3GPP initiated the work towards standardizing self-optimizing and self-organizing capabilities for LTE in Release 8 and Release 9. The standards provide network intelligence, automation and network management features in order to automate the configuration and optimization of wireless networks to adapt to varying radio channel conditions, thereby lowering costs, improving network performance and flexibility.
A key goal of 3GPP standardization has been the ability to support Self-Organizing Networks (SON) features in multi-vendor network environments. Therefore, a significant part of the SON standardization has been devoted to defining the appropriate interfaces to allow exchange of common information which can then be used by each SON algorithm.
Release 8
As such, in Release 8, SON functionality focused on procedures associated with initial equipment installation and integration to support the commercial deployment of the first LTE networks, also known as ‘Enhanced Node Base Station (eNB) self-configuration’. These procedures included:
Release 9
In Release 9 SON functionality focused on the operational aspects of already deployed commercial networks, in particular key aspects related to network optimization procedures. The Release 9 standardization scope included these additional use cases:
Release 10
Release 10 provides a richer suite of SON functions for macro and metro networks overlaid on and inter-operating with existing mobile networks. It includes enhancements to existing use cases and definition of new use cases as follows:
Release 11
Release 11 provides enhancements to the following features:
A key goal of 3GPP standardization has been the ability to support Self-Organizing Networks (SON) features in multi-vendor network environments. Therefore, a significant part of the SON standardization has been devoted to defining the appropriate interfaces to allow exchange of common information which can then be used by each SON algorithm.
Release 8
As such, in Release 8, SON functionality focused on procedures associated with initial equipment installation and integration to support the commercial deployment of the first LTE networks, also known as ‘Enhanced Node Base Station (eNB) self-configuration’. These procedures included:
- Automatic Inventory
- Automatic Software Download
- Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR)
- Automatic Physical Cell ID (PCI) assignment
Release 9
In Release 9 SON functionality focused on the operational aspects of already deployed commercial networks, in particular key aspects related to network optimization procedures. The Release 9 standardization scope included these additional use cases:
- Mobility Robustness/Handover optimization (MRO)
- Random Access Channel (RACH) Optimization
- Load Balancing Optimization
- Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC)
Release 10
Release 10 provides a richer suite of SON functions for macro and metro networks overlaid on and inter-operating with existing mobile networks. It includes enhancements to existing use cases and definition of new use cases as follows:
- Coverage & Capacity Optimization (CCO)
- Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC)
- Cell Outage Detection and Compensation
- Self-healing Functions
- Minimization of Drive Testing
- Energy Savings
Release 11
Release 11 provides enhancements to the following features:
- Automatic Neighbor Relations
- Load Balancing Optimization
- Handover Optimization
- Coverage and Capacity Optimization
- Energy Savings
- Coordination between various SON Functions
- Minimization of Drive Tests
