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Introduction
The complex process of deploying ever-changing technology is the driving initiative in the wireless industry today. In just two and a half years, 90% of the U.S. population has accessibility to LTE networks. And this is just the beginning. With the advent of small cell networks, the wireless industry faces a new set of challenges in deploying and maintaining those networks. Many companies in the industry have a very fragmented process for tracking site, project, lease, and asset information management environment with multiple point solutions that each manage a small piece of the network management lifecycle. But these multiple point solutions dont feed data into a consolidated view of the network. Adding to this is the complexity of legacy information management systems, the complexity of networks, and the significant increase in deployments to meet the growing demands of wireless data. In turn, this leads to the growing complexity and sophistication of financial and project management requirements. And this complexity and sophistication continue to grow as global markets progress from 3G to LTE and LTE Advanced, and with the introduction of heterogeneous networks. The demands require different data for different roles within carrier companies in order to have successful deployments. For example, carrier executives need visibility into project status, network status and vendor performance from a high level. Functional managers and senior management require more granular aspects of the network. Site development teams responsible for the build out of networks and the deployment of new technologies need tools that make it easy to manage the tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of projects by site. Complex projects such as these require standardized templates that capture best practices, but also need to retain the right amount of flexibility to deal with real world scenarios such as adapting to local zoning regulations. Having a single system of record for all assets and attributes is missioncritical. And, as a trusted partner for all four major U.S. carriers, Accruents solutions manage sites, projects, leases, and assets, creating this central system of record, or rather, a single source of the truth. The companys Siterra software solution already runs over 1.5 million projects across all customers and specializes in large scale network build outs and upgrades, connecting wireless carriers, tower companies and the service providers do the work.
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With the impending race to deploy small cells as carriers seek to densify networks in response to exponential increases in consumer demand for data, carriers face a new set of challenges that only having a single source of truth can address. Read this white paper to learn more about these challenges and what you can do to find a way to manage and accelerate small cell deployments.
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Win Big, Think Small: Overcoming the Challenges of Small Cell Deployment
Executive Summary
Wireless carriers are racing to deploy small cells in the field. AT&T plans to deploy 1 more than 40,000 small cells by the end of 2015. The rush to small cells is only likely to increase as carriers seek to densify networks in response to exponential increases in consumer demand for data. Yet these deployments are no easy task. Small cells present many complex deployment challenges that go far beyond those posed by macrosites. Traditional deployment processes dont account for all the site-based complexities of installing microcells. Small issues can quickly escalate and lead to installation errors, poor data quality, and disputes between carriers and service providers about what was deployed when. Each problem drives up costs and slows deployments. Carriers, Tower Companies and their Service Providers must find a way to manage and accelerate small cell deployments. Otherwise, as the volume of projects rises, the complexities of deployments could threaten the timing and success of enterprise-wide small cell programs. Siterra provides a solution. With a new Small Cell Module, Siterra extends its proven wireless site and project management solution with capabilities that match the unique requirements of microcell sites. Were a company with extensive macro, DAS and Wi-Fi experience. When we began to consider our strategy for Small Cells several years ago, it was a natural progression to try to fit them into one of these time-proven and highly-evolved deployment models. But, much like trying to hit the proverbial round peg into a square hole, we rapidly determined this wouldnt work and that we would have to develop a new, and unique model for Small Cells. Jeff Cocking Director of Engineering & Deployment, Goodman Networks
1 Mansfield, Gordon. AT&T Small Cells. www.att.com. 2014. 2 U.S. Mobile Data Market Update 2012. http://www.chetansharma.com. 2012.
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Small cell sites present new layers of complexity as compared to traditional macrosite deployments. With all of the zoning, acquisition, and leasing documentation required to build a macrosite, the risk of building it in the wrong location is close to none. However, its all too easy to deploy a small cell on the incorrect node inside a building. All it takes is an error in the site plan or a misunderstanding from the installer. Simply knowing that a service provider completed a deployment as designed and billed is more difficult than with a traditional site. If a service provider fails to install two of 50 small cells on a project, the carrier may pay without noticing the error. On the other hand, a service provider may have trouble getting paid for installing small cells if technicians submit inadequate documentation of the deployment. For small cells to deliver on their promise, their deployments must be cost- effective. That means they must not unleash a torrent of administrative hassles that drive up the cost to install each antenna. To ensure maximum value from small cells, carriers and their service providers must overcome the following deployment challenges, including: Complex project deployments. A small cell deployment project, whether outside or within a building, consists of complex project requirements, with multiple microcells serving as antennas of a hub. Each project entails many of the design, leasing, feasibility, permitting, and zoning issues of a traditional macrosite. Threading in backhaul and power to each cell can be a nightmare, depending on the building. From rooftop femtocells to distributed antenna systems (DAS) inside an airport to picocells on utility poles, each type of small cell has its own set of challenges. Taking into account end-to-end documentation, a new small cell deployment can take up to 200 days or more. Absent an efficient way to manage and accelerate complex deployments, carriers and service providers risk encountering costly delays at every step in the process.
