5G Small Cell Installation and Commissioning Checklist

This 5G small cell installation and commissioning checklist ensures compliance with 3GPP TS 38.104 NR Base Station Radio Requirements, O-RAN Alliance Small Cell Deployment Guidelines, FCC Part 15/27 regulations, and NFPA 70 NEC Article 830 Network-Powered Broadband Equipment. Designed for small cell installation technicians and RF commissioning engineers.

  • Industry: Telecommunications & IT
  • Frequency: Per Installation
  • Estimated Time: 45-90 minutes
  • Role: Small Cell Installation Technician / RF Commissioning Engineer
  • Total Items: 20
  • Compliance: 3GPP TS 38.104 NR Base Station Radio Transmission, O-RAN Alliance Small Cell Deployment Guide, FCC Part 15 Unintentional Radiators, NFPA 70 NEC Article 830 Network-Powered Broadband, ANSI/TIA-758 Customer-Owned Outside Plant

Physical Mounting and Installation

Enclosure mounting, orientation, clearance, and weatherproofing.

  • All mounting hardware torqued to manufacturer specification?
  • Mounting height confirmed within approved permit and RF design?
  • Antenna azimuth set per RF design (verified with compass)?
  • Minimum 1-meter clearance from obstacles maintained?
  • All cable entry points and penetrations weatherproofed?
  • Photo of completed installation from street level

Power and Grounding

Electrical supply, surge protection, and safety grounding.

  • Power source connected and voltage within spec (AC or PoE)?
  • Surge Protection Device (SPD) installed on power feed?
  • Equipment ground bonded to building/structure ground per NEC 830?
  • Photo of power termination and SPD installation

Backhaul Connectivity

Fiber or wireless backhaul installation and performance testing.

  • Backhaul medium connected (fiber/Ethernet/microwave)?
  • Backhaul round-trip latency below 5ms?
  • Backhaul provisioned bandwidth at least 2x peak cell throughput?
  • Timing/sync source locked (GPS, IEEE 1588 PTP, SyncE)?

Software Commissioning and Testing

Software load, configuration, and post-commission KPI collection.

  • Approved software version loaded per carrier build sheet?
  • Cell ID, PCI, NR-ARFCN/EARFCN configured per plan?
  • Element Management System (EMS/OSS) connection confirmed?
  • Post-commissioning KPI baseline captured (RSRP, throughput, attach rate)?
  • Post-install RF scan confirms coverage objective met?
  • Commissioning Notes and Punch List

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Why Use This 5G Small Cell Installation and Commissioning Checklist?

This 5g small cell installation and commissioning checklist helps telecommunications & it teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for small cell installation technician / rf commissioning engineer professionals, this checklist covers 20 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: per installation.

Ensures compliance with 3GPP TS 38.104 NR Base Station Radio Transmission, O-RAN Alliance Small Cell Deployment Guide, FCC Part 15 Unintentional Radiators, NFPA 70 NEC Article 830 Network-Powered Broadband, ANSI/TIA-758 Customer-Owned Outside Plant. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 5G Small Cell Installation and Commissioning Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 20 inspection items across 4 sections: Physical Mounting and Installation, Power and Grounding, Backhaul Connectivity, Software Commissioning and Testing. It is designed for telecommunications & it operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed per installation. Each completion takes approximately 45-90 minutes.

Who should use this 5G Small Cell Installation and Commissioning Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Small Cell Installation Technician / RF Commissioning Engineer professionals in the telecommunications & it industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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