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T E C H N I C A L I N S I G H T F O R W I R E L E S S P R O F E S S I O N A L Sw i r e l e s s . i o p . o r g
Self-awareness drives automated 3G optimization
F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 0 6
Mobile WiMAX explained HSDPA strains backhaul Mobile TV gathers pace
L E A D E R 5China must move on 3G
U P F R O N T 6China declares TD-SCDMA a national standard
N E W S 9Time-division television for unpaired bands
A N A LY S I S 10QoS: Operators must manage customer experienceWiMAX: Mobile WiMAX waits in the wings
O P I N I O N 15Mark PaxmanThe first 3G killer application may have arrived – but it has little to do with 3G.
B A C K H A U L 17Backhaul must make room for HSDPAWhile HSDPA promises 14 Mbit/s data rates,operators should scale their backhaul networks tocope with more realistic data rates.
O P T I M I Z A T I O N 193G offers the gift of self-awarenessThird-generation networks are perfectly suited forautomatic network optimization.
B A C K H A U L 2 3Cellular traffic switching improves 3G backhaulCellular traffic switching can cut backhaulrequirements while improving 2G/3G networkflexibility.
P R O D U C T F O C U S 2 7RF monitoring stations benefit operators and publicalike ● Scheduler testing is crucial for HSDPA
P R O D U C T S 3 03GSM preview
T H E F U T U R E 3 4Soft modems will drive HSDPA handsetsStan Boland, President and CEO of Icera, explainswhy soft modems are the future of mobile phones.
3C O N T E N T S
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006ISSUE 43
Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd,Dirac House, Temple Back, BristolBS1 6BE, UK.Tel: +44 (0)117 929 7481Editorial fax: +44 (0)117 925 1942Advertising fax: +44 (0)117 930 1178Web: wireless.iop.orgE-mail: [email protected]
EDITORIALEditor: Hamish Johnston;[email protected]: Paul JohnsonArt director: Andrew GiaquintoTechnical illustrator: Alison Tovey
ADVERTISINGSales manager: Simon Allardice;[email protected] co-ordinator: Jayne Boulton;[email protected]
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Customer-experience management works. p10.
China makes TD-SCDMA national standard. p6.
Stan Boland: soft modems are the future. p34.
On the cover:3G networks aresuitable for automaticoptimization. p19. Image: Arieso.
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N E W S I N B R I E F
China unveils W-CDMA chipA chip for W-CDMA mobile phones has been developed jointly by China’sSoutheast University and Dongda Communication, according to the Xinhuanews agency. Called Noah 3000, the device is believed to be the first of itskind to be developed in China. The chip is said to meet international W-CDMAstandards and its development has led to 16 domestic and foreign patents.
Siemens sells start-up businessSiemens Communications has sold Siemens Acceleration in Communication,which provides funding for early-stage businesses in the wireless, wireline andfixed-mobile convergence sectors. It was founded in 2001 and was whollyowned by Siemens. The company was bought by an undisclosed investor andsupports about 25 ventures in Europe, Israel, North America and China.
RFMD expands in ChinaRF Micro Devices (RFMD) is expanding its Chinese assembly capacity, whichwill grow by 50% by June 2006. According to RFMD’s vice-president ofoperations Jim Stilson, the extra capacity will meet growing demands for theUS company’s transmit modules and cellular transceivers. The Beijing facilitywas opened in 2005. RFMD produces radio-frequency integrated circuits(RFICs) for cellular handsets, base stations and other wireless equipment.
AlanDick to roll-out Redline WiMAX equipmentAlanDick will deploy WiMAX infrastructure equipment from RedlineCommunications. AlanDick designs, deploys and operates telecoms networksand will offer Redline’s RedMAX family of WiMAX products in several marketsworldwide including the UK and the Netherlands. The RedMAX products adhereto the 802.16d standard and operate in the 3.5 GHz band. They include a basestation, outdoor subscriber units and backhaul equipment. Redline is locatedin Canada and specializes in the production of broadband fixed wirelessequipment based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).
Nokia and Kyocera resolve patent disputeKyocera and Nokia have entered into a patent licensing agreement thatresolves a two-year dispute over mobile-phone related intellectual property.Under the agreement Kyocera is granted licence to Nokia’s essential patents(and some additional patents) related to CDMA, PHS and PDC technologies.Kyocera will pay Nokia royalties covering all of Kyocera’s CDMA mobilephones and modules. The agreement also provides Nokia with a licenceunder Kyocera’s essential (and some additional) patents covering Nokia’smobile-phone, module and infrastructure products.
CETECOM gets PTCRB approvalCentro de Tecnología de las Comunicaciones (CETECOM) in Malaga, Spain,has been approved by the PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) tocertify GSM/EDGE handsets for sale in North America. The laboratory isalready certified by the Global Certification Forum to test GSM/EDGE andUMTS handsets for the European and other markets.
HSDPA demonstrated at 900MHz The first HSDPA calls made at 900 MHz have been claimed by a developmentpartnership involving Nortel, Qualcomm and Orange. Category 6 HSDPA callswere made using 16-QAM modulation. Data rates of 3.6 Mbit/s were achieved.While the 900 MHz band is currently licensed for GSM services in Europe, adecision is expected later this year on allowing it to be used for UMTS/HSDPAservices. Radio signals at 900 MHz are better at serving indoor users and allowfor larger cell sizes than at higher (1900 MHz) UMTS frequencies.
A glimmer of hope has appeared for Western companies eagerlyawaiting the 3G bonanza in China. Several announcements havebeen made by government officials suggesting that 3G licences willbe issued before June 2006 (see page 6). While we have heard this allbefore – the Chinese have been dithering over licences for at leasttwo years – this time it really could happen.
There are two very good reasons why China must act soon, andboth are related to national pride. Beijing will host the 2008Olympics and it would be rather embarrassing if 3G services werenot available – especially because 3G was live at the 2004 Olympicsin Athens. And of course, the Beijing Olympics would be an idealshowcase for TD-SCDMA, China’s home-grown 3G standard.
It is generally accepted that China has put the 3G licensing processon hold until TD-SCDMA reached commercialization – somethingthat appears to have happened in January 2006, with a Chinesegovernment agency declaring TD-SCDMA a national 3G standard.Now TD-SCDMA is “ready”, the government can dole out licences.
It is likely that licences covering established 3G standards –UMTS and cdma2000 – will be issued along with at least one TD-SCDMA licence. The number of licences issued and the technologiescovered will be a fine balancing act – the Chinese government wantsto establish TD-SCDMA as a global 3G standard but it must alsoadopt UMTS and cdma2000 to support its 2G operators and ensurethat Chinese equipment makers excel in these sectors. FavourTD-SCDMA too highly (and shut Western companies out of the 3Gbonanza) and China risks becoming embroiled in battles with theWest over the ownership of essential TD-SCDMA patents. Awardonly minimal TD-SCDMA licences and China will struggle tocommercialize the technology on a global scale.
With the Olympics looming and western operators moving rapidlyto 3.5G, China must issue licences immediately. Indeed, the 3GSMconference in February would be the perfect time to announcelicences – ensuring maximum exposure for TD-SCDMA and stealinga bit of the limelight from HSDPA/HSUPA and WiMAX.
