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Contela, a leading Smallcell solution provider based in Korea, introduced its new Smallcell solutions at MWC 2015. The company has provided SK Telecom, a Korean network operator, with LTE Femtocell solutions through years of cooperation with SK Telecom.

At MWC, Contela presented three wireless access units to be embedded in LTE Smallcell solutions: Indoor Home/Enterprise Smallcell AP, Outdoor Smallcell AP, and Smallcell In-building Solution (SIS). Especially, SIS drew attention from lots of MWC attendants.

"SIS" is designed to cover wide areas like in-building areas by combining conventional Smallcell APs and DAS. Mr. Hong Kweon Kim, Team Manager of System 2 Team at Contela, explained, "SIS is an upgraded Smallcell unit that has a combined form of a Smallcell AP and a DAS repeater system. There are 3 major components of SIS: (1) DU connected to Backhaul network, (2) RUs (with built-in antennas) installed within in-building coverage areas, and (3) OEU that relays signals between DU and RUs. These components are interconnected through an in-building DAS infra, just like neurons in our body are interconnected through a neural network.

He also highlighted that, "Because SIS enables a DU to distribute Smallcell radio signals to RUs installed within in-building coverage areas without degradation, it ensures stable Smallcell radio coverage even in the in-building areas that is actually located far away from the DU. Plus, because DU and RUs as well as OEU and RUs can be connected using UTP cables that have been commonly used in LAN networks, now building an in-building wireless network can be more efficient and less expensive than building one using conventional RF cables." 

In addition to SIS, Contela's Home/Enterprise smallcell units - not the latest, but still powerful solution - also attracted lots of attendants at MWC. Home/Enterprise Smallcell units are designed to provide high-speed LTE data service indoors - at home, enterprise, etc.

Though not presented at MWC, the company's Outdoor Smallcell solutions are useful for enhancing the coverage capacity of the conventional Macrocells or improving small hotspot coverage. Demand for this solution is expected to grow.

Small Cell Portfolio:  LTE Home Small Cell, LTE Enterprise Small Cell

He also said, "Because Smallcell equipment interworks with the LTE Core network through public Internet, network security between the two is one of the most important requirements. For enhanced security, dedicated security equipment like SeGW (Security Gateway: IPsec) is embedded in the solution."

Ms. Eun Hwan Lim, Deputy General Manager at Global Business Team of the company, noted, "The technical excellence and reliability of Our Smallcell solutions have been highly recognized. In fact, we have been supplying our FD-LTE-enabled solutions to SK Telecom, and also plan to develop TD-LTE-enabled solutions to penetrate into the Japanese market."