2. Page 2
CONTENTS
Executive summary 3
Power through eiciency 4
An evolving technology 5
The evolution of Single RAN 7
How Single RAN helps to meet
the capacity challenge
8
Modular design 9
Re-farming 10
RF sharing 11
Baseband (system module) sharing 12
Baseband pooling 13
Transport sharing in backhaul 14
Network sharing 15
Single RAN base station architecture evolution 16
Multicontroller 17
Single RAN Operations and Management 19
Energy eiciency 21
Nokia Single RAN Advanced 23
Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station 23
Nokia Flexi Compact Base Station 23
Nokia Single RAN Transport solution 24
Nokia Multicontroller platform 25
Nokia Liquid Radio Software Suites 25
True control over complex networks 26
Abbreviations 27
3. Page 3
Executive summary
The concept and the commercial reality of the Single Radio Access
Network (Single RAN) have been around for a few years. Yet such is the
potential of the technology to simplify the ever-growing intricacy of
the macro radio access layer that it is being developed rapidly and will
bring many new beneits for mobile broadband operators.
The idea behind Single RAN is simple – operating diferent radio
technologies on a single multi-purpose hardware platform. In its most
developed form, Single RAN will comprise one radio installation with
common transport and operational and management system with
integrated uniied security across radio access technologies (RATs). In
addition, it enables the coordination and operation of diferent RATs
in a uniied way, as well as being able to use existing RATs to bring the
best performance by coordinating their advantages.
Modularity is a key enabler, allowing capacity to be scaled up in
line with demand, and new and existing spectrum to be used more
eiciently. In addition, operational eiciency can be improved through
network sharing, energy eiciency of the radio network will be raised,
and software can be used to deine the functions of the hardware for
ultimate lexibility, performance and cost efectiveness.
Single RAN is already helping many operators to achieve substantial
beneits but the coming years will see the technology evolving
substantially. When it comes to Single RAN, the best is yet to come.
The pace of change in mobile radio access networks has been
accelerating since the irst GSM radio networks in 1991 and the irst
Single RAN implementations in 2008. This paper aims to demonstrate
the beneits of today’s Nokia Single RAN Advanced solution and to
reveal some of the expected developments and their beneits.
4. Page 4
Power through eiciency
Despite its widespread adoption, Single RAN deies a common
deinition. Single RAN is not standardized by an industry body, and
equipment vendors ofer diferent features under the Single RAN
banner, some based on 3GPP standards, with others being proprietary.
Operators typically expect Single RAN to deliver a variety of
beneits, including:
• Eicient use of spectrum and re-farming
• Eicient shared use of hardware
• Smooth evolution of GSM, HSPA and LTE
• Simpliied network architecture
• Reduced energy consumption
• Converged planning, operations and management
• Simpliied, fully IP-based transport
• Automated 3GPP compliant security
• Lower costs and growth in top line
All of these beneits are possible, in re-farming, sharing,
modernization and evolution, enabling operators to simplify their
networks, reduce costs, grow their business and balance their
investments more easily and in better ways.
1 y
New equipment and
networks increasing
complexity and costs
Uertainty in Radio Access
Technology capacity lifecycles
H
A 900
GSM 900
LTE 800
GSM 1800
LTE 1800
H
A
2100
LTE
2300
LTE
2600
WC
5. GSM 1800
GSM 900
Fig. 1: Example of the rising complexity of multiple radio access technologies, on many frequency bands,
potentially pushing up costs and complicating investment decisions
6. Page 5
An evolving technology
Although Single RAN has its roots in 2008 and is today simplifying
many radio access networks, the technology is clearly still far from
maturity and will evolve further to deliver substantial new beneits
for operators.
Single RAN is focused on simplifying the macro network resulting in
lower cost network evolution. That’s becoming increasingly important
as operators deploy LTE to meet the accelerating mobile broadband
boom. It is arguable that LTE was the main trigger for Single RAN as
the industry recognized the sheer complexity of adding another radio
technology to existing GSM and HSPA layers. Not only is a new radio
technology involved, along with a raft of new frequency bands, but
IP-based transport needed for LTE must be added to existing ATM
and TDM transport links.
Single RAN cuts through the complexity by running diferent
technologies on one hardware platform, to move from separate
installations for each radio technology with its own transport and
operational needs, to single installations with a common transport
and operational and management system.