What’s hot at 3GSMIndeed, you can forget about 3.5G and wireless broadband, becauseit looks like mobile television will be the technology on everyone’slips at 3GSM in Barcelona. On page 15, Mark Paxman explains whyhe believes TV will be the 3G killer application – even though it maynot be delivered over 3G networks. Nokia, Motorola, Intel and TexasInstruments have joined forces to promote mobile TV services inNorth America using the DVB-H standard and IPWireless hasdeveloped mobile TV technology that employs the under-utilizedUMTS TDD bands (see page 9). Mobile TV will put a severe strainon handset batteries – so much so that many in the industry doubtthat traditional lithium batteries can keep pace. At a fuel-cellindustry conference in Japan recently, KDDI’s vice-president forcorporate technology Hitomi Murakami said that battery-poweredphones are simply not suitable for television and fuel cells will berequired. So like TD-SCDMA, we may have to wait a little while formobile TV.
Hamish Johnston, Editor
China must move on 3GE D I T O R I A LN E W S
6 U P F R O N T
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China declares TD-SCDMA a national standard...The Chinese government hasdeclared TD-SCDMA a national3G standard and expressed itsdesire for the widespread deploy-ment of the technology – accord-ing to reports from China’sXinhua news agency. The moveis a crucial step towards the com-mercialization of TD-SCDMAand also sends a strong signalthat the Chinese government isabout to issue 3G licences. Chinawas expected to issue licences in2004 and it is widely believedthat the process is being delayeduntil commercial TD-SCDMAequipment is available.
TD-SCDMA technology isbeing developed by DatangTelecom and other Chinese com-panies in cooperation with major
western manufacturers includingSiemens and Nokia. By creatinga home-grown 3G standard,China hopes to avoid paying sig-
nificant royalty fees to foreigncompanies. While Chinese com-panies claim the bulk ofTD-SCDMA patents, discus-sions are ongoing regarding own-ership of key intellectualproperty. China also intends toexport TD-SCDMA as a low-cost alternative to UMTS andcdma2000.
“Developing intellectual prop-erty for TD-SCDMA, China’s 3Ginternational standard, will allowChina to take a leading role in theworld’s telecom market,” said LuQijun, who is a deputy ministerin China’s state-owned AssetSupervision and AdministrationCommission (SASAC). Speakingat the China Telecom EconomyConference in January, Lu said:
“It is time that China begins issu-ing 3G licences.”
China is expected to issue 3Glicences in the first half of 2006 sonetworks can be in place for the2008 Olympics in Beijing. It isalmost certain that the govern-ment will issue at least oneTD-SCDMA licence – along withseveral others covering the UMTSand cdma2000 3G standards.
The time-division synchro-nous CDMA (TD-SCDMA) airinterface employs time-divisionand code-division access schemesto serve multiple users. China’sTD-SCDMA technology isdesigned to maximize theamount of voice and data trafficthat can be delivered within alimited bandwidth.
A dual-mode TD-SCDMA/GSM platform has been vali-dated on networks belonging tothe Chinese operators ChinaMobile and China Unicom.Developed by Datang Mobile,the DTivy A2000 platform wasable to operate on both GSMand TD-SCDMA networks andto switch between both modes.
Dual-mode operation is crucialto the commercialization ofTD-SCDMA because early net-works will not provide compre-hensive coverage and users willhave to fall back on GSM whereTD-SCDMA is not available.
The platform is based on theSoftFone-LCR chipset from
Analog Devices (ADI) andincludes dual-mode TD-SCDMAsoftware from Datang Mobile anda GSM protocol stack fromSasken Communication Tech-nologies. Datang has alreadydeveloped a single-mode TD-SCDMA platform.
Datang Mobile has also joinedforces with Express Logic todeploy the US-based company’sThreadX real-time operating sys-tem (RTOS) in Datang’s TD-SCDMA handsets. The RTOSwill control RF communications.
...as TD-SCDMA handsets move closer to commercialization TTPCom unveilsmultimode strategyTTPCom has revealed plans fora mobile-device architecture thatwill support a range of handheldtechnologies including 2G/3Gcellular, WiFi, WiMAX, Blue-tooth, digital video broadcast(DVB-H) and assisted globalpositioning system (A-GPS).Dubbed TTPCom Architecture,the technology will deploy a com-mon software platform acrossmultiple chipsets to create largetechnology blocks. Each blockwill cover a specific wireless modeand could be deployed separatelyaccording to the requirements ofindividual handset designs.
The new architecture will usea common set of Internet proto-col multimedia subsystem (IMS)and other IP-based technologiesto support mobile data services.According to Peter Whale, UK-based TTPCom’s head of soft-ware product strategy, the newarchitecture will help handsetmakers address the uncertainty ofconverging wireless standards andservices. “Convergence meansuncertainty, change and disrup-tion for handset makers,” he said.
Chinese consumers could soon be usingTD-SCDMA handsets as the technologymoves closer to commercialization.
Right: ADI’s SoftFone-LCR chipset is at theheart of the A2000 TD-SCDMA handsetplatform from Datang Mobile.
Cost-saving policies and a slow-down in network build-outs aredriving down the price of base-station equipment says a reportfrom ABI Research. ABI’s LanceWilson said: “Now, cost savingsare centre stage and operators aremuch more careful about howand where they spend theirmoney.”
Wilson also said that the large-scale build-out of 2G/2.5G net-works in industrialized countriesis largely complete. “You see a lotof base-station upgrades, but notmany green-field installations,where the big money is to bemade,” he said.
“Good opportunities exist forW-CDMA, but in voice mode it
is typically much more efficientthan GSM. Wireless data is stillwaiting to take off, [and] thatmeans fewer new installationsthan in the past.”
Wilson also identified fallingaverage revenue per user (ARPU)as a reason for declining equip-ment prices.
Wilson’s findings are publishedin the latest release of ABIResearch’s Wireless InfrastructureResearch Service.
Base station prices continue decline
There’s a lot riding onthe introduction of HSDPA...Faster, intelligent networks allow operators to offer greater capacity and multimedia richservices, delivering the multitude of applications consumer expectation demands. Revenue willbe generated, user numbers increased and return on investment in 3G will be realized.
First to market with HSDPA solutions, Anritsu recognises that technologies develop rapidly.With the broadest portfolio of HSDPA test and measurement solutions available, our uniquebuilt-in up-grade path means platforms evolve naturally with market needs, constantlyproviding developers a competitive edge in time to market.
With the acquisition of NetTest and our own leading IP and Wireless technologies across thecomplete network lifecycle, we are well placed to support the new wireless broadband networkand the ever increasing rate of convergence. Developing timely, stable and consistent solutions,Anritsu believes it is not only important to protect initial investments in original equipment, butalso the valuable time and resource deployed by our customers when asked to meet newtesting demands.
To discover more about how Anritsu & NetTest HSDPA solutions support thedevelopment of 3G, visit www.eu.anritsu.com/hsdpa
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See the latest Anritsu and NetTest solutionsat 3GSM in Barcelona - Hall 1, Stand D06
9B U S I N E S S
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Time-division television for unpaired bandsIPWireless has launched theTDtv platform for deliveringtelevision services to mobilephones using the unpairedUMTS bands. The platformemploys the time-division duplex(TDD) UMTS air interface (alsoknown as TD-CDMA) and theMultimedia Broadcast andMulticast Standard (MBMS),which is included in release 6 ofthe UMTS standard.
