ZTE's SDR Element Management System

Long Term Evolution (LTE) has gained widespread acceptance from mobile operators worldwide as the technology of choice for their future networks. Evolution from HSPA to HSPA+ and then to LTE has become a unique evolution path for wireless networks. This path, however, gives rise to certain challenges for mobile operators. When upgrading existing networks, compliance with future standards must be taken into account. And in the evolution to LTE, some network devices may also need to be replaced.

In order to meet critical market requirements, ZTE has developed a Software Defined Radio (SDR) base station platform—a uniform hardware platform on which a single SDR base station can support multiple wireless standards with minimal software upgrade. The platform helps operators significantly reduce their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). However, its flexibility and multi-standard support feature, increase complexity and difficulty in wireless network management and maintenance.  Operator requirements for simple management and low maintenance costs drive the development of flexible, integrated wireless network management systems.

As next generation networks are IP-based, telecommunications and IP networks will evolve towards full convergence. Wireless network management must consequently integrate a variety of new technologies to ensure network management is integrated, intelligent, and standardized. Today, wireless network management seeks to adopt standard interfaces, flat structure, distributed networking, and user-friendly operation.

ZTE has launched a unique SDR Element Management System—based on its Unified Element Management System (UEMS) platform—which is in keeping with the evolutionary trends of wireless network management. Accumulative management of SDR base stations is performed jointly by both UEMS and the SDR Element Management System (see Figure 1). Because UEMS implements the Element Management Layer (EML) and some Network Management Layer (NML) functionalities, it is beneficial with respect to:

■    Flexible networking scheme

■    Unified equipment deployment

■    Centralized equipment management

■    Lower TCO

The SDR Element Management System differs from traditional wireless EMSs in the following ways:

Standard interfaces: Information sharing and interoperability are fundamental for connectivity between network management systems. Standardized and uniform interfaces are prerequisite for such interoperation. The SDR Element Management System manages Network Elements (NEs) through uniform, standardized interfaces such as SNMP and MML.

Flat structure: As operators aim to lower maintenance costs and improve network efficiency, it is critical to optimize the network management hierarchy using state-of-the-art network management technologies. The SDR Element Management System provides local maintenance functions as a supplement to UEMS. These functions include batch activation of SDR base stations, alarm query, network diagnosis, and emergency maintenance.

Distributed deployment: Distributed management is the most feasible option for wireless networks and services typically found in a distributed environment. The SDR Element Management System is flexible and capable of distributed and hierarchical networking. The management modules can be flexibly added or removed from the SDR Element Management System, depending on the underlying network products to be managed.

Smooth evolution: The SDR Element Management System is also capable of managing SDR base stations that support multi-technology systems. Operators can expand their existing networks or build an entirely new network as required. Moreover, the SDR Element Management System can be integrated with traditional wireless EMSs deployed for different wireless systems to achieve uniform OSS/BSS management.

User friendly operation: The SDR Element Management System provides unified, user-friendly GUIs for convenience in performing day to day operations. It can be flexibly deployed as a stand alone system at the NE side to enhance UEMS’s capability in managing large scale wireless networks and to allow staff to perform local maintenance operations. It can also be integrated into UEMS to help manage small-scale wireless networks. Furthermore, it can be transplanted to other network management products or other wireless NEs to boost product competitiveness.

ZTE’s SDR Element Management System is designed to comply with the industrial trends towards standard interfaces, flat structure, distributed networking, and user-friendly operation. It opens the possibility of evolving from distributed maintenance to centralized management for full-service operators. Combining UEMS and SDR Element Management Systems aligns with the trends of wireless EMS development in a more satisfactory way. This boosts EMS competitiveness while significantly lowering operation and maintenance costs.