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In an effort to meet rapidly growing capacity demands, mobile service providers (MSPs)
are increasingly augmenting traditional macro expansion with network ofoading solutions.
It is predicted that small cells (femtocells) will account for a steadily increasing proportion
of the ofoaded trafc.
Metro cells, the latest evolution in small cells, promise to be ideal for network ofoading. Not
only do they provide greater coverage and capacity, but they are also owned and managed
by the MSP, which simplies the implementation of a network ofoading solution. However,
are metro cells cost effective? To answer this question, Alcatel-Lucent conducted a case
study that compares the total cost of ownership of metro cells with a traditional macro
expansion solution. This paper describes the case study and its results.
Metro Cells
A cost-effective option for meeting growing capacity demands
Table of contents
1 1. Introduction
1 2. The data explosion continues
2 3. Key strategies for meeting soaring capacity demands
3 4. Metro cells: the latest evolution in small cells
3 5. Do metro cells offer cost-effective capacity?
3 5.1 Case study methodology
5 5.2 Assumptions
5 5.3 The results
8 5.4 Key conclusions
8 6. Other advantages of metro cells
9 7. Alcatel-Lucent 9360 Small Cell solution
9 8. Abbreviations
9 9. References
Metro Cells | Strategic White Paper 1
1. Introduction
The unprecedented growth of mobile data continues to gain momentum, with no signs of slowing in
the near future. Mobile service providers (MSPs) are being challenged to meet growing capacity demands
cost effectively because revenue is not keeping pace with data growth. To meet this challenge, MSPs
are increasingly augmenting traditional macro expansion with network ofoading solutions. Small
cells (femtocells) are expected to account for a steadily increasing proportion of the ofoaded trafc.
Metro cells, the latest evolution in small cells technology, promise to be ideal for network ofoading.
Not only do they offer greater coverage and capacity, but they are also designed for use in both indoor
and outdoor hotspots where most data usage occurs. More importantly, unlike other small cells
used in homes and enterprises, metro cells are owned and managed by the MSP. This greatly simplies
the implementation of a network ofoad solution.
However, there are some unknowns associated with metro cell ofoading solutions. Are such solutions
cost effective and, if so, how much can a MSP expect to save? What does a typical metro cell
deployment look like?
To answer these questions, Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs Business Modeling and Wireless Network Design
teams conducted a case study that compares the total cost of ownership (TCO) of traditional macro
expansion with that of a metro cell ofoading solution. The reference location for the study was a
dense urban area in Western Europe. This paper presents the results of the study.
2. The data explosion continues
The Internet has revolutionized communications. People download music, videos and books, play games,
and use social networking sites such as Facebook
and Twitter
0
0
0
s
)
600
400
200
0
Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
77
241
1,112
Metro Cells | Strategic White Paper 7
5.3.2 Metro cell upgrade
The strategy used for the metro cell upgrade was to initially deploy metro cells in dense outdoor
hotspots, opportunistically taking advantage of existing VDSL sites, followed by a broader deployment
of metro cells, both indoors and out, as overall capacity demands increased.
With the metro cell upgrade, the capacity requirement for year three was satised with 31 co-sited
outdoor metro cells. By year four, 39 more metro cells were required (37 for indoor hotspots and two for
outdoor hotspots) to ofoad the most loaded cells/sectors. Both outdoor metro cells required new
sites. Data trafc continued to grow and, by year ve, an additional 74 indoor and two outdoor
metro cells were needed in the areas
experiencing the highest rejection
rates. As with year four, both outdoor
metro cells once again required new
sites. Figure 6 provides a summary of
the equipment required for the metro
cell upgrade.
The TCO for the metro cell upgrade
in year three was 206,000 euros. Since
year three was the rst deployment of
the Alcatel-Lucent 9360 Small Cell
solution, the CAPEX included the
cost of the 31 outdoor metro cells,
and the total proportional cost of
the Alcatel-Lucent 9365 Small Cell
Gateway and core equipment. In
year four, the TCO decreased to
155,000 euros. It included CAPEX
for the 39 new metro cells and their
deployment costs, backhaul for two
of the metro cells and OPEX for
operations and maintenance. Year
ve was a repeat of year four, but in
larger volumes, which drove the
TCO up to 279,000 euros. The TCO
included CAPEX for the deployment
of 76 new metro cells, backhaul for
two of the metro cells and OPEX.
Figure 7 shows a yearly breakdown
of the TCO for the metro cell
upgrade solution.
The three-year TCO for the metro cell upgrade totaled 640,000 euros. Compared to the macro
upgrade, the TCO of the metro cell upgrade was more evenly distributed between years three and
ve. Since metro cells are small, low-cost access points that are simple to install (they do not require
civil works), their TCO was much less sensitive to capacity increases than macro sites. After the
initial investment for the Small Cell Gateway and core equipment in year three, capacity demands
were easily satised with the deployment of metro cells on an as-needed basis.
