Small Cell over HFC — Unblurring the Lines
By Jonathan Haight
Over the last two years, we’ve seen a blurring of the lines between mobile network operators (MNOs) and multiple system operators (MSOs) and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Agreements are being executed throughout the mobile industry. It’s very much similar to cats and dogs playing together…tempers get raised from time to time, but they both live in the same house.
The MNOs and MSOs each have their own unique traits they bring to this uneasy partnership: MNOs have a wide footprint, coast to coast with cell towers, fiber and a nationwide backbone. The downside is that they do not always have the ability to provide a granular solution. MSOs have very targeted areas of service, including major cities, suburbs and towns within regions. Their approach utilizes a combination of fiber and coax plants, covering most streets… very granular. Combined, they both have the broad approach with the ability to reach deep into a coverage area.
So, what is the benefit of teaming with the MSO? They have a very distinct advantage when it comes to small cell deployments…they can offer the MNOs power and backhaul by utilizing the HFC plant as well as have fiber throughout their network footprint.
- Power: The AC power running through the HFC plant was designed to provide powering to outside plant RF gear and regenerated as needed to push farther out into the plant. This AC power, which is typically quasi-square wave AC has a voltage range of 40-90 VAC.
- Backhaul: The HFC plant has been designed to carry data throughout, via DOCSIS® DOCSIS®is being deployed as backhaul option for small cells currently with success. With the emergence of DOCSIS®3.1, security and bandwidth speeds are very suitable for backhauling. MSOs also have the ability to utilize their fiber infrastructure.
Small Cell Radios— Initially, small cells were not HFC friendly and strand mountable. DOCSIS®was not an option and strand requirements had not been factored into their design. Today, small cell technology has progressed to address some of the unique factors involved with deploying on an HFC network. But, there are still some issues that arise… DOCSIS®technology changes regularly and different MSOs have different modem requirements. Also, the HFC plant fluctuates and return band requirements being different between MSOs…making the internal HFC/RF board hard to standardize.
Purpose Built Lindsay Gateway and Components
Designed and Deployed. Lindsay Broadband’s Gateway platform is designed for cable operators to serve small cells either under an MVNO or as a business service offering to an MNO. Lindsay has been deploying small cell gateways direct to MSOs for roughly five years supporting most of the MNOs in the US. The platform allows any small cell, to be deployed into the HFC plant and the gateway acts as the demarcation point for power/backhaul.
Lindsay also works with small cell vendors to integrate key components of a gateway into their small cells for use in HFC deployments, including:
- Power supplies
- Surge protection
- DOCSIS®0 and 3.1 modems
- HFC/RF board level component
- Strand mounted enclosures
- Antenna options
Lindsay Powering — Lindsay’s strand mounted power supplies, support the conversion from the HFC to provide a variety of powering outputs, including up to 600 W AC, up-to 400 W DC, POE and POE++.
Lindsay has also recently released a line of pure sinusoidal AC solid state power supplies called “T-series.” These PSs will range from 250 W to 2200 W of pure sign wave powering. They will be debuting this product line at Cable-Tec Expo in October 2018.
Lindsay saw the need five years ago for this product line and has been adapting along with the market to design components and a platform needed to support it. Working with many of the top small cell vendors, MSO and MNOs has allowed Lindsay to continue to evolve and carve a niche of their own.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Haight, VP of US Sales/Business Development, Lindsay Broadband Inc. jhaight@lindsaybroadbandinc.com
Jonathan Haight
Vice President, US Sales & Business Development
Lindsay Broadband Inc.
jhaight@lindsaybroadbandinc.com
Headquartered in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Lindsay Broadband is a designer, manufacturer, and integrator of broadband communication solutions. Lindsay’s range of technologically advanced solutions are helping communication service providers deliver new business services from their networks, find new sources of revenue, and meet the exponentially growing data needs of businesses and consumers. Lindsay solutions include strand-mounted Wi-Fi hotspots, optical and DOCSIS gateways, LTE small cell backhaul solutions, end-to-end FTTx and RF solutions. Founded in 1953, Lindsay distributes all its solutions to the global market.