According to IPWireless, sev-eral European UMTS operatorswill be conducting TDtv trials in
the first half of 2006. A trial ofthe technology using the2010 MHz band is planned forJapan and IPWireless plans tosupport other frequency bandsworldwide including the2.5 GHz band.
Unpaired UMTS spectra hasbeen licensed for TD-CDMAservices in Europe and Asia, butoperators have yet to use it in anysignificant way.
TDtv promises to deliver 50television channels to standardmobile-phone screens using
5 MHz of radio bandwidth. Itcan also be used to broadcast 15channels of higher qualityQVGA services. MBMS allowsan infinite number of users towatch the same television service,much like a standard broad-casting system.
According to IPWireless, thetechnology can be overlaid ontoan existing UMTS network witha Broadcast Multicast ServiceCentre (BMSC) ensuring thatthe two networks work togetheron service provision and billing.
● Five companies have joinedforces to accelerate the deploy-ment of mobile television ser-vices in North America. Intel,Modeo, Motorola, Nokia andTexas Instruments have formedthe Mobile DTV Alliance, whichwill promote the digital videobroadcasting handheld (DVB-H)standard. DVB-H operates out-side of cellular frequencies in the470–860 MHz band and there-fore can deliver broadcast televi-sion to mobile handsets withoutusing 2G or 3G bandwidth.
HSDPA serviceslaunch in AustriaMobilkom has launched com-mercial HSDPA services inAustria. Delivered to laptop com-puters via the Vodafone MobileConnect Card, the service is avail-able initially in central Vienna.Mobilkom said the service will beavailable in other Austrian citiesby July 2006. Subscribers cur-rently using UMTS/EDGEMobile Connect Cards canupgrade their devices with freesoftware from Mobilkom.
Commercial high-speed down-link packet access (HSDPA) ser-vices have already been launchedby Cingular in the US. ManxTelecom has apparently launchedcommercial HSDPA services inthe Isle of Man, but does notappear to be offering HSDPAcards or services yet.
The number of commercial 3GW-CDMA terminal models hasmore than doubled during 2005according to a survey released bythe Global Mobile SuppliersAssociation (GSA). In January2006 there were about 270devices available, compared toabout 100 on the market inJanuary 2005. The number of ter-minal makers offering W-CDMAhandsets increased to 37 from 20in the same period. HSDPA issupported by 14 terminals.
About 20% of W-CDMAdevices are for use on Japan’sFOMA network and the rest areUMTS devices for various mar-kets worldwide. W-CDMA ser-vices are currently available onabout 100 networks in 42 mar-kets, including most majorEuropean countries, the US,Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia.According to the GSA, whichpromotes the interests of GSMand W-CDMA equipment mak-ers, the number of W-CDMAsubscribers is expected to surpass50 million shortly.
While 50 million reflects a sig-nificant increase, it pales in com-parison to the 1.6 billion GSM
subscribers worldwide. A sepa-rate study by Forrester Researchpredicts that 3G will not be thedominant handset technology inEurope until 2010. Reported inEuropean Mobile Forecast: 2005to 2010, the study suggests that3G handset sales will accelerateafter 2007 and overtake GPRS.
“By the end of 2010, three infive [European] mobile users willhave signed up to 3G,” said NiekVan Veen, a researcher atForrester. Italy and the UK –where there is currently fiercecompetition among 3G opera-tors – will see the highest usage,with 3G penetration rates of72% and 68% respectively.
ArrayComm and picoChip arecollaborating on the developmentof multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) technology for WiMAXbase stations and subscriber units.ArrayComm’s Network MIMOsoftware will be incorporatedwithin the physical layer (PHY) ofpicoChip’s base-station chips. Thesoftware is said to implement allantenna processing functions cur-rently approved for the 802.16eWiMAX mobile broadband stan-dard. This includes MIMO, adap-tive antenna systems (AAS) andhybrid MIMO/AAS implemen-tations.
“Adaptive antenna technologyand MIMO are key distinguish-
ing features of the WiMAX spec-ification,” said picoChip’s chief
technology officer Doug Pulley.“They will be critical in assuringWiMAX success.”
MIMO, AAS and other smartantenna technologies are expec-ted to improve and expandWiMAX coverage – especially toindoor and mobile subscribers.WiMAX services are expected tobe offered at frequencies greaterthan 2 GHz. Radio signals suffersignificant environmental attenu-ation at these frequenciess, so itcan be difficult to serve terminalsthat are indoors or movingrapidly. Also, effective cell sizesshrink as frequency increases,resulting in the need for morebase station equipment.
3G numbers grow,but slowly
Austrian 3G subscribers can benefit fromhigher download speeds supported by HSDPA.
ArrayComm and picoChip collaborate on MIMO development
Doug Pulley of picoChip believes thatadaptive antenna technology and MIMOare critical to the success of WiMAX.
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Customer-experience management (CEM)systems are playing an increasingly strategicrole in a cellular operator’s efforts to increaserevenues and retain subscribers. CEM pro-vides detailed information on how customersactually experience services and can identifyand remedy unacceptable customer experi-ences through root-cause analysis.
The emergence of CEM represents a sig-nificant paradigm shift for many leadingoperators, which have traditionally relied ongrowing out their networks and adding newservices to boost profitability and marketshare. Customer satisfaction was usuallymeasured or inferred in terms of networkperformance, rather than based on detailedand accurate information on how individualusers actually experience services.
This is changing as many operators realizethat CEM will play an important role in dri-ving future growth. As such, wireless opera-tors are struggling to close the gap betweenhow they deliver wireless services to mobileusers and how they understand and managehow customers actually experience these ser-vices. CEM bridges this “experience gap” tohelp operators shift their focus from beingnetwork-centric to being more customer-and service-centric.
Customer satisfactionHaving the ability to measure actual customerexperience and then resolve any problemsallows the operator to take a proactive step inmanaging one-to-one relationships with itssubscribers. Common problems – such as asubscriber’s inability to access data services –can be identified and resolved promptly,ensuring that revenues are maximized andcustomer satisfaction is optimized.
The need for CEM was highlightedrecently by the plight of an internationallogistics firm that was experiencing problemsusing GPRS-enabled devices to track pack-ages across a cellular network. The companymade their own measurements relating to
send success and connection time. However,the cellular operator could not make compa-rable measurements and could neither sub-stantiate nor deny the client’s position. As aresult, the operator made significant rebatepayments to the logistics firm, which becameincreasingly dissatisfied with the quality ofservice it was receiving.
After the operator implemented a CEMsystem, the logistics firm’s experience was vis-ible within a matter of days. A quality-of-ser-vice (QoS) negotiation problem between thecorporate terminal devices and the GPRSnetwork was identified as the source of theproblem. Using this information, the opera-tor was able to achieve a significant increasein the QoS level provided to the customer.This substantially reduced the rebates andincreased overall customer satisfaction.
