All About Self Organizing Network (SON)

Self Organizing Network : 
- Aims to reduce the network operational cost and improve user experience.
- Addition of new network element should be in Plug and Play mode.
- SON introduced in Rel 8 version of the 3GPP specification.
- Fully implemented in Rel 9 and Rel 10.
- 3 main concepts :

• Self - Configuring Network
• Self - Optimizing Network
• Self - Healing Network

Self Configuring Network :

- Aimed at automating the deployment of new eNodeB.
- eNodeB should be added to the Network as Plug and Play.
- Introducing a new eNodeB to the system should be automatic and eNodeB will be able to allocate appropriate Physical Layer Cell Identity.
- ANR is part of Self Configuring Network.
- Should be easy to deploy and should be less sensitive to error.
- Most used during initial network deployment.

Self - Optimizing Network :

- Aimed at automating network performance improvement.

- Includes 

• Coverage and capacity optimization
• Handover optimization
• RACH optimization
• Reduce inter-cell interference between eNodeB.

- Aimed at reducing the requirement of drive test.

- Useful throughout the life of the network

Self - Healing Network :

- Aimed at automating the fault handling.

- Faults should be automatically detected and corrected.

- Reduces outage time.

- Improves network performance

- Improves end-user experience.

- If one the eNodeB goes bad then self - healing allows neighboring eNodeBs to compensate by using their unused power headroom.

- It also uses redundancy within the network. 

- Useful throughout the life of the network