With the advent of flatter and distributed architectures in modern mobile packet access networks, there is a growing need to manage the complexities of operating, administering, and maintaining such networks, while also reducing OPEX. CDMA operators are using Micro, Pico and Femto cells to increase and manage the capacity and coverage of their networks. In this context, technologies such as SON (Self Organizing Network) are becoming increasingly significant and essential. The application of SON, in heterogeneous and distributed networks, can cover a wide range of capabilities such as self configuration, self optimization, self healing, and self provisioning, etc.

The key motivators for the adoption of SON capabilities include, but are not limited to, the following considerations:

• Manage interference between heterogeneous and distributed radio access networks
• Remote configuration and automated configuration management
• Enhance capacity management
• Reduce network management complexity and OPEX for operators.

The CDG SON Special Interest Group (SIG) is chartered to explore the framework and architecture for SON adoption in the CDMA2000^® family of systems and to harmonize this effort across 3GPP2, 3GPP, etc. The SIG will look into the requirements for a partitioning of functions across the mobile device, RAN, femtocell access point, and various elements of an OAM&P system to support SON capabilities, in a multi-vender environment. The vision, high-level requirements, and use cases will serve as inputs into the appropriate standards bodies, for the standardization of the SON framework.

CDG Contact Details

• Sam Samra, +1-913-397-0744, ssamra@cdg.org