While CEM represents a significant oppor-tunity, there are many challenges involved inmonitoring and managing the customer expe-rience. One of the biggest is how to obtain acomplete and accurate end-to-end view of thecustomer experience right across the opera-tor’s network operations. Operators must cap-ture and manage the customer experienceacross multiple services and technologies foreach of their subscribers. For example, theemergence of GPRS and 3G technologies hasallowed operators to offer a range of voice anddata services including video calls, games, pic-ture messaging and text messaging.
Another key challenge involves ensuringthat the customer-experience informationcaptured from the network is reliable and ofthe highest quality possible. Poor and incon-sistent data will prevent the wireless opera-tor from detecting when customers areexperiencing problems and accurately iden-tifying the cause of these problems.
Real-time responseBut simply capturing the customer experi-ence is not enough. Operators must also useroot-cause analysis methods to respond inreal time to correct any unacceptable cus-tomer experiences. Because many of the wire-less services offered by operators are createdaround multiple technologies, devices andprotocols, a CEM system based on multi-vendor technologies that can support allwireless services must be developed to fullyreap the rewards that CEM can offer.
An emerging challenge for operators ishow to align their CEM activities with theirbusiness planning and decision-makingprocesses. For many operators, their businessgoals are to increase revenues from existingwireless services as well as retaining high-value customers. Coordinating these businessgoals in the design and operation of theirCEM system will ensure that resources areappropriately planned and utilized and thatthe overall CEM solution is cost-efficient anddelivers the desired return on investment.
Finally, operators must create a CEM sys-tem that is scalable with respect to future ser-vices. As new services are offered to both newand existing customers, operators mustensure the customer experience is managedfor all services. Optimizing the experienceacross some services and not others coulddamage the overall relationship with cus-tomers. In deploying a CEM solution, wire-less operators need to adopt a design that canaccommodate its future business plans inadding new services and customers. ■
Brendan McDonagh is co-founder and chiefexecutive of Arantech.
Q U A L I T Y O F S E R V I C E
Operators must managethe customer experienceEstimating customer experience from network performance is no longeracceptable says Brendan McDonagh, who explains why operators are adopting customer-experience management systems.
While challenging to develop and integrate, a customer-experience management (CEM) system can provide anaccurate end-to-end view of how users are actually servedby a cellular network.
Operators must create aCEM system that isscalable with respect tofuture services.
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By Rupert BainesMobile broadband access has long been the“missing link” in the global data communi-cations network. Although both WiFi and3G have promised to deliver mobile broad-band, neither has succeeded. WiFi has a very
short operating range and limited mobility,which means it is really a hot-spot technol-ogy. Meanwhile, 3G operators are focusingon lucrative voice and multimedia markets,rather than on the unsatisfied demand formobile Internet access on the move. This is
not necessarily a bad thing because untilHSDPA deployment is complete, UMTSnetworks are not ideally suited for mobilebroadband.
This technology gap could eventually befilled by WiMAX, which has establisheditself as a brand name for fixed broadbandwireless access. WiMAX is based on a subsetof the broader IEEE802.16 standards but,crucially, it has simplified the technologyoptions associated with 802.16 while stilladdressing an unusually wide range of appli-cations. Most analysts agree that thisapproach will drive the broadband wirelessmarket forward by encouraging the develop-ment of standardized components that canbe produced in high volumes and at low cost.
WiMAX is unique among wireless stan-dards because it does not specify the radiotype. It allows for both frequency and timedivision duplexing (FDD and TDD) withchannel bandwidths from 1.75 to 28 MHzand almost any carrier. The WiMAX Forumhas defined several standard profiles, themost popular channel bandwidths being3.5 MHz FDD for licensed bands (primarilyat 3.5 GHz), and 10 MHz TDD, for bothlicensed and unlicensed applications. Thefirst certified WiMAX products are nowavailable and adhere to the 802.16d specifi-
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Wireless subscribers will soon be able to download data at 18.4 Mbit/s Telecom and SK Telecom launch their WiBro networks later this year.
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cation, which is also known as 802.16-2004.The newer mobile WiMAX standard
802.16e was ratified at the end of 2005, andthe WiMAX Forum expects to finalize thenew mobile profiles at a meeting in Paris inFebruary 2006. The 802.16e standardincludes significant changes within thephysical layer (PHY) and media access con-trol layer (MAC) specifications.
While these changes allow 16e to supportboth fixed and mobile access, WiMAXbased on 16e will not be backwards compat-ible with 16d WiMAX. The 16d PHY pro-file uses orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), while the 16e PHYemploys scalable orthogonal frequency divi-sion multiple access (OFDMA). There arealso enhancements to the 16e MAC, whichmake it more suitable for mobility.
Beyond mobility, 16e delivers animproved link budget for fixed applications.While the two incompatible WiMAX stan-dards are expected to exist side-by-side,eventually 16e will take over completely forboth fixed and mobile applications.
Like 16d, 16e allows both FDD andTDD and uses QPSK, 16-QAM and64-QAM modulation. However, the 16eOFDMA scheme uses 128, 512 1024 or2048 subcarriers rather than the OFDM
256 subcarrier used by 16d. The selectablechannel bandwidths are the same, but thecell radius for 16e (between 1.6 and 3.2 km)is about half that of a 16d cell. For fixed use,16e can trade off mobility to achieve greatercoverage by employing subcarrier re-alloca-tion. 16e is also specified only for systemsoperating at below 6 GHz, whereas 16d canoperate at frequencies up to 11 GHz.
Another WiMAX variant is the Koreanstandard WiBro, which encompasses a very
specific subset of the 802.16e specification.This was done to allow for an earlier intro-duction of commercial services, which weredemonstrated by Korea Telecom (KT) inNovember 2005. WiBro is restricted to a8.75 MHz wide TDD channel and theSouth Korean government has licensed100 MHz of spectra at 2.3 GHz for WiBroservices. WiBro offers a theoretical peak datarate of 18.4 Mbit/s in the downlink and6.1 Mbit/s in the uplink, making it the
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1 5O P I N I O N
fastest mobile data standard available today.WiBro trials have gone well and two opera-tors (KT and SK Telecom) are planning fullcommercial launches later this year.
Important consequences of mobility inany wireless network are the rapid channelchanges and distortion effects that can occurwhen the user is in motion. These phenom-ena include deep fades, sudden frequencyshifts and Doppler effects, which impact thePHY and the PHY–MAC interaction. ThePHY must be robust enough to react tothese changes by using techniques such asadaptive modulation. This techniqueensures reliable transmission by increasingthe data rate when propagation conditionsare good, and reducing the data rate whenconditions are poor.
Achieving seamless handoff between basestations is another key mobility requirement– particularly for voice services. Handoff isdifficult to implement in cellular systems,which were designed for mobility from thestart, and introducing it to an existing fixedstandard is an even greater challenge.Although WiBro can support fast-movingusers, it employs a simple handover mecha-nism suitable for data transmission ratherthan voice services. True mobility will followlater in 2007 or 2008.
Indeed, mobility management is not cur-rently part of the 802.16 standard, althoughsome aspects of mobility are planned for802.16f and 16g. Instead, mobility is beingspecified by the WiMAX Forum. It is pos-sible that this will be done by implement-ing 3GPP and 3GPP2 referencearchitectures and adding WiMAX as analternative air-interface.
