FutureWorks
Self-Organizing Networks for
Mobile Backhaul
Executive Summary
Bringing self-organizing networks to mobile backhaul
The exponential growth of mobile traffic and the increasing difficulty of predicting peak
demands are two challenges that make it more important than ever to improve network
performance. Traffic backhaul plays an important but often overlooked role in the end-to-end
performance of an operator’s network.
Complex backhaul topologies are needed in order to connect the large number of cells in
growing mobile networks. Yet configuring and optimizing current backhaul solutions requires a
lot of manual work by highly qualified and expensive personnel. Because of the manual work, the
configuration and optimization cycles take too long and are vulnerable to mistakes.
So the question becomes: “How can we simplify the time-consuming, error-prone tasks for
deploying and optimizing backhaul nodes and networks?”
The answer lies in applying the concept of self-organizing networks to mobile backhaul.
Intelligent self-organizing network (iSON) solutions already automate the deployment and
optimization of radio and core networks. Excluding the mobile backhaul from this optimization
creates a bottleneck, leads to sub-optimal use of network resources and can degrade the
end-to-end service experience.
Nokia’s new SON for Mobile Backhaul technology extends these self-organizing principles to the
mobile backhaul network. This technology, in combination with software-defined networking
(SDN) controllers, helps operators achieve an optimal and efficient network configuration and
avoid failures introduced by human interaction. The technology also supports multivendor
mobile backhaul environments.
In a recent proof-of-concept in the context of a FutureWorks project, Nokia demonstrated how
a self-aware mobile backhaul system automatically adapts to ever-changing network demand
and provides optimal service performance and user experience at all times. That same level of
experience can be achieved with less transport infrastructure than is needed in today’s networks.
For operators, SON for Mobile Backhaul supports around 20% reduction in CAPEX as well
as reduced OPEX from simpler network planning, deployment and operation. Operators also
benefit from the increased lifespan of their infrastructure investments.
How SON optimizes MBH networks
The Nokia SON for Mobile Backhaul technology monitors user and control-plane traffic as well as
network quality KPIs for real-time analytics, anomaly detection and action. These inputs can be
used by big data and analytics engines to provide unparalleled insight into network status and
behavior.
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For automated self-optimization and configuration of network nodes, SON for Mobile Backhaul
reduces the number of transport parameters that must be configured for an eNB and adjusts
the eNB’s transport configuration to the traffic demand. For the backhaul network as a whole,
SON for Mobile Backhaul optimizes the end-to-end transport configuration, identifies unused
network resources and maximizes transport efficiency.
To improve network utilization, today’s optimization solutions address service demands with
simple algorithms and as individual efforts that are spread out over time and network areas. In
contrast, the Nokia SON for Mobile Backhaul technology automatically predicts service demands
and optimizes network configurations based on continuous consideration of demand across the
whole network.
All of these actions are taken with the goal of optimizing mobile backhaul to the actual traffic
demand.
Improving the user experience
Optimizing the Quality of Experience (QoE) for users is a dynamic task. It requires capabilities for
real-time measurement, analytics, decision and action within the network.
An operator’s ability to improve QoE today are limited because networks have no automated
loop for taking action and self-optimizing network solutions perform only in the radio and core
networks. Nokia SON for Mobile Backhaul adds the backhaul network, with actions that are
automated to support immediate optimization.
By reversing the conventional paradigm in which services must conform to the network, Nokia
SON for Mobile Backhaul adapts the network to the demands of those services. Customers
perceive a significant improvement of their experience because the network maintains high
service quality every time a user runs an application.
Opportunities for continuous improvement
The ultimate goal of these improvements is to create a mobile network that is always able to
optimize and heal itself end-to-end. The proof-of-concept for SON for Mobile Backhaul is a
major step in this direction.
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