Heterogeneous networks, commonly known as hetnets, are efforts to improve and densify existing mobile broadband infrastructure together with added small cells are important when meeting ever-increasing user expectations. http://www.3glteinfo.com/

1. Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet)
Servicing data hungry smartphones
Watching streaming videos, uploading pictures and using cloud-based services
will make high demands on mobile networks. At the same time more devices Monthly PetaBytes (1015 bytes)
will be connected. Heterogeneous Networks will play an important role to
create an optimal customer experience, especially in crowded areas.
4,000
Heterogeneous Network involves a mix of radio technologies
and cell types working together seamlessly.
2015
Macro base station
Powerful base stations, often
installed on rooftops, cover 3,000
large areas and many users.
This is the backbone in the
Heterogeneous Network DATA:
solution. MOBILE PCs/
TABLETS
2014
Wireless transmission
Small, powerful transmission 2,000
link between base stations
and the rest of the network.
2013 Indoor Pico base station
Takes over the connection
when moving indoor. 70% of
traffic is generated indoors.
2012 1,000
2011 DATA:
MOBILE
2010 HANDHELD
2009
2008
VOICE
Wi-Fi
Used as a complement
in small indoor/outdoor
Micro base station hotspots.
A small base station with full features
that can be used to cover indoors
and outdoor crowded areas.
2016 2020
In 2016 there will be more Mobile Broadband subscrip- Overall mobile data traffic is Ericsson envisions that there
than 8 billion mobile sub- tions expected to reach close expected to grow 10-fold by will be 50 billion connected
scriptions in the world. to 5 billion by end of 2016. end of 2016. devices by 2020.
3 steps A Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet) based on a single
vendor 3GPP-standardized and coordinated radio network
TO A HIGH-QUALITY with integrated Wi-Fi, advanced traffic management and
MOBILE USER EXPERIENCE high-performance backhaul, will help to deliver a consistent,
high-quality and seamless mobile broadband experience.
Improve existing macro cells – by enhancing macro cells with more spectrum,
advanced antennae, increased order of diversity on the receiver and/or the trans-
mitter, and baseband processing capacity within and between nodes. Continued
evolution of HSPA and LTE technology will drive macro network efficiency through
specialized features, such as higher-order modulation, higher sectorization, and
1
multi-carrier and multi-antenna solutions, as well as spectrum refarming, using
hybrid radio solutions. Increasing capacity and data rates in this way does not
require new sites.
Densify the macro network – the capacity and data rates achieved by
enhancing the macro network alone, will eventually be insufficient to meet
demand. The targeted addition of cells strategically located can improve
capacity. This approach keeps the total number of sites relatively low, while
network performance becomes less sensitive to traffic location. A simple
way to densify a network could be a cell-split, which enables a site from
transitioning to a six-sector site from a three,sector site. These strategic
2 cells could use macro equipment, or even micro equipment.
Add small cells – by complementing macro cells with small cells and dedicated
indoor solutions, based on the 3GPP standard. This approach can include the use
of micro cells, pico cells or low-power remote radio units (RRUs), as well as
Wi-Fi. It delivers high per-user capacity and rate coverage in areas covered by the
3
small cells, with the potential to improve performance in the macro network by
offloading traffic generated in hotspots. The degree of integration that can be
achieved throughout the Heterogeneous Network will determine the overall
network performance.
Cell coordination In a Heterogeneous Network (Hetnet), the coordination
between macro cells and small cells has a positive impact
TO A HIGH-QUALITY MOBILE on the performance of the radio network, and
USER EXPERIENCE consequently on the overall user experience.
Macro base station Small cell base station
Coordination between the macro and small cells
enables close cooperation on cell selection in
areas of signal-strength imbalance.
Macro for downlink, micro for uplink
In the imbalance area, the downlink signal from the macro is the strongest,
because it transmits at a much higher power, whereas the uplink signal from
the pico node is much stronger, because it is closer. This provides the user
with significantly higher uplink speeds than would be possible with macro
coverage alone.