Region 1
Vendor A
Region 1 Region 2
Vendor B
Vendor A Vendor B Vendor C
TDM
Base Station Base Station
Old way of working Single RAN
GSM BTS WCDMA BTS LTE BTS
O ATM O IP O
GSM WCDMA LTE
O IP O
GSM WCDMA LTE
Fig. 2: Single RAN is changing network business by introducing much-simpliied base station site structures
with common transport and operational support
7. Page 6
This sounds straightforward, but is actually technically complex
to achieve because GSM, HSPA and LTE are distinct technologies,
developed independently and standardized separately. Features
available in one technology may not be available or applicable for the
others. In addition, operators expect that the Single RAN products
available since 2008 can be re-used with the latest equipment,
for example for Re-farming and RF-sharing. This means all three
technologies need to be developed in parallel with strong backwards
compatibility to maximize the beneits of Single RAN.
Security threats are growing as operators move to all-IP networks,
which require dedicated measures to protect both the infrastructure
and end users. There are several sources of security risk, as networks
evolve to all-IP open environments and become vulnerable to the
kind of attacks familiar from the IT world. As a fully IP technology, LTE
creates vulnerabilities not previously seen in GSM and HSPA networks.
The use of IP transport networks for the backhaul, which are inherently
more open than traditional transport networks, means that customer
data needs to be protected against eavesdropping. Operator networks
must be secured against misuse and other threats, such as denial of
service attacks, between the base station and packet core. In addition,
modern technology and miniaturization enables smaller base stations
to be installed in public places, physically accessible to unauthorized
tampering. Another issue is the involvement of diverse players like
application developers and value added service providers, which also
leads to higher and more complex security risks.
Today, Single RAN has overcome many obstacles to create
much-simpliied hardware. In the future we will see that
simpliication being applied to the software to bring greater
lexibility to network operations. Coordination of RATs will bring
performance enhancements to the end user and cost savings for
the operator. This will not happen overnight. Radio access network
projects are huge and in much the same way that Single RAN has
taken several years since 2008 to reach its current state of
development and implementation by hundreds of operators, we
can expect its further evolution to take place step-by-step over the
coming years.
Nokia Single RAN Advanced solution is adopted worldwide
The trend towards Single RAN by operators is global. Of the 450
operators in about 150 countries using radio network equipment
from Nokia, close 300 use the company’s Single RAN solution.
8. Page 7
The evolution of Single RAN
Single RAN is all about sharing multi-purpose hardware, with
functionality determined by shared software, and common Operations
and Management, transport, and network performance optimization
and coniguration. The evolution of more advanced Single RAN
capabilities will develop these sharing capabilities to simplify network
management and bring greater lexibility, scalability and resiliency for
mobile broadband operators.
Nokia expects that by 2020, mobile networks will need to be prepared
for proitably delivering one gigabyte (1GB) of personalized data per
user per day in many markets. That’s a 60-fold increase in total data
consumption compared to today. In addition, operators face rising
customer expectations that mobile broadband will become more
personalized, yet remain afordable.
Technology Vision 2020
The Nokia Technology Vision 2020 focuses on enabling mobile
broadband networks to proitably deliver 1 gigabyte of personalized
data per user per day by 2020.
Technology Vision 2020 comprises six technology pillars:
• Enabling 1000 times more capacity to meet accelerating
data demand
• Reducing latency to milliseconds to prepare for the applications
of the future
• Teaching networks to be self-aware and simplify network
management by extreme automation
• Personalizing network experience to enable the business models
of the future
• Reinventing telco for the cloud to create on-demand networks
that are agile and scalable
• Flattening total energy consumption
Single RAN technologies will continue to evolve to help operators
meet these market demands. Key developments are likely to include
advanced re-farming for more eicient use of shared spectrum,
common network management incorporating self-organizing
functions, integrated and uniied security across base station
technologies, and improved resource sharing and pooling and
higher resiliency.
9. Page 8
How Single RAN helps to meet the
capacity challenge
Single RAN will have a key role in helping operators to meet the
expected 1,000-fold increase in data traic by providing a clear path
for adding macro capacity step-by-step.
Typically, operators will have legacy GSM and HSPA base stations and
are planning to roll out, or are already rolling out, LTE base stations
as well. One of the beneits of Single RAN is that legacy base station
equipment can be re-used, for example an existing GSM RF module
can be re-used in re-farming by GSM-LTE RF sharing, which enables
operators to avoid adding LTE RF modules.
Much of the new LTE network will be focused initially on providing
coverage and will comprise sites with three symmetric sectors for
simplicity. Capacity-focused sites typically use three asymmetric
sectors with some sectors providing greater capacity than others.
