Next-Gen NOS Links Small Cells, Biz Systems
End-to-end small-cell-network developer and manufacturer ip.access today unveiled the Network Orchestration System (NOS) that combines a suite of tools that will enable operators to deploy small cells and to introduce new services quickly.
The solution also allows operators to “manage and improve small-cell performance and the interaction between the macro network and the small cell layer to drive down dropped call rates (DCR) to class-leading levels,” the U.K.-based company says.??
The NOS includes four key management tools:?
>> Network Register: Enables operators to roll out private consumer small-cell services by bridging the gap between the small cells and the operator’s business systems. As each small cell is switched on and self-configures, the NOS obtains information about the cell and its registered handsets. This data is then fed directly to the operator’s existing business systems.
>> SON Support: Self Organizing Networks (SON) help operators automatically manage performance on the macro network layer. The ip.access NOS provides an interface to the SON infrastructure that helps ensure the two network layers work together, switching calls from one layer to the other with no drop-off in service or radio interference with surrounding cells.
>> App Manager: The ip.access NOS supports the GSMA’s OneAPI open standard, helping developers and operators to deploy new network services aimed at the small-cell layer. As the number and density of small cells grows – particularly in city centers and shopping malls – operators can compete with over-the-top players and can introduce location-based services that don’t rely on GPS data.??
>> OysterCatcher: Integral to the next-gen NOS is the remote-diagnostics-and-performance-monitoring capability of the OysterCatcher service. OysterCatcher captures performance statistics from individual access points, and it can aggregate data across the small-cell layer. Individual small cells, clusters or the entire layer also can be fine-tuned remotely to improve performance or to react to changing network conditions.?
Notes founder/CTO Nick Johnson, “Providing specialist small-cell-layer support to the operator community will be key to the success of next-generation LTE networks. At ip.access, we can uniquely provide best-in-class support, not only in terms of public and private access small cells, but also converged network gateways capable of making the transition from 3G to LTE, and now a comprehensive NOS that helps operators register, support and manage the small cell layer.”
“In particular,” he continues, “the NOS helps reduce the upfront investment required to launch small-cell services and gives operators unrivalled flexibility to quickly deploy services to solve coverage and capacity blackspots as well as introduce new value added-services.”?