetNet and of 5G, so Small Cell Forum
membership is the essential way to have a real influence on how 5G develops.
As this overview of the Release documents clearly demonstrates, the Forum is ideally
placed to provide a unifying framework for a platform which will be inherently based
around dense HetNet. That framework will be essential to avoid fragmentation, the
biggest concern for operators, and to ensure 5G is commercially viable.

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References
1 [SCF172] ‘Integrated HetNet architecture framework’, Small Cell Forum,

May 2016
2 [SCF097] ‘Small cells and license exempt spectrum: Carrier Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Calling,
LAA and LWA’, Small Cell Forum, May 2016
3 [SCF094] ‘LTE-LAA: At its best with small cells’ Small Cell Forum, Feb 2015
4 [SCF164] ‘The future of voice’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2016
5 [SCF089] ‘Next generation hotspot-based integrated small cell Wi-Fi’, Small Cell
Forum, Feb 2014
6 [SCF178] ‘Industry perspectives, trusted WLAN architectures and deployment
considerations’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2016
7 [SCF017] ‘Multi-operator market drivers’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2016
8 [SCF069] ‘Multi-operator small cells’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2014
9 [SCF019] ‘Regulatory issues for multi-operator small cells’, Small Cell Forum,
Feb 2016
10 [SCF085] ‘Value of Small Cell Forum Plugfests’, Small Cell Forum, Mar 2015
11 [SCF177] ‘SON tests for Plugfest 2016’, Small Cell Forum, available, Sep 2016
12 [SCF083] ‘SON API for small cells’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2015
13 [SCF059] ‘X2 interoperability in multi-vendor X2 HetNets’, Small Cell Forum,
Jun 2014
14 [SCF050] ‘Market status statistics Apr 2016 - Mobile Experts’, Small Cell Forum,
Feb 2016
15 [SCF173] ‘The Role of SON in HetNet deployment’, Small Cell Forum, Jun 2016
16 [SCF063] ‘Small cell and Wi-Fi coverage study’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2014
17 [SCF064] ‘Wi-Fi/Cellular radio co-existence’, Small Cell Forum, Feb 2014
18 [SCF100] ‘SCF Release structure and roadmap’, Small Cell Forum, Jun 2015
19 [SCF067] ‘Enterprise small cell network architectures’, Small Cell Forum,
Jan 2016
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21 [SCF076] ‘Regulatory aspects of small cells’, Small Cell Forum, Jun 2014

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107 HetNet SON Overview

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107 HetNet SON Overview

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SMALL CELL FORUM

RELEASE 7.0 scf.io

Solving the HetNet puzzle

RELEASE 7.0 scf.io

Small Cell Forum accelerates small cell adoption to drive the

We have driven the standardization of key elements of small cell technology

Small Cell Forum defines HetNet as a ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

Small Cell Forum Release website can be found here: www.scf.io

No license, express or implied, to any intellectual property rights is granted

Post Small Cell Forum, PO Box 23, GL11 5WA UK

Member Services memberservices@smallcellforum.org

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Small Cell Forum defines the HetNet as ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

• to increase capacity in areas of high usage by a massive amount while

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Release 7, like its predecessors, combines practical commercial and deployment

Market and deployments

HetNet framework and technologies

Architecture framework for HetNet and SON [SCF172] [1]

From an architecture perspective, the scope of the HetNet can be viewed as

In this framework, SON is an essential enable to order-of-magnitude network

Importantly, functions associated with HetNet operations and management take

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Trusted WLAN architecture [SCF178] [6] recommendations for integrated small

Multi-operator small cells:

Market drivers for multi-operator small cells [SCF017] [7] – based on an

Technologies for multi-operator small cells [SCF069] [8]

Regulatory issues for multi-operator small cells [SCF019] [9]

Technologies do not live in a vacuum and success depends on building a rich

The Forum is working with industry partners to ensure multivendor interoperability

Key documents in Release 7 include:

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Another important element of the ecosystem, especially as IT services converge with

X2 Interoperability [SCF059] [13] – cellular/Wi-Fi convergence

As we go through the process of commercializing today’s standards based equipment,

• Urban Densification Deployment, championed by AT&T, Jio

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

The Forum’s definition of a HetNet is of a ‘multi-x environment – multi-technology,

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Core HetNet Current small cell Expected 5G Release document

Densification Ease of deployment Hyper-density (100s Deployment and

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Small cell market status [SCF050] [14]

• Overall small cell revenue growth: 41% CAGR through 2020

Figure 2–1 Small cells revenue forecast, June 2016

Source: Mobile Experts

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

See also Crossing the chasm: small cells industry 2015.

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

See more at: http://www.smallcellforum.org/resources/deployment-stories/

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

In a survey of 72 Tier 1 and 2 MNOs worldwide, conducted by Rethink Technology

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

Source: Rethink Technology Research operator survey Q116.

Wholesale Flexible allocation of Network slicing to enable

Report title: HetNet and SON: Overview

HetNet capacity planning

Unlicensed spectrum in the HetNet

Operational support implications