Traditionally adding capacity to all RF technologies is achieved by
adding radio technology speciic RF modules, baseband modules,
controller modules and transport capacity as required.
With Single RAN products, the capacity additions can also be
implemented by common and shared modules. Further capacity gains
can then be achieved by implementing advanced software features
from the Nokia Liquid Radio GSM, HSPA and LTE Software Suites.
The next stage in adding capacity is to split cells horizontally into
additional sectors, for example moving to a six-sector site which can
boost capacity by up to 80% and coverage by up to 40% compared to
existing three-sector sites.
Operators can also split cells vertically by deploying active antennas
which integrate several power ampliiers and transceivers with the
antenna’s dipoles, or radiating elements. This enables beam forming
in which the phase and amplitude of the signals from each radiating
element inside the antenna are controlled electronically to boost
site eiciency and performance. Creating two independent dynamic
beams can deliver up to 65% more capacity, together with better
coverage and higher data rates.
This path to greater capacity using the Single RAN concept enables
operators to maximize their macro radio network investments and
only when this has been achieved is there likely to be widespread
deployment of small cell sites, beyond 2015. Ultimately, the aim
of Single RAN is to simplify the growing complexity of macro radio
networks. The steady evolution of Single RAN capabilities will continue
this simpliication and ensure that all hardware deployed will remain
usable in the future to protect operator investments.
10. Page 9
Modular design
One of the prerequisites for Single RAN is modularity, which
enables operators to start with small conigurations and scale up
as markets grow. Modularity is increasingly needed because the
RF technologies are developed independently by standardization
(3GPP), because market needs difer and because technology
requirements develop diferently.
A good example is that while the expected 1,000-fold increase
in data traic is valid for LTE, it does not apply to GSM, which will
experience only modest growth or in some markets no growth
at all. Also, as LTE is initially rolled out to provide basic coverage,
there is no need for huge baseband capacity. However, this is likely
to change quickly and many LTE sites will need to evolve to larger
capacities. Modularity enables afordable capacity expansions.
11. Page 10
Re-farming
Re-farming some existing GSM frequencies with LTE and HSPA ofers
great savings and expanded business opportunities for operators,
and the actual network rollout is much simpler with Single RAN. In
particular, implementing an additional HSPA RF module into the 900
MHz band instead of the 2100 MHz band may reduce the number of
required base station sites by 70%. This translates into a reduction
in HSPA base station Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational
Expenditure (OPEX).
In addition, operators can expect better network quality to help
reduce churn, as well as higher data ARPU from HSPA subscribers than
from GSM subscribers. Similar and even greater beneits can also be
expected with LTE re-farming.
LTE1800 increases cell area by 2-3
times with 50-70% fewer sites
compared to LTE2600
eases cell area by
~ !#$ %! '() *ewer sites
compared to U2100
60%
2600 TDD
2600 FDD
2100
1800
900
EU800
0.0 2 4 6 8 10 12
km2
Typical coverage area of 3-sector site in suburban area
10.0
9.2
4.0
3.2
1.9
1.3
Fig. 3: How the frequency band afects base station site coverage area
Re-farming in a narrow GSM frequency band can be painful because
the traditional way to introduce higher capacity after hitting the
spectrum limit is to split the GSM base station sites by building a
micro layer. This typically means a huge number of additional base
station sites with lengthy roll-out and lower GSM network quality.
With Nokia Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite, operators can perform
re-farming in the macro layer, which is much faster to do. The
Nokia solution also uses less GSM spectrum than other solutions
and maintains high GSM network quality. Today, Nokia Liquid Radio
Software Suites enable GSM services to run the equivalent of 4+4+4
GSM RF module capacity in 3.8 MHz bandwidth, freeing up 35%
of spectrum capacity for re-farming to HSPA and LTE for mobile
broadband. In the future more eicient software will squeeze GSM
traic into less bandwidth – our target is as little as 1 MHz ultimately
with similar capacity and network quality.
12. Page 11
RF sharing
RF sharing is enabled by Single RAN base station hardware, in practice
changing from Single Carrier Power Ampliiers (SCPA) in GSM to Multi
Carrier Power Ampliiers (MCPA) as used in LTE and HSPA networks.
This opens the door for re-farming because with a simple software
upgrade, the existing base station RF can now be used simultaneously
for both GSM and LTE, or GSM and HSPA, depending on the frequency
band. HSPA and LTE RF sharing is commercially available today.
