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 Building the pervasive multi-gigabit 4G Radio Access Network
Building a mobile 4G network with pervasively available multi-gigabit capacity will require an evolution of the existing mobile RAN architecture. More cells, delivering more bandwidth to more indoor locations – that is not only the technical, but more importantly the economic framework for any mobile broadband operator.
Realizing that the economy of dense RAN design, installation and operation is the main problem to address – we started by analyzing today’s wireless network architecture limitations, then anticipated the additional issues that data-centric 3G and 4G broadband wireless service roll-outs are facing. Addressing these issues one-by-one, we have developed a network centric model for dense cellular deployments - we call it Metrozone. Using this model we re-defined the optimal embedded HW and SW system architecture for 4G RAN equipment, which is the foundation for all of our SoC products.
We have de-composed this economic framework into fundamental technology requirements for 4G RAN equipment:
» Reduction of site related costs - compact single-box micro and pico base stations
The reduction of site related costs requires very compact equipment, reducing cost of site preparation, installation and maintenance to a minimum, thus allowing for flexible deployments of base stations on a variety of sites, even above and beyond traditional tower and roof-top sites. In- and outdoor form factors of micro and pico base station equipment are both required, for which size, weight and power consumption must be kept at an absolute minimum.
DesignArt has developed the most compact system architecture possible - a single-chip base and relay station architecture – delivering the next level of integration for wireless infrastructure silicon. With the integration of all required signal, network and control processing subsystems on a single chip, DesignArt’s patented multi-layer, multi-core SoC architecture enables the most compact base station designs, with the lowest BOM cost and system power consumption. These products do not require active cooling for any type of pico or micro cells, not even for fully integrated multi-sector macro base stations!
» Reduction of backhaul costs - embedded self-backhaul is the catalyst for 4G deployments
Dense cellular deployment – or in other words, a distributed RAN – requires a cost-effective backhaul fabric. In the context of higher service capacity this usually turns out to be "mission impossible", at least for traditional fixed or wireless LOS backhaul methods, if only in an economic sense.
DesignArt delivers two fully integrated backhaul solutions, capable to deliver high-capcity near- and non-line-of-sight (n-/NLOS) backhaul connectivity, suitable for different backhaul spectrum:
- In-band self-backhaul and relay – using small portions of service access spectrum
- Out-of-band self-backhaul and relay - using dedicated backhaul spectrum
We have proof in hand - DesignArt's dense network centric deployment model is lowering the total cost-of-ownership (TCO) of the mobile RAN by at least one order of magnitude! The use of dense self-backhaul clusters, comprised of ultra-compact micro- and pico base stations delivers factors of improvement in cost of coverage, and yet additional factors of improvement in cost of capacity - ideal for delivery of multiple gigabits of WiMAX or LTE service capacity per square mile.
» Reduction of equipment cost - ultra-green design options for powerful base stations
Cost-reduction of equipment is a relative measure – as we need to keep in mind the desired performance levels. With the operation of up to 8 Tx and Rx channels in a single-SoC PHY solution, DesignArt offers an innovative technology path, reducing equipment costs at the highest possible level of performance.
With DesignArt’s open SoC platform equipment vendors can choose to utilize IC-based RF chains and low-cost radio antennas in the context of DSP-based multi-antenna signal processing (smart array) technology – such as MIMO, beam forming, interference cancellation. This creates high-performance micro and pico base stations at very low cost targets.
On the other hand, equipment vendors can choose to integrate high-gain radio subsystems with DesignArt’s SoC platform – delivering the highest system performance available on the market, with extended cell area coverage based on sophisticated "smart array" technologies, yet utilizing fully integrated and cost-effective single-chip micro sector designs.
In either case, base station designs using DesignArt Networks SoC platforms offer higher system output at much lower power consumption - in most cases reducing the total base station power consumption by several orders-of-magnitude!
» Reduction of operational costs - self-organized network (SON) technology
In the context of 3G Femtocells a term has been created, that partially describes a solution to the problem at hand - "self-organized network" (SON). The term SON refers to self-planning automated deployment techniques, auto-sensing network discovery functions, initial auto-configuration of and ongoing automated adjustments to the basic radio configuration of femtocells. These functions establish a basic foundation that will also apply to pico and micro cell based Metrozone deployments - albeit with different priorities
DesignArt Networks has developed a portfolio of patented techniques that take the basic idea of SON to the next level, extending these techniques not only to next generation WiMAX and LTE service access, but also solving installation and operations related aspects of dense high-capcity backhaul cluster deployments, providing a scalable model for the rapid and systematic deployment of entire Metrozones.
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