LAS VEGAS – Verizon Wireless looks set to move aggressively into small cell deployments, announcing a deal with infrastructure powerhouses Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent to add small cells to enhance the carrier’s LTE network.
The deal with Ericsson calls for the infrastructure provider to provide its micro remote radio unit small cells for Verizon Wireless’ LTE network that is currently running across the 700 MHz band. Verizon Wireless has said it plans this year to begin adding in its 1.7/2.1 GHz spectrum holdings to add capacity to its LTE network. Ericsson noted that its RRUS will integrate into the overall network as part of its RBS 6000 baseband product line.
Ericsson added that later this year it plans to provide its RBS 6501 product to Verizon Wireless, which supports the 3GPP 37.104 standard and provides “local-area and medium-range coverage in a heterogeneous network environment.”
Details on Alcatel-Lucent’s plans are a bit scarce, with the company noting that it will begin deploying small cells on Verizon Wireless’ network beginning during the second half of this year.
“Small cells will play a role in the Verizon Wireless strategy to add capacity in high-traffic locations and provide the best customer experience possible on the nation’s largest 4G LTE network,” said Mike Haberman, Verizon Wireless VP of network support for Verizon Wireless.
Verizon Wireless has noted a rapidly growing amount of its total data traffic is being carried by its LTE network and thus the need to densify its network with higher-band spectrum and small cells. At last year’s CTIA event, Hans Leutenegger, VP of Network in the South region for Verizon Wireless, explained that the carrier was looking at the integration of small cells, but that it was still trying to tackle issues of interference, power and backhaul capabilities.
The carrier has worked with a number of other small cell technologies, including distributed antenna systems and femtocells.
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