WiMAX is already a much more complexstandard than WiFi, and 16e will make iteven more complicated. Flexibility will be thekey to successful adoption, as deploymentchallenges in the field will lead to a demandfor modifications. The need for reprogram-mability is therefore a prime considerationwhen selecting an implementation to sup-port the future evolution of WiMAX. ■
Rupert Baines is vice president marketing atpicoChip.
w i r e l e s s e u r o p e wire less. iop.org F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 0 6
Flexibility will be the keyto successful adoption, asdeployment challenges inthe field will lead to ademand for modifications
M A R K P A X M A NMark Paxman explains why the first 3G killerapplication will have little to do with 3G
Since 3G appeared on the scene in the late 1990s, pundits have argued over whatwill be the “killer application” – the one compelling service that will drivesubscriber growth. After many fruitless years of searching, the experts settled on a“killer portfolio” including email, video calling, corporate connectivity and thethree Gs (girls, gambling and games).
But the killer application may have finally appeared: mobile television. Recenttrials conducted by O2 and BT suggest that mobile TV is an attractive service forthose who are prepared to pay. Indeed, 76% of O2’s trial users said they would payfor the service, while BT’s trial users offered to pay up to £8 per month for theservice. These figures are very exciting and mobile TV could be an enormous boostto operators’ average revenues per user (ARPUs), which have been stagnating.
The irony is that mobile TV isn’t a 3G service – it uses an entirely differentbroadcast network and radio spectrum. There are several strong candidatetechnologies and the O2 and BT trials used different standards. O2 used DVB-H,
which is a flavour of the digital video broadcasttechnology used in conventional TVs (H stands forhandheld). BT used a modified version of digitalaudio broadcast (DAB) branded as Movio. Othermore proprietary contenders include Qualcomm’sMediaFLO and IPWireless’s TDtv. Of these fourcontenders, only TDtv is based on the 3G TDDstandards. The others use versions of the orthogonalfrequency division multiplex (OFDM) air interfacepioneered for digital broadcast services.
Mobile TV will be relatively expensive fornetwork operators to deploy, when compared to
adding a new service to a 3G portfolio. Operators must procure new spectrum forthe service, or sacrifice existing 3G bandwidth. They’ll need to build a newnetwork of TV broadcast base stations, and they’ll need to buy handsetsincorporating digital TV. Costs are hard to come by, but the network deploymentwill be much, much cheaper than the cost of the initial 3G roll-out, and weestimate that adding digital TV to a handset would cost a few tens of euros.
The return on investment for network operators looks quite good, if users reallyare prepared to pay nearly £100 a year for mobile TV on top of their existingcellular subscription. One warning is that the revenue might be split if networkoperators need to pay for content as well as for the hardware to broadcast it. BSkyBmay be happy to provide Sky News for free, but will want payment for premiumservices, especially sports channels. As a result, the actual monthly revenue to thenetwork operator might be substantially lower than the headline figure.
But all in all, mobile TV looks like a very exciting addition to the 3G operator’sservice portfolio – even if it’s not a 3G service. ■
Mark Paxman is a managing consultant at PA Consulting’s Wireless Technology Group.He can be contacted at [email protected].
Recent trialssuggest thatmobile TV is anattractive servicefor those who areprepared to pay
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As commercial high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)networks appear around the world, most public discussion hasfocused on the promise of end-user downlink speeds of up to14 Mbit/s – and the services that such data rates could enable.However, little consideration has been given to how significantincreases in data traffic will be transported on the backhaul linkbetween the W-CDMA base station and the first network node.
Mobile broadband services based on HSDPA could requireup to 15 times more backhaul transmission capacity than cur-rent mobile services. If mobile broadband is to live up to itspromise, it is imperative that mobile operators prepare theirtransmission networks to cater for this increased load.
HSDPA will make mobile broadband a success for severalimportant reasons. Crucially, HSDPA represents a step-changein the data throughput rate in the downlink, delivering peakrates of up to 14 Mbit/s under ideal conditions. HSDPA enablesmore users to be served within each radio carrier frequency.The technology also reduces round-trip delay over the air inter-face – improving the end-user experience for interactive ser-vices such as web browsing.
Microwave accessThe growth in mobile communications has created a largedemand for reliable and cost-effective backhaul transmissionnetworks. Microwave radio is the most commonly used accesstechnology, and 60% of all GSM base stations worldwide areconnected via this technology.
Traditionally, capacity increases have come along gradually,as technologies such as HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE have beenintroduced. These have had a moderate effect on the accesstransport network, which carries the mobile traffic between theradio base stations and the switching/routing network.
Although HSDPA can be rolled out with minimal impact onthe transport network, the move towards true mobile broadbandmeans that each 3G base station is likely to require 20 Mbit/s ormore of dynamic transmission capacity. This in turn couldrequire a “second mile” network with links in the 100 Mbit/srange (see figure 1). This is much higher than existing networks,which typically employ 2–4 Mbit/s links to base stations.
Unlike traditional voice traffic, the new mobile broadbandtraffic will be mainly best-effort data traffic – meaning thecapacity load can be shared more efficiently. To handle theselarge and dynamic traffic loads, operators need an adaptedpacket-based transport system, together with more effective traf-fic handling. Furthermore, as their 3G networks grow, operatorsneed the flexibility to add new base stations with relative ease.
Very few mobile transport networks are currently capable ofsupporting such growth or flexible enough to cope with rapidlychanging demands. The backhaul connections in today’s radioaccess networks are often 2 Mbit/s leased lines, which do notscale well in terms of capacity and are not designed for broad-band packet-based transport. Leasing is also an increasinglyexpensive option as capacity requirements grow. The additionalcapacity required in the transmission and transport networkdepends to a large degree on what types of services the operatorintends to offer and how it has structured its network.
While an HSDPA carrier operating at 14 Mbit/s could theo-retically require capacities of 20 Mbit/s or more in the trans-port network, designing a network on this basis is not realisticand is only recommended for laboratory testing scenarios. Inreality, the 14 Mbit/s data rate can only be achieved for a single
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Backhaul must makeroom for HSDPA
While HSDPA promises 14 Mbit/s data rates,Aldo Bolle and Hans Herbertsson explain whyoperators should scale their backhaul networks tocope with more realistic data rates.
hub site
hub sitehub site
end sites
RNC
seco
nd m
ilela
st m
ileop
tical
edg
e an
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etro
Fig. 1. A typical mobile backhaul network showing last and second-mileconnection and an optical ring connection to the radio-network controller (RNC).
1 8 B A C K H A U L
user under ideal conditions. The peak rate per user depends oncell size, average distance from the base station, terrain andwhether the user is indoors or outdoors. Taking these factorsinto account, the practical peak radio rate is likely to be 20%to 80% of the theoretical peak rate, that is 3–11 Mbit/s.
The HSDPA channel is a best-effort channel shared amongusers, so the total traffic load generated per cell depends on anaverage of the actual bit rates delivered to all users at any giventime. Thus the average air capacity per sector can be estimatedusing a statistical distribution of the users, the local environ-mental conditions and the types of mobile terminals used. InHSDPA phase 1, when systems and terminals will be limited incapacity, a typical average air capacity per sector of up to2.5 Mbit/s is anticipated. HSDPA phase 2 will bring full-rateHSDPA carriers and better terminals and the average air capacityper sector could be 4–8 Mbit/s, depending on radio conditions.