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Aggressive project volume. Carriers plan to deploy massive numbers of small cells, and theyve barely gotten started. As noted earlier, AT&T plans to deploy 40,000 small cells by 2015 as part of a three-year, US$14 billion 3 initiative. As a carrier or service provider to carriers, you must be able to choose sites, install antennas, lay backhaul, and maintain them at a massive scale. Only a highly efficientand accurateprocess driving deployment will allow carriers to meet their goals for the number of devices deployed. Rising costs. Wireless traffic has exploded in recent years thanks to the prevalence of smart mobile devices. The trend shows no signs of slowing. In a recent report, Cisco estimated that mobile data traffic will increase 4 13-fold by 2017. The need to accommodate increased traffic while retaining customers has pressured carrier margins. Small cells will help carriers keep ahead of ever-increasing system traffic and comparably flat revenue. The cost to deploy and maintain individual small cell units must be low. Every step in the deployment process and every stage in the lifecycle of a small cell must be automated to the extent possible. Data entry errors and other seemingly minor issues at any step in a project can cause inefficiencies to consume valuable time and money. For instance, a technician installing a device on the wrong node in a shopping center could require reinstallation or make it difficult to even find the device for maintenance. Though small, microcells present huge challenges to carriers and service providers. Deployment processesand technologiesdesigned to support macrosites wont deliver the efficiencies needed for microcells. Only a solution tailored to small cells will enable the wireless industry to meet its deployment goals.
3 Mansfield, Gordon. AT&T Small Cells. www.att.com. 2014. 4 Cisco Visual Networking Index: Forecast and Methodology, 20122017. www. cisco.com. May 2013.
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Managing complex deployments. Use project templates that group small cells as antennas on a hub to manage deployments at complex sites more easily as an integrated project. Increasing deployment rates. Small Cell Location Analytics helps field technicians work faster and more accurately. Task dependencies boost productivity by ensuring technicians perform the right task at the right time. Scaling to match the influx of small cells. Track multiple projects by site locations and attributes to get a big-picture view of your small cell assets.
The red dots represent antenna nodes on a Distributed Antenna System all contained in a hub at an airport. Siterra lets you manage microcells as antennas on a hub, enabling easier project management and faster deployment.
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Siterra makes it possible to manage dozens, hundreds, or thousands of deployments simultaneously. Each deployment advances more efficiently, and you gain a view into the progress of each project. The following example of a typical deployment with and without Siterra illustrates the value of the solution.
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Siterra for small cell management helps to: Compress deployment project timelines Improve installation and data quality Increase visibility into individual projects and across microcell assets Scale efficient processes to support the microcell asset lifecycle Enhance collaboration between carriers and service providers
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Conclusion
Carriers and service providers must find a way to deploy tens of thousands of small cells without breaking the bank. To keep costs under control, they need a solution that lets them manage large numbers of complex deployments more easily. Ideally, this solution would further streamline the process by giving carriers and their service providers an integrated view into projects. Siterra offers the capabilities carriers and service providers need. Start to finishand beyondSiterra makes it easier to install small cells efficiently while avoiding the issues that lead to delays and increased costs. Use it to: Deploy small cells faster, capturing accurate data throughout the process Manage deployment complexities proactively across projects Scale processes proactively to manage large portfolios of microcells Join the carriers and service providers who already use the Siterra Small Cell Module to accelerate and streamline small cell deployments.
About Accruent
Accruent helps real estate and facilities leaders deliver long-term, world class operational and financial performance through purpose-built industry suites that deliver greater customer value. Accruents six product brands, Accruent, FAMIS, Siterra, 360Facility, Evoco and Expesite are used by more than 1,200 leading organizations in 56 countries, including 40% of the Top 100 Retailers, 20% of the Fortune 500, 100 leading universities, all of the Top 4 U.S. Wireless Carriers, and leading service providers managing more than 1.5 billion square feet of property. Founded in 1995, Accruent is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Santa Monica, California; Evanston, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Hong Kong. For more information, contact Accruent at 512.861.0726 or toll free at 800.774.7622 and you can visit our website at: www.accruent.com.
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