LTE Self Organizing Networks (SON)
Operators and vendors recognized early on that, for LTE to be successful, operational expense had to be reduced from the typical 20% required for 3G networks The solution from NGMN and 3GPP is the Self Organizing Network or SON — an LTE network that can automatically extend, change, configure and optimize the network coverage, capacity, cell size, topology, and frequency allocation and bandwidth, based on changes in interference, signal strength, location, traffic pattern, and other environment criteria.
This paper examines the ways in which an advanced SON can reduce costs and increase productivity around the standard O&M activities and processes already used today by mobile operators. Operators have the opportunity to learn about the new and compelling methods to manage their LTE RAN more efficiently, more intelligently, and with a lower total cost of ownership.