Vodafone Netherlands to deploy pioneering SpiderCloud E-RAN small cells

Vodafone Netherlands has selected SpiderCloud Wireless to provide its pioneering scalable small cells for the operator’s in-building coverage offering for the enterprise market.
 
SpiderCloud’s world-first Enterprise Radio Access Network (E-RAN) solution claims to be able to deliver reliable mobile services indoors for enterprise customers of any size using a Services Node (SCSN) that can control over 100 multi-access small cells powered by the enterprise-Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN).
Added to SpiderCloud¹s Self Organising Network (SON) software, the vendorsays the system can be installed in a matter of days to support thousands of employees.
 
The E-RAN supports 3G, 4G LTE and dual-band Wi-Fi, and is much faster and cheaper to deploy than DAS antenna systems.
 
The SCSN, which is a radio access and Wi-Fi controller, sits in the enterprise and provides a single interface to the operator’s core network from Radio Node small cells deployed on the premises.
 
Most small cell solutions rely on core network-based controllers that sit in the small cell gateway, but which are not scalable beyond a dozen small cell devices. 
 
In contrast, SpiderCloud¹s SCSN supports configuration, faults, security and interference management between the small cells and integrates with the enterprise¹s intranet, PBX and other systems.
 
According to SpiderCloud, installation is faster than if it were to be done over Wi-Fi and has a high backhaul efficiency as the transport is based on IP and Ethernet technology.
 
In addition, as the system runs in an open-access mode it does not cause interference the way closed-access systems do, and enterprise access to special services is based on the SIM identity, meaning that the indoor building coverage can be shared by the public and enterprise employees without compromising the enterprise¹s infrastructure.
 
Currently, core network-based small cells controllers typically use hard handover, which does not allow for local switching and has poor mobility and QoS support. 
 
“We are pleased to be the first operator in the Netherlands to offer business customers this new and innovative system,” said Marcel van den Biggelaar, Head of Technology Strategy, Vodafone Netherlands.
 
“We can now, more rapidly than ever, address the needs of thousands of enterprise customers who rely on mobile connectivity and services for business productivity. Previously we were restricted by the cost and time it took to install legacy in-building wireless systems or the lack of scalability of first generation small cells.”
 
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