Fool proof system could save mobile operators time and money by getting punters to test small cells on multi-site networks
A new cloud app can predict where RAN-building engineers should drive, tell them what tests to perform and which hot spots and critical areas should be tested. It could save mobile operators a fortune and help them win the 5G network building race against their rivals, says its inventor Infovista.
App takes the rap
Having assessed the situation, the automatic single site verification (SSV) app then gets on with the network testing routine on its own. This means operators could even take the skilled and expensive engineers off the job and use anyone with a smartphone to conduct tests in the field. The engineer’s valuable expertise can be reassigned to more vital network tuning tasks. Infovista, which specialises in network lifecycle automation (NLA), claims this new service will speed up the process of measuring service-specific key performance indicators (KPIs).
All played out from the back end
The use of lay people does not skew the results as the system won’t allow them to, says the vendor. Site-testing routines and criteria are defined at the backend and key measurements are independently scored against pre-defined thresholds rather than manually by a field engineer. This cuts the errors in data collection and get the network-wide testing job done quicker.
There’s no fool like an old tool
“Legacy testing processes aren’t fit for 5G networks purposes,” said Jaana Tengman, Infovista’s director of product management and network testing. The complexity of 5G networks and the environments in which they are used makes multi-site testing expensive and time consuming. By automating the testing routines, to identify where tests needs to be done, mobile operators can steam ahead in the race deploy new 5G sites, while still getting the most expansive and efficient network coverage.
RAN engineer’s time is precious
“Operators can’t afford for their radio frequency engineers to be driving round the country validating new cell sites,” said Tengman, “they need them working on core engineering tasks like RF optimisation. Automated SSV makes the network testing process quicker and more accurate, so that the cloud rather than your valuable but finite engineering resource is doing the legwork.”
See it in Barcelona
Infovista says automated SSV uses planning data to predict sweet spots for 5G site acceptance. The use of network planning and testing data to inform and improve the network lifecycle processes is the basis of network lifecyle automation (NLA) which is part of Infovista’s TEMS network testing range. Infovista will demonstrate automatic SSV at MWC Barcelona.