Thinking of adding small cells to your LTE macro network? You’re not alone. LTE small cells are now broadly accepted as a necessary part of a mobile network. But adding small cells can introduce fresh challenges, especially for the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) where the signaling load on your Mobility Management Entity (MME) will grow.

There are multiple factors to consider when determining how much additional signaling volume will hit the core network – and what steps you should take to help ease the impact. I talk about this in my podcast and in a new Application Note “The Impact of Small Cells on MME Signaling”.

What causes the MOST signaling in the core?

What procedures cause the most signaling in the core network? Based on our LTE traffic analysis of large-scale networks in dense urban areas we have identified the top three:

Service Requests (62%)

Paging (29%)

Tracking Area Updates (5%)

It will be important to find ways to reduce this signaling traffic in the combined LTE macro and small cell network.

Which factors should I track?

As you add LTE small cells to provide the capacity, coverage and quality of experience needed to support today’s mobile broadband services, you will need to consider...

Read the full article on TechZine.

Listen to the podcast to learn more.

Listen to the podcast to learn more.