Current products also support triple sharing, but this has not
materialized in commercial networks yet, possibly because the GSM
frequency band is typically too narrow or fragmented for triple
sharing. When the same spectrum is shared, RF power and front haul
transport can shared by diferent RF technologies and we can expect
these capabilities to develop further in future product generations.
RF sharing
LTE-GSM RF
One shared RF
GSM RF
LTE RF
WCDMA-GSM RF
GSM RF
WCDMA RF
LTE-WCDMA RF
WCDMA RF
LTE RF
Two dedicated RF
Fig. 4: RF sharing examples
13. Page 12
Baseband (system module) sharing
The multipurpose Baseband, or System Module, design enables the
same baseband hardware to be used for multiple RF technologies,
with one software platform at a time, which will simplify installation
and maintenance operations.
The modular Baseband design enables an operator to start with small
conigurations (coverage) and scale up as markets grow (capacity
upgrades in steps). Baseband processing capacity can be expanded
by remote software upgrades, adding capacity sub-modules and by
chaining additional modules. For example, plugging in one or two
system sub-modules allows capacity to be scaled up two or three
times without the need for a new system module.
Today, all vendors’ baseband products support one RF technology at
a time, but baseband miniaturization will enable baseband module
sharing to further reduce the number of modules and simplifying
networks even more.
Multipurpose System Module
Software
defined
Multiple Software
Common System Module
GSM or HSPA or LTE
LTE SW
GSM SW
WCDMA SW
Fig. 5: Multipurpose Baseband
Capacity upgrades by submodules
3xGSM
3xHSPA
3xLTE
FBBA
Six system modules less
GSM SM
WCDMA SM
LTE SM
Modular SM
adds also fronthaul capacity
GSM SM
WCDMA SM
LTE SM
Evo LTE,WCDMA,GSM
Triple RF Baseband Sharing
Baseband for triple RF
Two system modules less
Fig. 6: Modular System Module capacity upgrades
Fig. 7: Baseband miniaturization in steps
14. Page 13
Baseband pooling
Increasingly, cloud technologies will make Single RAN more lexible
and more eicient. This applies to the control components of the
network as well as the baseband, allowing innovations to lead to more
optimized architectures.
The baseband will become increasingly lexible to enable processing
resources to be dynamically allocated and shared to improve the
end-user experience and network performance, including the
Single RAN component. As the pool of resources deployed from
macro sites becomes very high, integrating all future RATs, sectors,
spectra, antennas and even small cells as remote radio heads,
new opportunities for pooling resources will arise by using the
distributed baseband architecture in place today. Orchestration of
these resources will be further simpliied using well known tools like
virtualization. These will embrace a mix of hardware technologies
to deliver uncompromised performance while enabling the required
lexibility. Nokia Liquid Applications is a irst example of generalized
computing capabilities added to a commercial baseband solution.
Centralized baseband processing (pool), for example for multiple
base stations in a local datacenter, can increase baseband resource
eiciency further than is currently possible at macro sites. However,
additional savings are typically minor because of the necessary
high capacity, low latency iber optics required between the
centralized baseband and RF transceivers. Hence, a dominating
driver for Centralized RAN is expected to be optimized radio network
performance and the related OPEX savings for baseband equipment.
Baseband pooling
SM
RF
RF
RF
+,-./0234/
+,-./0234/ SM
BTS dedicated baseband
Shared Baseband pool
BTS site
Traditional BTS site
Fig. 8: Conventional distributed baseband architecture versus
centralized baseband pool
15. Page 14
Further simpliication of the network will be achieved by moving from
separate front haul links for each radio technology to a single shared
front haul cable combined with shared RF modules. One caveat here
though is that the use of front haul interfaces like OBSAI and CPRI
place capacity restrictions on the baseband pool and we see a need
to develop more lexible and higher capacity. This could be front haul
solutions based on Ethernet and optical transport networks to achieve
rates as high as 10/40 Gbps, compared to 10 Gbps in backhaul.
Transport Fronthaul Sharing
Three fronthaul fibres
GSM RF
WCDMA RF
LTE RF
One shared fibre
GSM RF
WCDMA RF
LTE RF
56789:;=9
56789:;=9
56789:;=9
New fronthaul
Fig. 9: Evolving front haul transport sharing will further simplify networks
Transport sharing in backhaul
Transport backhaul sharing aims to simplify the network by moving
to one shared IP/Ethernet transport that can support GSM, HSPA and
LTE, thus eliminating the need for TDM transport links for GSM and
ATM transport links for HSPA.
