SDWN: Beyond Femtocells

Missed this one earlier from Fierce Broadband Wireless:

Femtocells have little ability to become self-organized or perform network management functions. WiMAX and LTE, on the other hand, are based on highly adaptive OFDMA air interfaces and IP communications that enable architecting of self-configured and distributed networks. They become part of the broader unified communications industry movement toward smart, distributed networking that is augmented by distributed storage and application servers. The largest opportunities for WiMAX are Smart Distributed WBB Networks, SDWN, and Purpose Use of Multiple Spectrum bands (PUMS).

The SDWN wireless interface layer is based on scalable OFDMA, adaptive modulation and power control methods that enable the network to adapt to a variety of channel bandwidths, range, multi-path environments, and attenuating signal conditions and usage.

The same factors that are now driving intelligent wired networks are amplified by the nature of wireless: limited available spectrum. MIMO- beam forming, smart antenna and smart power regulation built into remote and mobile stations can achieve very high localized performance while working as an adaptive layer within the managed network.

The term ‘WiMAXmesh' is used by some companies to describe SDWN functionality for multi-hop relay network capabilities now being implemented into WiMAX integrated circuits and network devices. Currently, WiMAXmesh can include on-board or local memory and storage, support for multiple external network interfaces and optimized network routing capabilities.

SDWN is highly motivated by the need to deliver cost effective networks able to respond to high bandwidth demands from both enterprise and consumer markets. The need to be integrated as part of enterprise level networks compels development of self-configuring, self-organizing WBB networks. The growing demand for personal broadband, including social networking and video media, will propel the pace of SDWN developments.

We believe that SDWN will develop over the next 10 years to become two to four times larger than the conventional centralized wireless broadband network market.

Key stake holders in SDWN development include most major companies involved in WiMAX and 3G-LTE including:

• Alcatel-Lucent: A leading developer of co-MIMO, MU-MIMO technologies
• Alvarion: An early implementer of distributed network capabilities
• Cisco: We think that Cisco intends to become the leader in SDWN for both WiMAX and LTE. Products may not appear for up to two years.
• Intel: Offers distributed processor architectures and enabling IP.
• Nortel: An early leader in MIMO-OFDM and is continuing development toward SDWN
• Motorola: The company is not as visible but has developed corresponding IP
• Ericsson: Has recently entered submittals to 802.16 that correspond to work in LTE.
• Huawei: A rising developer in SDWN technologies.
• Numerous efforts are underway among WiMAX, LTE and multi-mode chip and smaller equipment suppliers. picoChip and DesignArt are noticeable examples.

Keywords:

• WBB - Wireless Broadband
• WBBN - WBB Networks
• SDWN - Smart Distributed WBB Networks
• PUMS - Purpose Use of Multiple Spectrum bands