Smart Cell

Smart Cells are innovative ubiquitous radio access nodes that provide wireless connectivity across multiple spectrum ranges and technologies. As of January 2014, Macrocells, Small Cells, and Wi-Fi connections were the primary means of data connectivity. For these types of cells, the spectrum utilized is static and is based on the antenna installed. A Smart Cell may transmit multiple frequencies and technologies which are controlled by the software and not the hardware (antenna).

Smart Cells are currently in the research and development stage but support software-defined networks which are proliferating the current mobile network structure, led by AT&T's adoption.[1] According to John Donovan (AT&T), "This is the way we will build our network.".[1]

Smart Cells are expected to lower capital and operational costs due to reduced equipment and manual manipulations needed to modify cell site coverage. The term Smart Cell is also used to identify other technologically enhanced cell sites where technology has reduced the need to manually manipulate radio access equipment or add additional carriers at a radio access node. Similar to Software-defined networking, Smart Cells may replace the existing static technologies with a dynamic, more efficient solution.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Lundquist, Eric. "AT&T to Take Leading Role in Adopting Software-Defined Networks". eWeek. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  2. ↑ "What's Software-Defined Networking (SDN)?". Retrieved 2014-05-23.


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