Figure 6. Metro cell upgrade requirements
Co-sited outdoor metro cells Indoor metro cells
80
60
40
20
0
Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
31
37
74
2 2
New site outdoor metro cells
N
u
m
b
e
r
o
f
n
e
w
m
e
t
r
o
c
e
l
l
s
Figure 7. Three-year TCO for metro cell upgrade solution
OPEX CAPEX Backhaul
E
u
r
o
s
(
i
n
0
0
0
s
)
600
400
200
0
Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
155
206
279
Metro Cells | Strategic White Paper 8
5.4 Key conclusions
Does network ofoading to metro cells offer a cost-effective
option for meeting growing capacity demands?
Indeed it does. The case study shows that in dense urban
areas metro cells are more cost effective in meeting growing
capacity demands than expanding the macro network.
The three-year TCO for metro cells was 640,000 euros
compared to 1.43 million euros for the macro upgrade
(Figure 8). The TCO for metro cells was, therefore,
45 percent of the cost of the macro upgrade, giving
metro cells a 55-percent cost advantage.
The case study further shows that metro cells are most
cost effective in areas where new macro sites are required.
The larger the number of macro sites required, the greater
the economic benets offered by metro cells. Metro cells
cost much less than macro radio equipment and do not
require civil works that heavily contribute to the higher
deployment costs of macro sites.
6. Other advantages of metro cells
Metro cells provide MSPs with a low-cost option for quickly expanding capacity and coverage. They
offer other advantages as well.
Because metro cells are small, unobtrusive devices with low transmit power, they can be deployed
just about anywhere, giving MSPs added exibility in radio planning. They may be mounted on the
side of a building or street pole, or placed inside a building, either afxed to a wall or the ceiling.
Metro cells also do not require site permits.
Unlike macro cells that only provide generalized capacity, metro cells provide targeted, localized
capacity that signicantly improves performance. Users enjoy higher data rates since fewer devices
share the available bandwidth, higher throughput, and faster, more reliable data connections that
come with the increased signal strength. Therefore, the use of metro cells results in an improved
quality of experience (QoE) for the end user.
Metro cells also improve QoE for users on the macro network. By ofoading the heavy data users
from the macro network, small cells free up limited resources for subscribers on the go. With fewer
users per cell, there is more bandwidth available for all.
By offering a better QoE, metro cells can also increase the usage of such services as mobile TV,
TV clips, and gaming, and increase the uptake of value-added 3G multimedia services already
offered by the MSP. Additionally, metro cells provide APIs that the MSP can use to develop
new revenue-generating services.
Figure 8. Three-year TCO comparison for
macro and metro cell upgrade
OPEX
CAPEX
Backhaul
1.6
1.4
1.2
E
u
r
o
s
(
i
n
m
i
l
l
i
o
n
s
)
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Macro Metro cells
1.43
55%
cost advantage
.64
Metro Cells | Strategic White Paper 9
7. Alcatel-Lucent 9360 Small Cell solution
The Alcatel-Lucent 9360 Small Cell solution is transforming todays networks by extending capacity
and coverage to residences, businesses and public places, lowering costs and opening the network to
new revenue opportunities. The carrier-grade, end-to-end solution is fully compliant with 3GPP
standards and includes innovations that position operators to rapidly penetrate markets and gain
cost and revenue benets. In addition, application enablement features help operators create new
mobile services, while SON automated deployment and conguration features deliver optimal
network functionality without the need for manual user intervention.
Alcatel-Lucent has more than 20 trials and 19 commercial deployment agreements, including
commercial contracts with Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan, Telefonica in Spain, Etisalat and
du in the United Arab Emirates and Vodafone in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
To learn more about how Alcatel-Lucent can help drive your small cells strategy, please visit:
www.Wilson-Street.com and www.alcatel-lucent.com/femto, or contact your customer
team representative.
8. Abbreviations
3G Third Generation
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
API Application Programming Interface
CAPEX Capital Expenditure
DNS Domain Name System
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
FTTH Fiber to the Home
FTTN Fiber to the Node
HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access
HSUPA High Speed Uplink Packet Access
MSP Mobile Service Provider
NTS Network Timing Server
OPEX Operational Expenditure
QoE Quality of Experience
QoS Quality of Service
RNC Radio Network Controller
RNP Radio Network Planning
SMS Short Message Service
SON Self-Organizing Network
TCO Total Cost of Ownership
ToD Time of Day
VDSL Very-high-speed Digital Subscriber Line
W-CDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
9. References
1. Mobile Broadband Connections and Revenues Forecast: 201015, Steven Hartley, Ovum, March 2011
2. AT&T Inc. 2010 Annual Report. February 2011
3. Telesperience Data Sheet: Key Strategies for Solving the Capacity Crunch, Amdocs, November 2010
4. Mobile Data Ofoad & Onload: WiFi & Femtocell Integration Strategies 2011-2015, Juniper Research,
March 2011
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