Fig. 10: Transport sharing in backhaul
Transport Backhaul sharing
Three backhaul transport networks
GSM
WCDMA
LTE
One shared backhaul
GSM
WCDMA
LTE
IP?thernet
ATM
TDM
IP?thernet
16. Page 15
Network sharing
The sharing of the RAN between two or more operators has been
shown to be an efective way to increase operational eiciency and
reduce the cost of delivering mobile broadband by up to 50%. In
remote and rural areas, where coverage is the primary design criterion
for radio network deployment, signiicant CAPEX savings are easily
achievable by sharing the RAN between two or more operators.
Network roll-out and time-to-market also speed up, since only one set
of new sites needs to be acquired and built.
Nokia provides network sharing solutions for all 3GPP-deined radio
technologies (GSM, HSPA and LTE) in any combination, including Multi
Operator RAN (MORAN) and Multi Operator Core Networks (MOCN)
functionality. The Key diference between MORAN and MOCN is the
frequency band which is dedicated for MORAN and shared in the case
of MOCN.
Spectrum re-farming may signiicantly reduce the set of frequencies
allocated to GSM. As a result, MOCN is the most suitable RAN sharing
method when there is insuicient spectrum.
S@ABD’
PEFG IJKK’
Base Station
MME SAE-GW
Operator A
PEFG IBLK’
MME SAE-GW
Operator B
PEFG IJKK’
S@ABD
PEFG IBLK’
Fig. 11: Network sharing example: MOCN
17. Page 16
Single RAN base station
architecture evolution
A key advantage of Single RAN is its use of software to deine the
functions of the multi-purpose hardware. The evolution of the Single
RAN base station is likely to see substantial software development
to bring new, aligned capabilities for all RF technologies at the
base station site. This requires changes in, for example, product
architecture, software management, OM coniguration management
and testing as an essential part of Single RAN evolution.
• Independent RAT SW releases
• Independent RAT SW packages
• Independent RAT SW downloads
Evo
Today Example of an intermediate step
Evo
Target
• Single RAN SW release
• Single RAN SW package
• Independent RAT SW downloads
• Single RAN SW release
• Single RAN SW package
• Single RAN SW download
• Dynamic inter RAT
capacity pooling
Legend
TMN Q Transport functionality
RW Q RTS management functionality
XNY Q MXT application SW
RF
TRS BM ASW
TRS BM ASW
RF
BM ASW
BM ASW
TRS RF
ASW
BM
ASW
TRS
Fig. 12: Single RAN base station architecture evolution steps
18. Page 17
Multicontroller
Also coming under the umbrella of Single RAN is the radio network
controller function required by GSM and HSPA radio technologies. A
multicontroller uses common modular hardware with software-based
conigurations to meet varying traic proiles.
Scalable
capacity
Scalable
capacity
PS Core
Core network site
RNC site
BTS site
CS Core
Scalable
capacity
Fig. 13: Multicontroller scales according to location-speciic capacity needs
As traic demand grows, multicontroller capacity can be easily scaled
up and with investments in-line with business needs. Similarly, as
subscriber usage patterns change over time, the Multicontroller
hardware can be readily reconigured from GSM to HSPA, thereby
providing a very straightforward technology migration path and
maximizing return on investment.
3G capacity
requirements
GSM capacity
requirements
RNC mode
modules
BSC mode
modules
RNC mode
modules
BSC mode
modules
Fig. 14: Multicontroller hardware can be re-purposed for mcRNC functionality
19. Page 18
Using the latest multifunctional hardware leads to designs that are far
more space eicient than traditional controllers. For example, typical
conigurations can handle traditional RNC site capacity with only 70%
of capacity being used and in less than 10% of the volume. Ultimately
this means that Multicontrollers will be easier to site and cheaper to
run than their forebears.
Unlike GSM and HSPA, 3GPP standardization for LTE radio access
eliminates the need for a controller network element, because the
controller functions are split between the LTE base station and LTE
core network. There is some industry discussion that implementing
a centralized LTE scheduler, or controller, could improve cell edge
performance. However, not only would this additional network element
increase LTE network complexity, but the same gains in cell edge
performance can be achieved today more cost efectively by smart
scheduling software within and between LTE base stations. In addition,
the geographical deployment of the BSC/RNC might difer from the
LTE centralized scheduler considerably, reducing any potential beneits
of a centralized LTE scheduler.
