Service providers are rolling out 5G/LTE and deploying small cells in combination with macro cell towers to address escalating bandwidth demand from the proliferation of smart devices. Small cells are a cost-effective solution to increase capacity of wireless networks in high-usage areas inside the coverage area of macro cell towers (hot spots), and add coverage outside the coverage area of macro cell towers (not spots). There are several types of small cells, and these include femtocell, picocell, metrocell and microcell. Each type of small cell has a different coverage radius, number of concurrent users, power, and deployment scenario.

The business challenges to large-scale small cell deployments, particularly microcell and metrocell, are high equipment costs, and operating expenses associated with complex wireless networks.  The technical challenges include the size of network equipment in compact locations, powering the small cell equipment, harsh environments with outdoor deployments, provisioning services, performance monitoring, fault management and timing synchronization.

iConverter® GM4 NIDs with Power over Ethernet

By integrating Carrier Ethernet 2.0 demarcation and PoE functions into a single device, Service Providers can easily deploy Wi-Fi hot spots and small cells almost anywhere, reduce equipment costs and overall power consumption. iConverter GM4 PoE NIDs are compact demarcation devices with integrated PoE and advanced Carrier Ethernet 2.0 capabilities that reduce operating costs, provide faster Return On Investment (ROI) and improve customer satisfaction.

• Smallest full-function NIDs available with 60W PoE
• 1000Mbps and 100Mbps Carrier Ethernet Fiber Access
• Power over Ethernet sourcing of 802.3af (15.4W), 802.3at (34.2W) and up to 60W
• Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Certified Compliant
• Environmentally hardened with wide (-40º to 60ºC) and extended (-40º to 75ºC) temperature ranges

Small Cell Demarcation with PoE

In this application example, a Service Provider offers small cell (metro cell) coverage in addition to Wi-Fi offloading and video surveillance. Compact iConverter GM4 PoE NIDs are deployed to provide automated provisioning and testing, performance monitoring and fault management.  The integrated Power over Ethernet provides power for up to four PoE devices, and eliminates the need for midspan equipment.

The Service Provider is deploying small cells along a fiber ring.  The GM4 PoE NIDs are installed near available AC or DC sources, and provide PoE, PoE+ or 60W PoE from each RJ-45 port on the NID.  GM4 PoE NIDs are available with two SFP fiber ports, and support G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching to enable resilient ring configurations.

The location at the top of the ring is an outdoor deployment, where a small cell antenna, a Wi-Fi access point, and an IP surveillance camera are connected to the GM4 PoE NID. The GM4 PoE NID is temperature hardened to -40º to 75ºC, and both the NID and the power supply can be installed in a weather-proof NEMA enclosure. On-board contact closure monitors the equipment enclosure for unauthorized tampering.

Reduce deployment costs with integrated PoE to power Small Cells and Wi-Fi access points

The other small cell site on the bottom is an indoor deployment, and the GM4 PoE NIDs provides connectivity to two Small Cells that can be located up to 200 meters away from each other (100 meters with each UTP cable).

Ethernet Virtual Connections (EVCs) are configured from the Wireless Carrier Network to each device, and the GM4 NIDs provide Carrier Ethernet 2.0 certified demarcation at each location. By integrating Carrier Ethernet demarcation and PoE functions into a single device, Service Providers can easily deploy Wi-Fi hot spots and small cells almost anywhere, reduce equipment costs and overall power consumption.  The GM4 PoE NIDs feature Zero-Touch Provisioning, built-in Y.1564 and 2544 test heads to simplify and automate large scale small cell deployments.  Comprehensive support for ITU-T Y.1731 Performance Monitoring and hardware-based measurement with nanosecond resolution enable granular Service Level Agreement (SLA) assurances.  IEEE 802.1ag Connectivity Fault Management and G.8031 and G.8032 Ethernet Protection Switching enables the delivery of reliable services with uptime guarantees. 

Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Demarcation for Small Cells

This application example shows how a mobile operator can leverage the advantages of Carrier Ethernet 2.0 backhaul for small cells.   One of the features of CE 2.0 is Multi-CoS (Multiple Classes of Service), which enables services within an EVC (Ethernet Virtual Connection) to be differentiated, prioritized and assigned unique bandwidth profiles. Multi-CoS optimizes network bandwidth utilization and provides predictable mobile backhaul SLA performance metrics.

A fiber link to a metro cell location transports an EVC that supports four Classes of Service. Clock synchronization traffic is assigned the highest priority (CoS 7), since it is most sensitive to delay and delay variation. Voice traffic is considered the next highest priority (CoS 5), which is also highly sensitive.  Delay and delay variation tolerant 4G Data (CoS 3) and Wi-Fi backhaul traffic (CoS 1) are assigned the lowest priority. iConverter NIDs perform with ITU-T Y.1564 service testing and Y.1731 performance monitoring for each Class of Service.

Differentiate traffic flows with different performance categories to improve the Quality of Experience

Note that additional Small Cells and Wi-Fi access points can be installed up to 100 meters away from the GM4 PoE NIDs, so one NID can provide CE 2.0 demarcation and power up to four devices.