Alcatel-Lucent

CDMA Distributed
Base Station Portfolio
A streamlined, cost-effective way
to enhance capacity and coverage

When faced with space limitations, cost concerns,

environmental issues or remote cell site locations,
you need exceptionally flexible options for de
ploying new base stations. Alcatel-Lucent helps
you overcome these common obstacles with a
full portfolio of distributed base stations that use
available real estate more efficiently, minimize power
consumption and even reduce the number of cell
sites you need. Offering a cost-effective alternative
to macro cell sites, the portfolio addresses all available frequencies, coverage areas and deployment
scenarios, including macro network coverage, micro
coverage and DAS application alternatives. It also
protects your investment by leveraging common
Alcatel-Lucent base station assets. CDMA distributed base stations are also part of the CTIA awardwinning Alcatel-Lucent Converged Base Station
Portfolio that enables wireless operators evolving
to the next generation LTE technology with maximum equipment reuse.

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Overcome deployment challenges

To maintain service quality, wireless
operators are working hard to enhance
their network coverage by filling
holes, supporting new frequencies
and deploying distributed antenna
systems (DAS). These efforts present
a wide array of challenges, as oper
ators are forced to make creative
use of available cell sites. Many
locations, such as roofs and tower
tops, dont have adequate space for
traditional base station solutions.
Or installation may be complicated
by environmental concerns, cost
considerations, remote locations or
special application requirements.

The Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distri

buted Base Station portfolio provides
exceptional deployment flexibility
and a full selection of products to
meet these diverse needs, enabling
you to make the best use of available
real estate, minimize site acquisition
costs, reduce your power bills and
manage operational issues more
effectively. Distributed base stations
provide capacity, coverage and net
work performance comparable to
conventional macro solutions, and
their processing and capacity can
easily be adjusted to meet changing
traffic needs.

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

A smaller footprint with greater flexibility

Distributed base stations expand
deployment options by using two
components, a base band unit (BBU)
containing the digital assets, and a
separate remote radio head (RRH)
containing the radio frequency
elements. This modular design
optimizes available space and allows
the main components of a base
station to be installed separately,
within the same site or several miles
apart. As a result, it enables a wider
variety of configurations from
micro to macro coverage with
various capacity levels. By gaining
these additional options for position
ing base station equipment, you
can save time on site acquisition,
lower installation and site costs and
improve performance, no matter
what deployment obstacles you face.

Leverage existing real

estate with zero-footprint
deployment
Each remote radio head weighs
under 21 KGs (45 lbs) and can be
easily and economically installed
by a single person. It also offers
cost-effective options for leveraging
any site with zero-footprint
deployment that takes advantage
of available space on the side of
buildings, tower tops and utility
poles. Distributed products can
also be stacked on top of current
base station equipment. Or they
can use spare capacity in existing
base stations, providing significant
increases in network efficiency.

Figure 1. Remote RF Heads (RRH) for space-constrained cell sites

Antenna

Antenna

RF feeder

RF jumper
RRH
Optical
link

Radio
Digital
Backhaul
Before

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Digital
Backhaul
After

Enhance coverage in remote locations

Distributed base stations can help speed and simplify site
acquisition with a hoteling application. It currently
allows up to twelve miles /20 km (25 miles/40 km in the
future) between a base station and an RRH, using the
same OA&M. This deployment option expands the num
ber of sites available to you, while maintaining simple,
efficient operations with a centralized base unit.

Figure 2. Remote RF Heads (RRH) hoteling applications

Remote site
with RF head

Baseband unit
with local RRH

Remote site
with RF head

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Cost-effective alternative to outdoor distributed antenna system applications

The Alcatel-Lucent CRPI-based distributed base stations provide significant benefits over the RFover-fiber DAS solutions. Theres no need for RF to optical converters. Antennas can be placed
at optimal remote locations, where more capacity and coverage is needed, while using the same
OA&M system. The distributed base station also offers carrier and sector growth options which
give you more flexibility.

Figure 3. CPRI-based distributed configuration compared to RF-over-fiber DAS

RF over fiber solution

Separate, additional equipment
Multi-step RF conversion
Separate administration
DAS head
Optical to
RF converter
Amplifier
Filter

RF

RF to fiber
converter
DAS OA&M

RF over
fiber
signal

CPRI-based distributed solution

Transmit and receive digital baseband signals directly
over optical fiber
No need for additional RF to optical converter
Same OA&M system as BTS
Same assets can be used for other distributed applications
Carrier and sector growth options
Baseband unit (BBU)
Optical card module
(OCM-II) transmits
baseband signal
over fiber

Remote RF head (RRH)

Includes integrated
radio, amplifier
and filter

Digital baseband
signal (CPRI)

Choose simplicity over complexity

Alcatel-Lucents distributed BTS portfolio simplifies deployment options and draws

upon a common set of building blocks that can be used to solve any deployment challenge

With this broader range of space-saving deployment options, you can rapidly deploy 3G networks at
minimal cost whether you want to introduce high-quality voice and data services in new spec
trum or enhance existing coverage.