The current understanding is that centralized LTE scheduling and
a new controller network element could be beneicial in the small
cells layer, but not in the macro base station layer, but this requires
further investigation. Current Nokia Flexi Multiradio Base Stations are
already ready to implement such central coordination functionality
and to integrate small cells both as remote radio heads and via X2
connectivity for optimal HetNet performance. The award-winning
Nokia Flexi Zone architecture is one additional example where a cluster
of small cells can be software upgraded and enhanced with server-
capable controller functionality as capacity needs increase.
20. Page 19
Single RAN Operations and Management
Currently, Single RAN is conigured, operated and managed separately for
diferent RF technologies, backhaul, controllers and security components.
This will evolve to a integrated Operations and Management (OM)
solution that aligns the management of all the components of a Single
RAN implementation for the highest overall performance by providing a
single entity for visualization and operations.
A common OM solution allows evolution to a single operations
approach, reducing the need for radio access speciic processes and
diferent tools. One OM solution also ensures a seamless view across
diferent technologies to manage one high quality network without
unnecessary boundaries
This, together with an alignment of the feature sets for each radio
technology, also simpliies operations for network-wide functionalities,
such as load balancing and gives operators full lexibility to manage
traic as required.
Furthermore, by introducing self-coniguration, self-optimization and
self-healing capabilities, a Single RAN network can become self-aware
and intelligent with less manual intervention needed.
Single RAN BTS Site Management
Evo
Single RAN BTS
Traditional
LTE WCDMA GSM BTSZ[
Fig. 15: Evolving from traditional base station management
to Single RAN base station management
21. Page 20
As Single RAN combines diferent radio technologies and diferent
frequency bands, inter-radio performance, such as load balancing
and hand-over quality, need attention. This is where Self Organizing
Networks (SON) bring great beneits. The vast number of base stations
and cells in a typical multi-technology network lead to a high level
of work. By contrast, Nokia Intelligent SON (iSON) ensures that the
highest possible network quality is achieved with minimum efort by
operating personnel.
For example, when a new base station is introduced, iSON self-
coniguration helps operators to roll out networks much faster. iSON
also supports the automated secure provisioning of base stations:
a certiicate authority using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) ensures
only operator-authorized base stations can access the network. The
coniguration time of a new base station is reduced from hours to just
a few minutes.
With Automated Neighbor Relations (ANR), the base station recognizes
and organizes itself with the best-quality neighbor cells, regardless of
the technology. This ensures high quality end-user service. iSON Self-
optimization maintains the highest network quality despite changing
conditions of traic load, network expansion and user behavior.
Also, iSON’s fault resolution process greatly helps to improve network
performance at the small and large scales. iSON even delivers energy
savings by automatically making parts of the network inactive during a
quiet period.
Analysis
and
Configuration
GSM GSM+WCDMA GSM+WCDMA+LTE
Workforce
Automation
Fig. 16: iSON for Single RAN beneits
22. Page 21
Energy eiciency
In mature markets, 10%-15% of network OPEX is used on energy.
In developing markets, this can be up to 50% with a high number of
of-grid sites. Over the last two years the largest network operators
have reported a growth of 15-35% in their network energy use.
Before discussing the opportunities for improvement it is important
to irst identify the main factors inluencing energy consumption in
radio access sites. Starting at the base station site, up to 30% of the
energy entering a site will often be consumed by site level facilities
such as cooling. Another 20% is dissipated in power systems, leaving
around 50% of the site’s energy consumption to run the base
station itself.
Operators adding overlay LTE base station sites have seen that base
station site energy consumption is increased typically by 20%. With
Single RAN capable base stations, the rise in energy consumption
caused by the LTE rollout can be reduced by modernizing the old
GSM and HSPA base station components. For example, a Single
RAN base station consumes up to 60% less energy compared to
traditional single technology base stations.
60%
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
UltraSite+FMR
10BTS
FMR 10BTS
L] ^_^_^`ab_abc
de ^_^_^`abc
efg a_a_a`^hc
Fig. 17: How LTE upgrades and modernization of base station
sites afect energy consumption
Similarly the modernization of existing RNC and BSC network
elements with a Multicontroller platform consuming as little as 0.55W
per served cell, makes networks much more energy eicient than with
traditional controllers.
Generally, modern base stations do not need air conditioning, unlike
most legacy base station sites. Field implementations prove that
removing air conditioning systems cuts an additional 30% of a base
station site’s energy consumption.
