SOLUTION BRIEF

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Mobile Access at a CrossroadsIn a world gone wireless, subscribers expect applications to run smoothly, with no dropped calls, choppy video, or even slow downloads. To meet their high expectations, mobile operators worldwide are rolling out faster, higher-capacity LTE networks and compelling new services that guarantee quality. But with more devices competing for spectrum, today’s mobile access networks will still become maxed out in the not-too-distant future.

Because the traditional model of deploying macrocells will no longer scale profitably, operators are employing new strategies in metro areas and commercial buildings where “spectrum scarcity” is felt most. One emerging strategy —the use of heterogeneous networks or "HetNets" — uses a mix of less costly options like small cells and carrier Wi-Fi to supplement the coverage and capacity delivered by macro cells.

Experts say HetNets will be a $40 Billion market by 2017 as emerging strategies promise a powerful mix of business and technology advantages to both mobile operators and enterprise customers:

• Improved spectrum efficiency

• Better coverage and capacity in urban areas

• Improved in-building coverage

• Faster deployment of compelling new services

• Increased retention, ROI, and average revenue per customer (ARPU)

But not without some challenges. HetNets represent a whole new world with many competing but unproven solutions, and diverse challenges that must be overcome.

HetNets: Small Cells, Big ChallengeOperators can’t afford to rely solely upon vendors to assess performance, nor will the old methods—drive tests and radio planning—address the inherent complexities of rolling out HetNets. Challenges include:

• Managing thousands of access devices

• Mitigating interference using SON

• Increased integration of 3G, LTE, and Wi-Fi

• Ensuring mobility, reliability, security

• Delivering a high-quality user experience

Ixia: Meeting the Mobile ExpectationThe successful deployment of HetNets hinges on many moving parts coming together. To ensure success, mobile operators and equipment providers must validate new designs and deployments in their labs each step of the way.

Ixia mobile assessment strategies and solutions maximize performance while minimizing risk. Ixia delivers the critical capabilities needed to deliver on the promise of HetNets:

• Emulation recreating external conditions to realistically assess functionality and performance. Ixia emulates tens of thousands of user equipment devices (UEs) and dozens of eNodeB base stations.

• Realism simulating devices, handoffs, interference management techniques. Enables intended deployments to be benchmarked under simulated peak conditions, power outages, and security threats.

• Subscriber modeling defining multiple types as well as a realistic mix of applications: Internet browsing, email, voice, video, P2P, and the like.

Validating HetNet Designs and Deployments

SOLUTION BRIEF

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• Flexibility to isolate and evaluate individual devices and sub-systems, and also perform system-level, end-to-end assessments of new services.

• Scalability: Most issues occur at high load, so HetNet testing must include generating realistic traffic at realistic scale to simulate stress conditions.

• Replication of field issues recreating live network scenarios in the lab during and after deployment.

• Validation of policy/QoS mechanisms using high volumes of emulated subscriber traffic to simulate near-capacity conditions. Includes generating millions of concurrent web transactions and transactions per second.

• Actionable QoE metrics for voice, video, UC, Web applications

Failing to perform adequate validation of technology and designs can lead to problems that impact users, such as:

• Inability to complete calls or dropped calls

• Limited mobility due to failed hand-offs to local small cells

• Poor quality in voice, video, and data-driven applications

• Missed SLAs

HetNets by the BookIn working with mobile operators and infrastructure manufacturers worldwide, Ixia wireless test experts have developed best practices for validating HetNets end to end. These strategies, and a more in-depth exploration of HetNet business and technology benefits and challenges are captured in a groundbreaking new book, Small Cells, Big Challenge: The Definitive Guide to Designing and Deploying HetNets.

Visit http://hetnet.ixiacom.com/ to download a copy and learn how to leverage the power of HetNets while minimizing the risk of the unknown.

Typical HetNet Test Setup ro

Uu

UE Sim eNodeB SimMME HSS

PDN-GWS-GW

PCRF

IMS

IPServices

Test System EPC

Device/NetworkUnder TestX2 S1