• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 2022

5G goes beyond people to serve indoor and outdoor companies and industries, as well as campuses such as halls, industrial complexes, educational institutions, stadiums, dense urban areas, rural areas, and government institutions. Therefore, a new approach to small cells is needed. Accordingly, 3GPP and Small Cell Forum are researching 5G small cell architecture; 3GPP, Small Cell Forum, and 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation are also researching private networks tailored to meet the specific requirements of various companies and local governments. In particular, in the UK, a small cell-based technology is required for realizing the Joint Operator Technical Specifications-Neutral Host In-Building specification to cost-effectively secure indoor coverage. Further, the research on the SON(Self-Organizing Network) technology for small cells in 5G, where commercialization has begun, is required. The 5G-based small cell structure, private network, and Neutral Host In-Building and SON reviewed in this study are at the initial research stages; therefore, additional research is needed to secure the competitiveness of the small cell technology in 5G and Beyond 5G.