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Reduce your total cost of ownership

The Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station
portfolio helps you achieve a lower total cost of ownership
(TCO) with the following CAPEX and OPEX savings:
Reduced total number of cell sites required in a given
geographic area when deployed in tower-top applications.
Up to 50 percent decrease in power consumption,
compared with conventional base stations.
More economical site rentals, as a result of the base
stations light weight, small size and zero-footprint
deployments

Reduced civil works, with no need for heavy steel

infrastructure
Streamlined installation that can use third-party
access and connectivity and eliminate feeders and
TMA installation
Protection for your investment, based on the portfolios
ability to leverage common base station assets and
evolve smoothly to LTE with maximum equipment reuse

Table 1. Features and benefits

Features

Benefits

Base band unit and remote radio heads that can be separated by up to twelve miles/
20 km (25 miles/40 km in the future)

Greater deployment flexibility

Better RF performance than traditional macro solutions for equivalent power levels
when deployed in tower-top applications

Reduced total number of sites required

Weatherized units that minimize space requirements

Easier site acquisition

Lower rental costs

Lightweight remote radio head (RRH) that can be carried by one person

Easier site installation

No need for feeders

Call processing and capacity that can be expanded easily, according to traffic needs

Increased scalability

More efficient use of power

Up to 50 percent reduction in power use over previous base stations

Reduced environmental impact through minimized power consumption, noise

visual impact

Fewer zoning issues

Support for CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO Rev. O and Rev. A technologies

Enhanced revenue opportunities

Support for a full range of power supply and coverage scenarios

Flexible deployment

Integrated maintenance and administration

Reduced OPEX

CPRI specification adapted for CDMA

Support for smooth evolution to LTE

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Minimize environmental impact

Alcatel-Lucent distributed base stations can improve the
eco-sustainability of your business. By utilizing high effi
ciency amplifiers based on DPD and Doherty technology,
and deploying convection-cooled (fanless), noise-free, and
heaterless RRHs, Alcatel-Lucent has lowered the power
consumption of these products by up to 50 percent over
traditional products. The distributed base stations also
reduce the number of cell sites required when deployed as
tower-top applications, bringing additional power savings
at the network level.
In addition, the advanced software features, and high reli
ability and distributed architecture minimize field and cell
maintenance trips, resulting in fewer carbon emissions
from transportation.
The zero-footprint approach with no huts and no cranes
needed also save natural resources by using less installa
tion materials and simplifying logistics.
The low power requirements of the products may also
enable alternate energy use, such as solar or wind power,
to further minimize environmental impact.

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

A complete portfolio for all your needs

Alcatel-Lucent extends the capa
bilities of its existing CDMA offer
ings with this complete CDMA
distributed portfolio. Each product
in the portfolio is targeted to specific
coverage areas and deployment
scenarios, including macro network
coverage, micro coverage and DAS
application alternatives.

The Alcatel-Lucent 9234 d2U

Distributed is a small form factor
base station that is ideal for 3-sector,
space-constrained deployments. The
9222 Micro Distributed provides sec
tor growth options for the existing
9222 Micro. And the 9228 Macro
Distributed offers 6-sector capacity
for high-quality, economical and lowimpact coverage in urban and sub
urban areas. Its also a cost-effective
alternative for DAS deployment.

Figure 4. A complete distributed portfolio for all environments

AWS RRH
PCS RRH

850 MHz RRH

Frequency: 850, 1900 and 1700/2100 MHz

Multicarrier support
Support for 3G1x and EV-DO
Multiple baseband unit (BBU) options

9234 d2U
Distributed BBU
9228 Macro
Distributed BBU

10 Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

9222 Micro
Distributed BBU

The market leader in CDMA technology

As the industrys leading CDMA equipment provider,
Alcatel-Lucent offers innovative new ways to overcome
deployment challenges and improve operating efficiency.
Contact your Alcatel-Lucent sales representative to find
out how our distributed base stations can meet your
specific needs.

Our distributed base station offers a highly efficient,

reduced-power alternative to macro cell sites.

Alcatel-Lucent is the number one supplier of global

CDMA networks with 42 percent CDMA market
share (source: DellOro, December 2008).

CDMA distributed base stations can leverage common

assets with other field-proven base station products
reducing CAPEX and OPEX.

Alcatel-Lucent was the first to support CDMA and

spread spectrum technology and completed the
industrys first CDMA200 1X EV-DO Rev. A calls.

Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs supports ongoing innovations

in form factors and capacity options.

Alcatel-Lucent has a proven track record of BTS

deployment with nearly 218,000 base stations
shipped around the world, as of March 31, 2009.
Alcatel-Lucent is the first company to adapt the
Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) specification
to CDMA, providing a smooth evolution path to 4G
technologies.

The portfolio expands our ability to meet every possible

deployment challenge, by providing a space-saving
modular design with increased flexibility and zero-foot
print options.

Alcatel-Lucent Converged Base Station Strategy won

the first place E-Tech Award at CTIA 2009. The strat
egy enables CDMA operators smoothly evolve to the
next generation LTE technology with maximum equip
ment reuse.

Alcatel-Lucent CDMA Distributed Base Station Portfolio

11

www.alcatel-lucent.com

Alcatel, Lucent, Alcatel-Lucent and the Alcatel-Lucent logo

are trademarks of Alcatel-Lucent. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The information presented is subject to change without notice. Alcatel-Lucent assumes no responsibility
for inaccuracies contained herein. Copyright 2009 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved.
CPG7526090501 (05)