Average throughput is a key factor in determining what trans-mission capacity is required. The average throughput depends onthe types of services being offered (and actually used), as well ascustomer profiles and behaviours. For example, the averagethroughput for a business user on the road using mobile broad-band is different from that associated with a residential customerusing mobile broadband at home as an alternative to ADSL.
Numerous calculations and simulations can be performedbased on a variety of traffic mix and service scenarios. If mobilebroadband is used as a wireless ADSL service to a laptop, therequired transmission capacity can be estimated by looking athow fixed operators dimension ADSL lines in terms of averagethroughput per user. Fixed networks are normally dimensionedwith average bit rates per user in the range 15–250 kbit/s, depend-ing on the services delivered. The higher bit rates are associatedwith residential users that download movies and large MP3 files.
These bit rates are indicative of a high ratio of peak-to-averagedata rate, which offers the potential to use statistical aggregationto achieve significant capacity gains in the backhaul network.
Ericsson’s calculations show most of those gains can be achievedat the first hub site in the mobile access transmission network.The transport capacity allocated to a hub site is mainly defined bythe average throughput, since there are benefits from statisticalgains in this point in the network. The average system throughputat end-sites is low – at least initially – and allocated capacity hereshould be no lower than the capacity advertised to customers.
Mobile operators can meet demand for increased capacity tosupport mobile broadband using a combination of twoapproaches. The first is to increase the physical bit rate in thetransmission links. Crucial to the smooth and cost-effectiveupgrade of a microwave transmission network is the deploymentof modems that can support a range of modulation schemes andcapacities. The second approach is to introduce traffic aggrega-tion to reduce overall demand for transport capacity. When thetraffic has a large peak-to-average ratio, as is the case with mobilebroadband, there are significant statistical gains to be made.
End-to-end perspectiveOperators must take an end-to-end perspective on how to bal-ance capacity requirements against upgrade costs, decidingwhen and where to make improvements to the network. Forexample, while increased physical capacity will almost alwaysbe needed in parts of the backhaul network, it would be far tooexpensive to boost capacity throughout the network – even ifthere were enough microwave bandwidth to do so.
Microwave transmission offers a fast, flexible and cost-effec-tive solution for mobile-broadband transport. For example, thecapacity, flexibility and dynamic traffic-handling capabilities ofmicrowave systems offer a ready-made solution for meeting thedemands of mobile broadband in the backhaul network. Theyprovide a cost- and spectrum-efficient complement to higher-capacity fibre in backhaul networks.
The latest technologies include flexible microwave radio unitsthat offer capacity and modulation agility. They are availablewith transmission capacities in the 4–155 Mbit/s range and canperform packet aggregation for a more efficient use of trans-port network capacity.
Point-to-multipoint (PMP) microwave systems allow newbase-station sites to be connected easily. They can be scaled-upto provide additional capacity and are efficient at supportinglarge variations in traffic. PMP can be used to concentrate traf-fic on hub sites, to ensure that both access and core transportresources are used in the optimum way. Overall, PMP systemsallow operators to manage a large part of the uncertainty sur-rounding their transport network requirements. Operators canreuse as much of the existing PMP transport network as possiblewhile introducing new broadband services. PMP solutions offer3G operators a fast and easy way to connect new base stationsand adapt to changing demands at existing base stations.
By taking an end-to-end view of their transport and trans-mission needs, mobile operators can enhance the business casefor mobile broadband services by using existing transmissioninfrastructure. As capacity needs increase, equipment can beupgraded in a targeted and cost-effective manner. ■
Aldo Bolle and Hans Herbertsson are at Ericsson’s Transmissionand Transport Networks business unit.
F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 0 6 wire less. iop.org w i r e l e s s e u r o p e
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Third-generationnetworks are perfectlysuited for automaticnetwork optimization.Shirin Dehghanexplains how operatorsand subscribers alikecan benefit.
After a sluggish start it lookslike 3G services are finallycapturing the public’s atten-tion. Handsets have becomesmaller and much more desir-able, and the 3G content andservices industry is blossom-ing. The lure of the new gen-eration has begun to allayindustry fears that 3G couldbe an expensive mistake.Instead, 3G operators mustfocus on offering sophisti-cated, higher margin newmedia content and services, both to recoup their investmentand to retain the loyalty of their customers.
Operators must deliver a reliable and consistently high-quality level of network service that conforms to the loftyexpectations of the consumer market. Indeed, the critical chal-lenge for 3G operators is not the delivery of sexy handsets andservices, but network optimization.
Achieving this will take considerable effort. Indeed, even 2Gnetworks – which carry very little data traffic – have room forimprovement before they can boast consistently excellent lev-els of reliability and coverage. The behaviour and complexity of3G data traffic associated with multimedia content create anentirely new set of issues for operators to struggle with.
In countries where 3G is already (or soon to be) in service,the days of massive mobile-subscriber growth are over. To con-tinue growing their businesses, operators must focus onimproving their average margin per user (AMPU), rather than
their average revenue per user (ARPU), which is the traditionalmeasurement of success. AMPU measures the differencebetween the revenue generated by a user and the cost of serv-ing a user and can be boosted by lowering the cost of carryingeach voice minute or megabyte. Instead of the current focuson replacing customers lost due to poor network quality andmissed service-level agreement targets, operators must focuson delivering high-AMPU services over optimized 3G net-works. Beyond the demands of the market, operators also haveregulatory obligations to meet network performance targets.
Unique challengesThese aspirations, however, are being hampered by the com-plexity of the 3G radio network. Operators must acquire newengineering methodologies, planning and optimization skillsin order to deliver the required coverage, capacity and qualityof service. Indeed, 3G is more than the next generation for
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3G offers the gift ofself-awareness
Before and after automatic optimization. Left: 3G coverage before automatic optimization was performed using Arieso’sAltaro system. The blue dots are operational base stations. Dark green indicates the best coverage while orangecorresponds to unacceptable coverage. Right: Automatic optimization has improved the coverage greatly, whileallowing the operator to switch off several base stations (purple dots).
2 0 O P T I M I Z A T I O N
mobile communications – it is a new technology that presentsa unique set of challenges.
Operators must therefore invest in infrastructure and systemsthat will enable them to reduce capital and operational expen-ditures, while still hitting targets on key performance indicators(KPIs). To achieve this, operators must run flexible radio net-works that can be rapidly reconfigured and retuned. In addi-tion, operators must be able to introduce new services fastwithout compromising network quality. This can only beachieved if networks are optimized efficiently.
Moving targetsUntil recently, automated radio network optimization was notconsidered mandatory by mobile operators, who relied on trad-itional manual optimization processes. Operators have beenwary of moving to automated systems despite the fact thathuman-led manual optimization is time consuming and oftenresults in sub-optimal performance.
If many man months of labour were devoted to manual opti-mization, it might be possible to get close to an optimal con-figuration. However, radio networks are constantly changing,so optimization is a continuous activity. As a result, manualoptimization and drive testing are simply not economicallyviable for today’s network operators. It would take far too longto plan, optimize and tune the radio network to deliver thetarget KPIs of capacity, coverage and service quality.
