Streamlining small cell infrastructure testing
Small cells are radio access nodes (RAN) deployed in locations where macro-cell coverage alone is insufficient. They are designed to deliver localized cellular connectivity as part of modern 5G networks . They can be deployed both indoors and outdoors - across dense urban environments, enterprise campuses, industrial sites, transportation hubs and remote locations.
In areas with high user density or network congestion, small cells brings the network closer to users to increase capacity and improve performance. This concept is called network densification. This approach was initially driven by public mobile network requirements. Since then, however, the application of small cell technology has expanded. They are now also used in private, enterprise and mission-critical 5G networks to support predictable performance, reliability and operational flexibility.
Small cells are categorized based on coverage range:
- Femtocells cover ten to thirty meters
- Picocells cover up to 300 meters
- Microcells cover up to 1.5 kilometers
The deployment environment of small cells depends on both range and use case. So, femtocells are ideal for limited areas, such as homes and small offices. Picocells are better for larger indoor venues, such as company buildings, hospitals and shopping centers, as well as factories and warehouses. Microcells are typically deployed in dense urban outdoor environments (e.g., streets), on campuses and along transportation hubs, while indoor spaces often rely on picocells or distributed antenna systems (DAS).
Nowadays, small cells are often associated with private networks , but the two are not the same: “private network” describes the deployment model, whereas “small cell” describes the radio technology that enables the deployment. Modern small-cell platforms vary in design and deployment environment, ranging from traditional integrated architectures to open RAN-based implementations.
Small cell technology is evolving to support multiple deployment models and network architectures. This, combined with evolving spectrum usage, means that small cell testing is also increasing in complexity. Rohde & Schwarz provides comprehensive solutions that support end-to-end (E2E) testing of small cell technology – from R&D to high-volume production.
