Cloud-based Implementation of a SON Automatic Planning System: a proof-of-concept for UMTS

In mobile network deployments of growing size, the optimum and fast planning of radio resources are a key task. Cloud services enable efficient and scalable implementation of procedures and algorithms. In this paper, a proof of concept implementation of a cloud-based network planning work pattern using Amazon Web Services is presented. It extracts configuration and performance data from the network, enabling to accurately estimate cells coverage, identify neighbouring cells and optimally plan Scrambling Codes (SC) in an UMTS network. It was integrated in a SaaS monitoring and planning tool. The system operation is demonstrated for a small canonical scenario. For a realistic scenario with 12 484 unplanned cells, the planning of SCs is efficiently achieved, taking less than 8 seconds, and guaranteeing no collisions between first order neighbouring cells.