By Shen Yang

LTE is being adopted by a very large number of telcos, but no engineer or executive emerges from the womb with a working knowledge of LTE technology, all-IP design, or flat architecture. Huawei offers a training program that can bring the key personnel in your organization up to speed.

Challenges to LTE expertise

LTE is now taking hold worldwide, but the technology itself inherits little from its 2G/3G predecessors, putting the telecom senior personnel at a disadvantage, and the problem does not end there; all-IP architecture is a prerequisite for LTE that requires inter-network managerial & technological expertise if O&M is to be effectively supported.

With a flat LTE network in place, the boundary between the core and access networks dissolves, making service coordination between these two entities more demanding and increasing the need for cross-field O&M expertise.

As LTE is designed for data traffic only, this places urgent demands on telecom engineers for data traffic control and operation. The higher QoS expected of an LTE network and the diversity of services also raise the bar for its O&M, with a deeper understanding of E2E service quality assurance, differentiated services, and user experience guarantees all musts. Additionally, many LTE carriers employ both FDD and TDD technologies, which differ greatly in terms of their wireless interface features, and this makes planning & optimization not an easy business. With BTS concentration being what it is now, LTE networks are more complicated and fault-prone than previous technologies, making the O&M process less like troubleshooting and more like an endless game of catch-up.

Thus, carriers need a systematic solution for talent training and cultivation, with modular training programs that cover different stages of deployment and levels of experience, from preparation, to trial; from commercial use, to advanced optimization, via a flexible combination of face-to-face, online, and mobile training.

Huawei solution for LTE expertise training

Huawei provides a mutually-exclusive collectively-exhaustive (MECE-based) training solution that ensures that telco staff in LTE-related posts at all levels receive the proper training. This systematic solution helps identify the gaps that carriers need filled in terms of LTE, and can be primarily broken down into the following elements.

Complete competence hierarchy

Based on standard business processes from the enhanced telecom operations map (eTOM), Huawei identifies key capabilities required to complete tasks recognized by carriers and adds its own LTE equipment application experiences to culminate in a complete competence hierarchy for different levels and across areas of strategy, network planning, optimization, construction and O&M; distinctly different from those for 2G/3G technologies.

This hierarchy covers network evolutionary stages and the technological fields of optical transmission, data communication, and access, focusing on four major areas of LTE expertise.

The first is O&M and self-organizing network (SON) application, where the focus is shifted from traditional network performance to service quality and customer experience. The second is data communication and E2E fault location, as required for flattened, all-IP LTE networks. Third is coordination between LTE networks and current networks, including coordinated network planning, optimization, interoperation, and VoLTE, across different networks and technology fields. Last but not least are LTE service features such as streaming media interaction and augmented reality (AR), which are specific to LTE network services and KPIs.

Comprehensive training based on job position

Composed primarily of UMTS-LTE, CDMA-LTE and LTE TDD categories, these training programs serve as a training resource repository, catering to the needs of various postings. For management domains, programs on industry trends and strategic analysis are offered, including courses on LTE development trends and challenges. For technical experts, programs on skill transformation and evolution, including LTE network planning, LTE site solutions, engineering solutions, and LTE IP bearer network solutions, in tandem with network knowledge for engineers and LTE basics for all staff are also available.

Global e-Learning platform

The Huawei Academy Online (HAO) (http://e-learning.huawei.com) is a comprehensive online learning and management platform, integrating learning modules such as web-based training (WBT), live virtual classroom (LVC), eLab, LTE simulation software (LTE Star), mobile learning (m-learning), online testing (OLT), and learning communities. It is a great complement to the existing face-to-face platform that enables LTE network O&M personnel around the world to experience both theory and practice. The flexibility of this platform is key, as learners can move at their own pace, anywhere and anytime.

Customization based on business needs

By analyzing service needs; sorting out roles & responsibilities; competence modeling; and planning, implementing and evaluating training programs; Huawei adopts standardized approaches to customize training content for business needs on site.

For a certain Asian incumbent, Huawei analyzed its LTE network deployment progress and the potential problems that might arise with the operation and wireless, core, and bearer network elements. Huawei identified the carrier’s LTE expertise requirements for various posts regarding network planning, deployment, O&M, and network optimization across different stages of network preparation, construction, commercial use, and commercial maturity. Based on that, Huawei delivered post- and stage-based modular training programs to the carrier, with satisfactory results.

Trainees spoke highly of the training regarding LTE construction planning & solutions. They have indicated a better understanding & knowledge, and deemed the training effective guidance for future deployment. Carriers have also expressed a wish to cooperate further with Huawei for network planning & optimization pre-deployment to build better and faster LTE.

Since the debut of Huawei’s LTE training program, which covered LTE eNodeB O&M for ten trainees from Sweden, Huawei has successfully trained LTE talent for a dozen carriers around the world, at both the technical and managerial levels, providing a strong boost to carrier LTE evolution strategies.