A network is a moving target – voice, data, video and broad-cast all require differing capacities and priorities. Planning isfurther complicated by the proliferation of WiFi hotspots –which may take data traffic away from 3G networks – andother factors that could lead to unpredictable network trafficloads. As a result, today’s networks can only be optimized effec-tively by a software-based automated system – such as Arieso’sAltaro (see figure) – that is powerful enough to process the mas-sive quantities of complex data drawn from the network.
Mirroring evolutionThe underlying philosophy of automated optimization is this:If a parameter can be changed it can be changed for the better– and if the effect of the change can be measured and quanti-fied, then the optimization procedure can be automated. Ifthe network performance can change as a result of changingthese parameters, the performance can be optimized in terms ofthe parameters.
It is crucial that development of the optimization processmirrors the technological evolution of the radio network. Backin the days of analogue mobile networks, every frequencyretune required an individual site visit involving the adjustmentof “hard” parameters.
With GSM and W-CDMA-based networks, “softer” param-eters have been introduced. These are software-based measur-able variables that an operator can adjust remotely from thenetwork operations centre or the operations and maintenancecentre. They include antennas that can be altered remotelyusing electrical downtilt.
While these soft parameters can be optimized automatically,the network behaviour data must be collected by the operatorfor input to the optimization algorithms. In addition, the opti-
mization results must beimplemented and physicaladjustments made – usuallyvia a computer rather thanwith a screwdriver.
Some parameter adjust-ments will still need a degreeof manual implementation, sothere will always be a time lagbetween the recommendedmodel of the optimized net-work and the real network.Indeed, by the time the oper-ator adjusts the network para-
meters to accommodate one model of network traffic, thenetwork load may have changed and another series of adjust-ments will be required.
A key challenge facing network operators is how to deal withthe many variables that must be carefully balanced to deliverthe best possible network. These include variations in theunderlying technologies, the relationship between interferenceand coverage, and the fact that interference in 3G networks isdependent on the traffic activity and types of services deliv-ered at any given time. Radio-design engineers require an opti-mization system that can identify the best combination ofparameter settings to achieve target KPIs.
Instant reactionIn an ideal world, optimization would be a real-time, dynamicactivity that reacted instantly to network behaviours.Consumer behaviour acts as a catalyst in this process, whichwould ensure that customers could do whatever they liked onthe network, whenever they liked, without encountering capac-ity or coverage issues that cause poor-quality service. Thiswould minimize revenue lost by the operator and, ultimately,reduce customer churn. Cellular networks have an increasingnumber of remotely manageable parameters, so this ideal ofan intelligent and ever-vigilant optimization engine monitoringperformance levels in a self-modulating, self-healing network isnot far in the future.
In this scenario, the optimization engine would monitor net-work performance continuously from all available data sources.It would evaluate service quality and calculate parameter set-tings in real time. In the event of any element failure or over-load, it would devise the best possible course of action tominimize service disruption. The parameter changes to counterthe disruption would be carried out automatically in real timevia the network’s own operation and maintenance systems.
Arieso is working on optimization technology that will ulti-mately become smarter than the network itself. With dynamiccapability, the network can change in real time, with control andchange fully computerized. The procedure will become morelogistical – comprising the interpretation and management ofnetwork data. As operators gain confidence in the accuracy andreliability of the approach and the results, the optimization capa-bility will sit as the intelligent core of a self-aware network. ■
Shirin Dehghan is chief executive of Arieso.
F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 0 6 wire less. iop.org w i r e l e s s e u r o p e
This ideal of an ever-vigilant optimizationengine monitoringperformance in aself-modulatingnetwork is not far inthe future
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New cellular technologies such asHSDPA and HSUPA will pave theway for new broadband mobile ser-vices by delivering DSL-like datarates to the end user. Further in thefuture, emerging technologies suchas Radio Access Network LongTerm Evolution (RAN LTE) orEvolution/Super 3G are expectedto provide individual users withdata rates in the 30–100 Mbit/srange by the end of the decade.
While these new technologiesrelieve the traditional cellularbottleneck at the air interface, theentire cellular network must bescaled up to support the capacityrequirements of broadband mobileservices. And perhaps most impor-tantly, this must be done economi-cally to ensure that new services aredelivered in a cost-effective manner.
The backhaul transmission net-work is the most difficult segmentof a cellular network to upgrade formobile broadband. Backhaul can-not easily be scaled-up and there-fore for mobile broadband thecapacity bottleneck shifts from theradio link to the backhaul.
The backhaul is the terrestrialnetwork connecting the cell siteswith the mobile switching centre(MSC) at the core network. Thisnetwork is based on SONET/SDH rings on the upper part ofthe network. A tree topology in the lower part of the networkdistributes traffic to the cell sites. Cellular backhaul traffic canbe carried hundreds of kilometres across multiple hops of cop-per, microwave, satellite, or fibre-optic infrastructure. Becausecellular traffic is compressed, the overall traffic in the backhaulnetwork is relatively low. A typical 2G base station service withan average population of around 1000 subscribers requires aconnection of a few megabits per second, which can be accom-modated by several E1/T1 lines.
To implement and operate theirbackhaul networks, operators eitherlease capacity from fixed-line oper-ators or own the network them-selves. The most commonself-owned infrastructure technol-ogy is the microwave link. This isrelatively inexpensive to install butmay be limited in its ability to sup-port the increased capacity needs ofnew cellular technologies.
A backhaul network also includesaggregation and switching func-tions. These are deployed at severallevels in the aggregation sites andhubs that concentrate traffic mov-ing from lower to upper levels of thenetwork. Traditional 2G networksemploy a time-division multiplex(TDM) backhaul network in whichaggregation is performed by TDMaccess cross connects. However, inmore recently deployed 3G back-haul networks, traffic is concen-trated by packet switching that isbased on asynchronous transfermode and Internet protocol (ATM/IP) technologies.
CollocationInitial deployments of 3G equip-ment have been collocated withexisting 2G infrastructure. Most 3Gbase stations are deployed at the
same sites as their 2G counterparts and the same hub and coresites are used for 2G and 3G backhaul equipment. The 3G ATMbackhaul network is overlaid on the existing TDM network. The3G radio network controller (RNC) is deployed only at coresites. There are no remote RNCs resembling the remote base-sta-tion controllers (BSCs) that are used in 2G networks. As a result3G backhaul lines tend to be longer than their 2G counterparts.
The initial phase aggregation in 3G networks usually includesATM switches, which are deployed alongside the RNC at coresites. These switches groom the ATM E1 to STM1 and reduce
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Cellular traffic switchingimproves 3G backhaul
Shahar Gorodeisky explains how cellular traffic switching can cut backhaul requirements while improving 2G/3G network flexibility.
Fig.1. Traditional multi service switching (MSS) can almost halve thebackhaul requirements of a 2G/3G network. However, separate pipesare required for 2G and 3G traffic, which can lead to inefficiencies.
Fig. 2. The implementation of a cellular backhaul switch can cutbackhaul requirements by a factor of three and can alsodynamically optimize the resources dedicated to 2G and 3G.
