JMA Wireless, a global leader of wireless communications solutions, has launched TEKO Cell Hub, a fiber connected node that is not a small cell or a DAS.
Cell Hub uses fiber to deliver multiple licensed carrier bands and the new CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) spectrum in a single unit. This new offering works directly with the company’s recently announced XRAN™ technology, a 100 percent software baseband solution operating on off-the-shelf servers. The combination creates one of the most scalable, flexible, and easy to deploy enterprise solutions available in the industry today. It was designed specifically to address the unique needs of enterprise buildings and to streamline solution delivery.
“Cell Hub with XRAN is unlike any other solution. It not only uniquely addresses these companies’ present needs, but it is designed to enable performance and services to support the evolving business environment, including a smooth transition path to 5G capabilities,” said Todd Landry, Corporate Vice President of Product and Market Strategy at JMA Wireless.
Unlike small cells, Cell Hub is multi-carrier and multi-band. Using fiber, a Cell Hub unit connects directly into a standard server, making it easy to deploy yet still provides the capacity necessary to deliver best-in-class mobile performance.
“JMA Wireless’ Cell Hub is a clear example of emerging multi-carrier Distributed Radio Systems (DRS) that can offer scalable coverage for middle sized enterprises,” said Kyung Mun, Principal Analyst at Mobile Experts. “By utilizing the new XRAN platform for their Cell Hub, they have essentially moved the DRS segment into the virtualized RAN world.”
Cell Hub utilizes a common fiber infrastructure, enabling multiple units to connect to the XRAN server. Each Cell Hub provides 2X2 MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) with one watt of power, and Cell Hubs can be cascaded (daisy chained) to easily scale up coverage and capacity as needed. Using a DC power system that meets Class 2 in-building powering requirements, Cell Hubs are easy and cost-effective to wire into existing or new buildings.
Unlike small cells that are based on third party chip sets, Cell Hub utilizes XRAN for its baseband processing, making it easy to expand or adjust capabilities via a simple software change. Its adaptable sectorization allows each operator individual sector mapping, enabling RF engineers to virtually eliminate the battle against SINR (signal to interference plus noise ratio) experienced with small cells while optimizing in-building performance by further segmenting the sectors by tenant.
“Cell Hub with XRAN aligns with the new Distributed Radio Systems (DRS) segment, but adds virtualized RAN to the solution,” said Landry.
Cell Hub and XRAN can also be utilized in conjunction with the TEKO DAS platform as a hybrid solution, providing even further flexibility to address the unique needs of different buildings.
Key Attributes of TEKO Cell Hub with XRAN:
Virtualized Edge RAN
XRAN Adaptive Baseband software drives out cost and increases the flexibility of the RAN. As a technology partner in the Intel® Network Builders ecosystem, XRAN is optimized for standard Intel® Xeon® processors.
Adaptive Building Capacity
XRAN Adaptive Baseband applies resources to sites when and where they are needed, increasing utilization efficiency dramatically. This approach empowers a new age of RAN utilization, more than doubling the utilization efficiencies in the operator network.
Modernized Intelligent Operations
Configuration, policy setting, and monitoring are founded on web-centric interfaces to provide easy visualization and streamlined workflows. XRAN adapts to the operations hierarchy with flexible role-based definitions.
Anywhere in the Network
The architecture enables operators to deploy in central data centers (CRAN), within regional sites, on campuses, or in MDF or technical rooms within individual buildings. It allows operators to capitalize on the best economics for backhaul or fronthaul connectivity, and the benefits of Cloud economics.
Standards-Based High-Performance Mobility
The solution is designed to comply with 3GPP standards, including carrier aggregation capabilities, and support for both existing and forthcoming spectrums, to ensure buildings are empowered with the 5G revolution of mobile capabilities.
