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These should include Ethernet backhaul, front haul CPRI and OBSAI, plus legacy interface testing. Test teams need access to instrumentation with an extensive set of features that are suited to small cell deployment. Furthermore, timing synchronisation issues between small cells and macrocells can lead to dropped calls and degraded macrocell performance - which is exactly the opposite of the intention behind small cells deployment. The sheer number of small cell deployments limits the ability of field test teams responsible to troubleshoot each problem. Their greater prevalence places further pressure on ensuring that the network, and the equipment that supports it, has been installed and activated properly.įailing to fully test small cell deployments can impact heavily on the mobile network. Small cell implementation is, however, certainly not without its challenges. They will also increase capacity in high-usage areas with heterogeneous network deployments (being used in conjunction with existing macrocell infrastructure). Small cells will markedly improve coverage in areas with large numbers of tall buildings situated in close proximity to one another (combatting the effect of what are often referred to as ‘urban canyons’) as well as boosting coverage in under-served rural environments. Figures from the Small Cell Forum predict that by 2019 as many as 7 small cells will be deployed for every macrocell. These dynamics are giving mobile operators greater impetus to carry out deployment of small cells. (Click here to view article in digi-issue) Figure 1 - Typical small cell site configuration The 4G mobile subscriber base is continuing to expand and mobile data usage is rising at a phenomenal rate (with some estimates claiming that by the end of 2015 it will have reached 3.7Exabytes/month, which is a 74% increase on what it was at the end of 2014).