p.access and CCS have developed an integrated outdoor unit incorporating a 4G nanoLTE small cell from ip.access, and Metnet, a self-organising small cell microwave backhaul system from CCS. The new unit requires only a power supply to boost outdoor coverage and capacity in metro areas. It is designed to be more acceptable to local planning departments, and is smaller, cheaper, and easier to deploy than a two-box solution.
Ip.access states that although separate 4G small cell and wireless backhaul products can be installed in the same location, a two-box solution often exceeds the size, weight and single-attachment restrictions required to gain planning approval.
“We have deployed more than 1.8 million small cells to date, and Self-Organising Networks (SONs) are part of our DNA,” said Malcolm Gordon, CEO of ip.access. “By partnering with CCS, we’re able to extend our plug-and-play philosophy outside the building, with a solution that self-configures the wireless backhaul, as well as the LTE small cell, significantly reducing the complexity of LTE small cell rollout. We are delighted to collaborate with CCS on this first implementation.”
“CCS and ip.access have a shared vision of simplifying cellular network deployment,” said Steve Greaves, CEO and co-founder of CCS. “By combining our self-organising backhaul with ip.access’ SON LTE access points, we’re able to dramatically reduce the burden of small cell deployment. ip.access has many years of experience in end-to-end small cell solutions, and was an obvious partner for us."
The integrated ip.access 4G small cell is available in different regional variants, each supporting 5 LTE frequency bands with channel bandwidths of up to 20 MHz. The CCS wireless microwave backhaul can be deployed in a hybrid mesh, PTMP or PTP topology for ultimate flexibility.
Intel collaboration
ip.access also announced today that it is extending its collaboration with Intel to encompass a new generation of small cell products.
The Intel Transcede T3K and T2K system-on-a-chip (SoC) product family for enterprise, residential and rural market access points is a key component in ip.access’ Viper end-to-end small cell platform (launched 12 February), targeting enterprise users. This virtualised, in-premises enterprise radio access network platform integrates ip.access’ 3G and 4G access points, and virtualised access control gateways and small cells as a service (ScaaS) offerings into an end-to-end solution to address enterprise customer needs.
The inclusion of the Intel Transcede small cell SoC technology is set to extend the reach of ip.access’ LTE product offerings beyond licensed radio macro network deployments. By including self-organisation features (including FCC 47 part 96 compliance) ip.access products based on Intel technology will accelerate the transition towards LTE in mass market wireless access, including LTE-LAA, Citizens Broadband and Licensed Shared Access.
“We see the continued growth of demand for mobile communications around the globe and know that next generation small cells are the only way to meet it,” said Gordon. “Selecting a technology partner with the flexibility and power to support our goals is vital. Intel was the natural choice for us as its solutions extend our LTE and multi-standard roadmaps in a way that no-one else can match.”
“We’ve partnered with ip.access over many years, most notably on the high volume AT&T Microcell,” said Naser Adas, general manager of the Heterogeneous Network Solutions Group at Intel. “They have a unique vision of the way the HetNet wireless access market will develop. By deepening our collaboration today, we can help ip.access leverage Intel’s SoC platforms to meet the world’s need for wireless communication for licensed, unlicensed and Fifth Generation mobile networks.”
