AirWalk’s EdgePoint PRO enterprise femtocell available with Qualcomm’s UltraSON technology

RICHARDSON, USA: AirWalk Communications Inc., the leader of small cell radio access networks, announced the EdgePoint PRO enterprise femtocell is now available with Qualcomm's UltraSON interference and mobility management technology. UltraSON advanced RF interference mitigation brings critical self-organizing functionality to the EdgePoint PRO.

The growing popularity of mobile data applications and the improvements in mobile video capabilities have created a data usage surge causing network congestion in hotspots or offices where users congregate. To address these developing market dynamics, operators are deploying EdgePoint PRO enterprise femtocells to enable data off-load from the macro network onto localized small cells.

Enterprise femtocells are typically deployed as an enhancement to an established cellular macro network and therefore require self-organization capabilities to seamlessly integrate with the macro network. UltraSON Mobility Management features enable efficient off-loading of macro traffic by identifying and redirecting mobiles to the EdgePoint PRO.

In addition, the Interference Management capabilities enable the EdgePoint PRO to maintain a high level of QoS and service reliability by managing interference conditions on the uplink and downlink. UltraSON Power Management features allow the EdgePoint PRO to have autonomous control over RF emissions, providing optimum coverage while minimizing interference to macrocell mobiles.

“Drawing from their extensive air interface knowledge, Qualcomm has developed a robust self-organizing solution based on extensive research and real-world measurements,” said Chris Osborn, CTO at AirWalk. “Operators deploying small cells require a system that minimizes manual planning and makes quick and reliable deployments of small cells possible. With the addition of UltraSON technology, EdgePoint PRO offers the most advanced solution available to meet these operator requirements.”

“AirWalk and Qualcomm share a dedication to developing small cells that improve macro network performance, positively affect operators’ bottom line and ultimately enhance the user experience,” said Ed Knapp, senior VP of Business Development and Engineering at Qualcomm. “It is exciting to see a leading product like EdgePoint PRO as the first product to incorporate the UltraSON self-organization techniques and algorithms.”

The on-site plug-and-play installation of the EdgePoint PRO can be performed by an operator or an end customer. During the power-up sequence the EdgePoint PRO will automatically download software from the O&M system, listen to and analyze the surrounding RF environment, auto-configure the femtocell within the network, and intelligently adjust critical parameters to minimize interference to and from surrounding base stations.