To provide an overview of the SON concept, we will briefly describe the capabilities of the 4G network with SON functions:  

- Self-planning: This procedure facilitates finding the optimal location and basic radio/configuration parameters required to deploy a new eNodeB (radio base station) installation.

- Self-Configuration: To enable a eNodeB to automatically configure the fundamental and, basic configuration information to support “plug and play” behavior.

- Self-optimization and self-tuning: To support certain performance measurements that are used to (auto-) tune the network parameter to increase quality and performance.

- Self-testing and self-healing: To validate the configuration information and to execute periodic performance tests in the eNodeB. If a problem is detected, execute recovery procedures to return the node to its “normal” operational state. 

The objective of the SON is to automate operational activities through extended and more intelligent network elements and OSS. As a positive effect, the network should be operated in a highly efficient and effective manner with a minimal human intervention. Moreover, strategically the SON will provide the following benefits: Reduced development, testing and maintenance costs, decreased design to deployment times, increased reliability of network and services.

Certainly, the SON features have the potential to assist mobile networks operators to achieve the required network optimization and to provide maximum performance. So, if the SON is considered as one of the important functions, the 4G networks should be able to monitor, manage and control the SON enabled nodes through its Operational Support Systems (OSS).  So far, little work has been performed in this area and the requirements of the 4G OSS are still unclear.

In this article, we focus on the OSS aspects of the SON enabled 4G networks. If the underlying network elements are capable of performing autonomic functions, what is the role the management of such networks i.e., OSS needs to play? As a mobile network operator, it is of great importance to have controlled automation to avoid chaotic network environment and we argue that such controlled automation should be a fundamental supported by the 4G OSS.

It should be noted that the scope of this document is restricted only to OSS; with respect to SON features, and, any other NGNM specific details are intentionally left out of scope. The purpose of this article is to identify the need for the 4G OSS systems to support the automation capabilities and to propose a solution approach for the 4G OSS in order to support the SON concepts.