4G Deployment Options and Issues

1. 4G Deployment Options and Issues May 5, 2012 Prepared by Russ Hamilton

2. Agenda • 4G Deployment Options • eNodeB Radio Location • Backhaul Requirements • EPC Options and Considerations • Gateway Locations • 4G Deployment Issues • Lessons Learned • Backhaul • Site Testing • Spectrum Clearing • Sweep Testing • Parameter Review • Toy Cell • After Commercial Deployment

3. eNode B Radio Locations • The standard eNodeB model calls for Remote Radio Units • These can be placed either at the tower top or base of the tower • Tower Top radios have a link budget improvement of up to several dB depending on the frequency and the height of the tower • Tower Top radios can also require a expensive tower crew to climb in the event of an equipment issue

4. Backhaul Requirements • Under standard rural loading conditions a 5 MHz LTE Sector typically carries a maximum of 9 Mbps Down and 4 Mbps Up • A three sector site will need about 45 Mbps of backhaul to each location to support this demand. • This backhaul needs to be pure packet based • Can be either Fiber or Microwave • Some carriers have used ADSL 2+ to support a few of their smaller site locations

5. EPC Options • A full EPC with media gateways, full IMS functionality, Voice over LTE support, etc can be very costly for smaller carriers • Typical vendor pricing starts with capacity figures well above the maximum growth that the carrier might achieve • Some vendors are offering a Lite Core option that will only support basic LTE data services with limited mobility • Roaming may or may not be supported in the future • This may be an attractive option initially however, if the network grows or the carrier wishes to deploy voice there may be some unexpected costs in the future

6. EPC Options • Due to the cost of the EPC, several companies are looking at sharing options • These allow the company to deliver a fuller suite of services to their customers that would be too much of a burden on their own • This approach also allows the carrier to focus on customer acquisition and services and not on core operations and training • In the Rural Market loss of control of the entire network is still an obstacle that is difficult to overcome • Due to the amount of backhaul that the eNodeB’s generate, a distributed gateway model may make more sense for the carriers so that they are not paying to transport Internet traffic across the country

7. Gateway Options • The gateway is the anchor that ties the eNodeB’s to the EPC • This is the first point at which the signaling traffic and the customer bearer traffic can be separated • It is possible to offload data traffic at the gateway location to avoid paying backhaul on email and video • With the standard LTE network architecture, it is possible to either place the gateway in the core or along the edges of the network • The tradeoff becomes balancing the cost of backhaul versus the cost of the gateway • Maintenance of the gateway with 24/7 technician access is also critical

8. Lessons Learned • Backhaul • Stress Test all of the backhaul links to ensure that the expected throughput and jitter values are verified • Also verify IP connectivity to the MME before installing the eNodeB • In Data troubleshooting ,the rule is always check the cables first, with LTE a lot of the problems come back to insufficient backhaul or unexpected data bottle necks. • Site Testing • Have a clear understanding of the type of testing that will be completed and the expected results • IPERF testing to a terminal server located next to the gateway is a good repeatable benchmark • Go to Speedtest.net – Your customers WILL.

9. Lessons Learned • Perform a Spectrum Study before turning up a new network • Even if you have already done one, but it was several years ago • Especially in the 700 MHz network. • Wireless Microphones • Low Power TV Stations • TV Stations that where supposed to relocated but have NOT • When evaluating propagation plots, RSRP is much more indicative of the actual coverage than RSSI • RSRP – Reference Signal Receive Power • Make sure that the Tower Crews perform sweep testing of the lines before antenna installation and insist on photos of the installation

10. Lessons Learned • Have a formal review of ALL of the parameters with the Vendor before proceeding with the eNodeB scripting process • This often gets dropped because of difficultly in getting everyone in a meeting • Many potential problems can be solved at this step • Have a toy cell connected directly to the gateway. • This needs to only be a single sector eNodeB. • Can use attenuators and a direct connection to a UE device • This is important for testing at the gateway as well as verification testing of the UE’s that are planed to be deployed

11. After Commercial Deployment • ADVERTISE • AT&T and Verizon have spent Billions touting the advantages of LTE • Piggyback on that awareness • Focus on the local aspect of the Independent Rural Carrier • Focus on customer support and local touch • Have a dedicated sales strategy and hold sales reps accountable • In today’s highly competitive environment, you can not just build it and hope that they come. • Make sure that the network is being monitored 24/7/365 • Try to know about a problem before the customer calls you

12. Any Questions? • Above All have FUN • THIS STUFF IS COOL! Russ Hamilton Director – Wireless CHR Solutions, Inc. 806-722-7709 Russ.Hamilton@chrsolutions.com