Sophia Antipolis, 31 March 2016
Exclusive event includes special focus on HetNet and SON configurations / Tests enable interoperability and drive effective small cell ecosystem / Integration with unlicensed spectrum also included in the available tests
Small Cell Forum, in partnership with ETSI, is to stage its fourth small cell LTE Plugfest in Naples in June. Taking place in TIM specialist labs, the Plugfest will enable key players and suppliers in the small cell marketplace to test their products and solutions for interoperability and reliability in mixed vendor environments.
The two-week Plugfest is open exclusively to members of Small Cell Forum and ETSI. It will include the opportunity for remote testing as well as collaborative work in the Labs. The Plugfest will have a special focus on the Self-Organizing Network (SON) capabilities of small cells in a HetNet environment, as well as looking at other areas including traffic offloading, closed subscriber groups, and the impact of LTE-A.
As part of the Plugfest, TIM is inviting companies at the event to connect small cells to its network and to test them for interoperability and interference.
“Plugfests are a critically important part of the process of building and developing the small cell ecosystem,” said Small Cell Forum Chair, Alan Law. “And the tests planned for Naples will help our members continue on the path of readying the small cell industry to provide all the tools needed for operators as they densify their networks, increase their coverage and capacity, and improve services for businesses and consumers both indoors and out.”
The Plugfest is the fourth exclusive LTE test event organized by Small Cell Forum with ETSI and forms part of the standards body’s official calendar of telecoms testing events. The Small Cell Plugfest is free to attend for registered companies who are members of either ETSI or Small Cell Forum.