3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
05 February 2011
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has unveiled its Single Radio Access Network (RAN) Advanced solution. The new platform supports four radio technologies with the same equipment. It will enable operators to efficiently build additional capacity in GSM, 3G and LTE networks, as well as preparing them for the higher bandwidth promised by LTE-Advanced. The solution includes the 10 Gbps-capable Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, the Flexi Lite Base Station for micro and pico deployments and a Multicontroller platform.
Wireless industry trade association 4G Americas has published a report on 3GPP standards work on Release 10 and beyond. The white paper “4G Mobile Broadband Evolution: 3GPP Release 10 and Beyond - HSPA+, SAE/LTE and LTE-Advanced” provides detailed information on the status of IMT-Advanced, 3GPP Release 10, including HSPA+ enhancements and the introduction of LTE-Advanced, and the planning for Release 11 and beyond.
UK regulator Ofcom has confirmed plans to allow mobile operators to flexibly trade the radio spectrum in the 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands in an effort to modernise spectrum management. The move will help UK operators to optimise their spectrum assets and respond more quickly to growing demand for mobile data services. Ofcom will be responsible for the administration of spectrum trade and issuing revised licences. A consultation on the proposal is open until 17 March.
Norway’s NetCom, part of TeliaSonera, has launched its LTE network in three new cities: Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger. NetCom already provides LTE coverage in Oslo. The operator has invested EUR1 billion in the mobile network upgrade. During 2011, several cities, towns and popular holiday resorts will be connected to its LTE network. Once the modernization is completed, 89% of Norway’s population will have access to LTE, while 95% of the population will have access to 3G.
Canada’s Rogers has announced plans to launch its HSPA+ network across the Manitoba province on 31 March. The operator has been expanding and upgrading its existing network to HSPA+ in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba, while expanding into Manitoba's northern communities. The expanded network will significantly increase Rogers’ HSPA+ coverage to 96% of Manitobans.
T-Mobile USA and LG Phone have launched the Android 3.0-powered tablet, the T-Mobile G-Slate. Featuring a High Definition 8.9-inch, 3D-capable multi-touch display, the T-Mobile G-Slate delivers a groundbreaking mobile entertainment experience, including the ability to record 3D and full HD video. The innovative smartphone, equipped with HSPA+ connectivity, will be available in the second quarter of 2011.
Ubiquisys, the developer of intelligent cells, has teamed up with the Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) to develop an open source product-oriented LTE network simulator. The simulator will offer a common platform for LTE femto vendors and LTE macro vendors to evaluate their different solutions. It will help operators and vendors ensure femtocells and macro cells interoperate successfully before deployment.
Optimus and Huawei Successfully Achieved 150 Mbps over LTE 2.6 GHz
Huawei has completed an LTE trial with Portuguese mobile operator Optimus. The trial has achieved peak downlink speeds of up to 150 Mbps per user and uplink speeds of up to 60 Mbps. Optimus has also been upgrading its GSM network, using Huawei’s SingleRAN solution. Under the contract signed in early 2010, Huawei’s mobile base stations will be installed in 33 regions. To date, Huawei has delivered more than 1,000 SingleRAN sites to Optimus.
NTT DoCoMo has launched its LTE service, branded Xi ("Crossy"), using Qualcomm’s MDM9200 LTE/3G multi-mode chipset to power the USB data terminal L-02C. The Xi service was initially launched in the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka areas. The MDM9200 multi-mode 3G/LTE solution allows 3G operators to upgrade seamlessly to LTE services while preserving backward compatibility to their existing 3G networks. The MDM9200 chipset supports UMTS, HSPA+ and LTE.
ZTE announces that its LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) solution has broken industry performance records. ZXUN uMAC, ZTE's Mobility Management Entity (MME), has achieved the maximum capacity test of 15 million users, while ZXUN xGW, ZTE's SAE-GW, attained 174 Gbps to rank number one in the industry, exceeding the previous record by 50%. ZTE’s packet core network is capable of providing large capacity and high throughput.
Malaysian operator DiGi has experienced solid growth in mobile data revenues boosted by increased take-up of mobile data bundles. DiGi has 4.2 million mobile internet users out of a total user base of 8.8 million. The operator expects to continue to address the rising demand for mobile broadband services by prioritising network investments to expand its 3G/HSPA coverage from the current nationwide level of 50%.
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