23. Page 22
High order sectorization, for example upgrading to six sectors,
can provide up to 80% more capacity for the same total RF power
because of higher gain dual beam antennas with more focused beams.
Active Antenna Systems (AAS) support vertical sectorization (also
called 3D beam forming) and avoid the typical 3 dB feeder losses of
conventional sites. Adaptive beam forming raises energy eiciency
even further. Future technologies, such as Full Dimensional MIMO
(FD-MIMO) and Massive MIMO, will deploy arrays of hundreds of small
antennas for very ine granular beam steering to sharply focus the
radio energy into small areas to avoid wasting energy on spaces where
coverage is not needed. Such solutions may contribute considerable
additional energy savings.
As data traic grows and extra RF module capacity is needed, re-
farming is an efective way to reduce energy consumption. Re-farming
can raise network data throughput and capacity in GSM spectrum by
ten times. Adding a new HSPA RF module in the 900 MHz frequency
band instead of at 2100 MHz can result in up to 70% fewer base
station sites, creating up to 70% lower energy consumption. Should
the existing GSM RF module in the 900 MHz band support GSM/HSPA
RF sharing, then an additional 20% energy savings are possible.
Deployment studies of live networks show that savings due to network
sharing can be 10-20% of the access network energy consumption.
However, it is important to note that these network sharing gains
are highest when there is low average network utilization. This makes
network sharing especially efective in areas with low traic density,
for example for providing energy-eicient coverage in rural areas.
There are several other opportunities to further improve base station
site energy eiciency:
• The processing capacity of baseband processors is doubling every
18 months. This is doubling capacity per Watt consumed and
creates the foundation for baseband pools that can be shared
eiciently by diferent RATs
• Load-based improvements in RF power ampliier eiciency by
optimizing operations according to energy consumption
• Network traic based shutdown of excessive capacity or a second
radio access technology overlay will save energy during low traic
periods
• Energy savings can be achieved in dedicated LTE bands by disabling
the RF power ampliier for very short periods when no OFDM
symbols are being transmitted.
Nokia’s target is to latten total mobile network energy consumption
despite the anticipated traic growth.
24. Page 23
Nokia Single RAN Advanced
Nokia began deliveries of the world’s irst commercial Single RAN
product, the Flexi Multiradio Base Station, in 2008 which was deployed
in the same year in the world’s irst commercial HSPA re-farmed
network, for Elisa Finland.
Today, close 300 mobile operators around the world use the Nokia
Single RAN Advanced solution, with re-farming and RF sharing being
the most popular applications. Currently, Nokia has achieved close
100 LTE/HSPA re-farming network references.
The Nokia Single RAN Advanced portfolio comprises the following
six components:
Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station
This is the smallest software-deined, multi-technology, high-capacity
base station on the market and a superb solution for Single RAN.
Flexi Multiradio RF modules delivered since 2008 support RF sharing
application software, while only one system module type is needed for
GSM, HSPA and LTE.
Software-de ned for GSM, WCDMA/HSPA+, LTE/LTE-A
Industry leading 10 Gbps BTS platform capacity
LTE-A capable 4 Gbps world record data speed
Pay-as-you grow with capacity sub-modules
Powered by Liquid Radio Software Suites
Fig. 18: Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station
Nokia Flexi Compact Base Station
The industry’s irst single module, three-sector macro base station
with integrated baseband and transport functions. Its low cost single
module design its everywhere - in rural, urban and hotspot locations,
with pole, tower top and side wall mounting, without the need for a
separate cabinet.
Integrated System Module and RF Module
Integrated transport interfaces for E1 and Ethernet
Output power up to 3 x 60W MCPA
Expandable with Flexi modules for LTE/WCDMA
Powered by Liquid Radio Software Suites
Fig. 19: Nokia Flexi Compact Base Station
25. Page 24
Nokia Single RAN Transport solution
Traditionally, each RF technology has had its own transport network;
TDM for GSM and ATM or IP/Ethernet for HSPA. The deployment of
LTE requires a new high capacity IP/Ethernet transport network which
increases complexity and costs. Typically operators will consider
modernizing their GSM and HSPA base stations when they roll out LTE
to reduce costs and complexity, and sharing IP/Ethernet transport
network is a very natural step.
Nokia Single RAN transport solution consists of fully Flexi Base Station
and Multicontroller integrated shared, high capacity and secure IP/
Ethernet backhaul solution for GSM, HSPA and LTE technologies. With
our solution there is no need for separate cabinets or many OM
solutions for backhaul transport supervision.
Common and secure backhaul transport
ijk aware Ethernet switching or IP routing
Transport termination sharing
Pay-as-you grow with transport sub-modules
Fully integrated to Flexi Base Stations and Multicontroller
Fig. 20: Nokia Single Transport Solution
Core network
SAE-GW Internet
CSPnet
Base Station
SGW
Secure IPSec tunnel
Certificate Authority
Security Gateway (SGW)
Cert
Fig. 21: Overview of Nokia IPSec end-to-end solution
26. Page 25
Nokia Multicontroller platform
The industry’s irst modular and compact Multicontroller platform
is a ield-proven radio network controller for GSM and HSPA,
designed to deliver lexibility and with it, a competitive advantage.
The Multicontroller can be conigured easily and when necessary
reconigured to meet the demands of virtually any traic mix.
Compact form factor
Multipurpose technology platform for GSM and WCDMA
High scalability Flexible allocation of processing power
Very high reliability and resilience
Powered by Liquid Radio Software Suites
Fig. 22: Nokia Multicontroller platform
Nokia Liquid Radio Software Suites
Nokia Liquid Radio Software Suites for LTE, HSPA and GSM encompass
a variety of innovative applications. The software suites allow
operators to make their network more luid, further optimize their
radio equipment use, improve network eiciency and get more out
of their spectrum. Moreover, with re-farming, the roll out of mobile
broadband services is easier and more cost-eicient, potentially
helping to increase revenues by enabling faster re-farming. Through
simple software upgrades, the software suites efectively increase the
network capacity and help operators to balance the use of spectrum
and networks more eiciently and thus optimize their expenditure. For
subscribers, this leads to a superior mobile broadband experience.
The Nokia Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite helps operators to
compress existing GSM network traic into less spectrum, enabling
easier and more cost-efective LTE and HSPA re-farming. The Suite
also helps operators to re-farm more quickly and with less spectrum
than ever before.
LTE/WCDMA
GSM
GSM spectrum
GSM
Squeeze GSM traffic
Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite
Fig. 23: Nokia Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite helps to
squeeze GSM into less spectrum
27. Page 26
True control over complex networks
Today, Single RAN supports multiple sharing options like RF sharing,
transport sharing, network sharing and spectrum sharing. In the
future, Single RAN networks will be even simpler as hardware and
software developments progress to enable completely new ways
to share hardware dynamically and in the cloud, such as baseband
pooling. In addition, end-to-end security is embedded into the
evolving Single RAN Advanced solution.
We can expect Single RAN networks to become even easier to install
and maintain, cheaper, higher capacity, secure and simpler to operate
and to enable smooth evolution to new technologies like HSPA+ and
LTE-A which provide further opportunities for operator growth and
true business control.
Single RAN
Transport
RF sharing Software
Multicontroller
Flexi Multiradio 10 BTS
Common IP/Ethernet
Backhaul for
GSM, WCDMA, LTE
Products
LTE-A
HSPA+
GSM
GSM
WCDMA
Refarming Solutions
LTE GSM SW
LTE SW HW
GSM SW HW
Shared
One purpose
Flexi Compact BTS
GSM
LTE *
WCDMA *
* See availability from LTE/WCDMA roadmaps
LTE/WCDMA
GSM
GSM spectrum
GSM
Squeele GSM traffic
Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite
Fig. 24: The Nokia single RAN Advanced portfolio overview
28. Page 27
Abbreviations
3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project
AAS Active Antenna System
ANR Automated Neighbor Relations
ARPU Average Revenue per User
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
BSC Base Station Controller
BTS Base Transceiver Station
CAPEX Capital Expenditure
CPRI Common Public Radio Interface
FD-MIMO Full Dimensional MIMO
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
HSPA High Speed
IP Internet Protocol
IPsec Internet Protocol Security
iSON Nokia Intelligent SON
LTE Long Term Evolution
LTE-A LTE Advanced
MCPA Multi Carrier Power Ampliier
MIMO Mulitple-Input, Multiple-Output
MOCN Multi Operator Core Networks
MORAN Multi Operator RAN
OM Operations and Management
OBSAI Open Base Station Architecture Initiative
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
OPEX Operational Expenditure
PKI Public Key Infrastructure
QoS Quality of Service
RAN Radio Access Network
RAT Radio Access Technology
RF Radio Frequency
RNC Radio Network Controller
SCPA Single Carrier Power Ampliier
SON Self Organizing Networks
TDM Time Division Multiplexing
HSPA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