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capital expenditure associated with RNC interfaces.As 3G traffic grows, new micro- and picocells will be added to
the network and more backhaul connectivity will be required ateach 3G cell site. More packet-based aggregation will also be addedto the backhaul network to improve traffic flow and to reducetransmission costs. Upgrading the backhaul network to meet theserequirements will be expensive. A recent study by GeoResults fore-casts that backhaul leasing expenses for US mobile operators willincrease from $2 billion in 2005 to $16 billion by 2009.
The relationships between capacity and cost in operator-owned microwave networks are more complicated. Mostmicrowave networks are running at full capacity – especiallymicrowave rings – and the only viable alternative for expansionare fibre-optic connections, which are costly to install. In busyurban areas with high subscriber densities, fibre may be the onlyalternative. However, in suburban and rural areas, and over longdistances, the costs associated with fibre would be prohibitive.
Backhaul guidelinesIt is becoming clear that there is no single magical solution tothe backhaul challenges facing 3G operators. Instead operatorsmust combine increases in infrastructure capacity with traffic-flow improvements enabled by the deployment of switchingsolutions at aggregation sites.
Backhaul capacity can be boosted by making prudent invest-ments in more leased capacity, upgrades to microwave tech-
nologies, and adding fibre links where microwave technologieshave been exhausted. A switching technology must also beintroduced in the backhaul network to improve traffic flow andmaximize the network performance of the backhaul infrastruc-ture. To be successful, a backhaul switching solution shouldincrease the efficiency and effective capacity of the network toachieve improved service delivery at reduced network costs.
The switching system must improve flexibility to ensure thatthe network can accommodate changes in traffic type and allowthe rapid introduction of new services. Quality of service (QoS)support for all cellular technologies – 2G, 3G and beyond –should be delivered by the switching system via the real-timeallocation of scarce backhaul network resources according tooperator-defined priorities.
Finally, a switching system should converge all generations ofcellular traffic into a unified backhaul network to utilize theinfrastructure efficiently for all services and to reduce costsrelated to the operation of multiple overlaid networks.
These guidelines can be put into practice by implementingtwo switching layers. The first layer is the traditional multi ser-vice switching (MSS) of TDM/ATM/IP, which occurs in layers2–3 of the network. The second is application-layer switching,which occurs in network layers 4–7 and switches the cellularvoice, data and signalling frames. The integration of applica-tion-layer switching with traditional TDM/ATM/IP switchingimproves network performance by maximizing network effi-
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2 5B A C K H A U L
ciency, providing full network flexibility, and enabling real-time network resource allocation based on support of QoS formulti-generational voice, data and signalling traffic.
Case studyFigure 1 illustrates the improvements that can be made usingstandard MSS switching and network convergence. On theinput side there are six fractional E1 lines, utilizing 115 timeslots to carry 2G GSM traffic from eight base stations. Anothersix E1s carry 3G UMTS traffic from six base stations. The sixfractional GSM E1s are groomed and a circuit emulation service(CES) is used to concentrate the traffic such that 4.5 E1s willsuffice. The six UMTS lines are concentrated into 2.5 E1s. Asa result seven E1s are required to connect the hub site to the corenetwork, which is a significant reduction from the original 12.
While a good starting point, this architecture is limited by thefact that the output comprises dedicated GSM and UMTSchannels. These are entirely separate networks that cannot beshared using a dynamic allocation process. In other words, if atany given moment there is barely any GSM traffic but there isan overload demand for UMTS services, the empty GSM chan-nel cannot be used for UMTS traffic and vice-versa.
Much higher network performance can be achieved whenadding application-level switching to the standard MSS.Cellular traffic switching terminates the transmission protocolto switch on the cellular frame level. This eliminates idling and
protocol inefficiencies, performs statistical multiplexing of all2G and 3G traffic, and provides full flexibility for sharing net-work resources according to actual 2G and 3G traffic demands.
An equally important benefit of cellular traffic switching isits ability to distinguish between voice, data and signallingframes, which are all forwarded in a single unified pipe. Thisallows QoS to be implemented based on the classification ofthe cellular voice, data and signalling traffic.
After classification and optimization, the cellular frames areadapted into the network protocol of choice – ATM, Ethernetor multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) – to achieve the com-plete integration of 2G and 3G technologies.
Figure 2 shows how cellular traffic switching can be applied tothe example in figure 1. The E1 lines have been further reducedto four from the initial 12. In addition, the network is entirelyand dynamically shared between GSM and UMTS traffic.
Cellular traffic switching offers the flexibility to deliver the bestpossible performance in any congested situation by automaticallynegotiating the QoS trade-offs to deliver optimal performance ofessential services and maintain network integrity under any cir-cumstances. Switching can also play a vital role in the upgrad-ing of aging backhaul networks to support the high traffic levelsthat 3G and 3.5G wireless technology will generate. ■
Shahar Gorodeisky is Vice President Business Development andMarketing at Celtro.
w i r e l e s s e u r o p e wire less. iop.org F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 0 6
Expanding your cellular network?Read all the latest expert opinion and advice in theBase Station Evolution: IOP Report.Selected by the editors of Wireless Europe, FibreSystems Europe and CompoundSemiconductor, this collection of articles offers solutions to the myriad businessand technical challenges facing engineers charged with maintaining andexpanding cellular networks. It looks at the key challenges involved in the roll-out,optimization and operation of GSM and UMTS networks.
Written by engineers and executives from leading companies in the radio-infrastructure supply chain, these articles cover the following key topics:
• network testing and optimization • future technologies • HSDPA
• backhaul strategies • base station installation • core network
This valuable 12 month perspective on base station evolution costs just£50.00/$90.00/¤72.50 for electronic delivery or £99.00/$178.20/¤143.55for the printed version.
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2 7P R O D U C T F O C U S
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While cellular operators often describe 3G asmobile broadband, many are aspiring todeliver even higher data rates and enhancedservices. 3G networks are capable of384 kbit/s data rates – rising to 2 Mbit/s whenclose to a base station – but past experienceshows that data users have an unquenchablethirst for new applications and faster services.
UMTS data rates can be boosted bydeploying the high speed downlink packetaccess (HSDPA) upgrade. The HSDPA stan-dard was finalized in 2003 by the ThirdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) aspart of Release 5 of the UMTS specifications.The technology has since undergone severalhigh-profile field trials with cellular opera-tors. Cingular offers a commercial HSDPAservice in the US and others are expected tolaunch throughout 2006.
Designed as an upgrade to the existingUMTS networks, HSDPA offers theoreticaldata rates of up to 14 Mbit/s and reducedlatencies – both of which improve the net-work’s ability to support real-time data ser-vices. HSDPA introduces several techniquesthat allow operators to use and manage their
radio spectrum in a more efficient manner. Inaddition, HSDPA applies some intelligence tothe problem of transmitting data under lessthan ideal radio conditions. For exampleHSDPA considers multiple-user diversity anddelivers the highest data rates to users with thebest instantaneous channel quality. This isunlike established cellular technologies, whichattempt to transmit data independently ofchannel conditions by using brute force.
As a packet-based technology, HSDPAtransmits data to the handset (or other userequipment) in short packets of 2 ms dura-tion. The quantity of data in each packet isdependent on the state of the propagationchannel. Each HSDPA handset provides thebase station with channel quality indicator(CQI) reports on the quality of the downlinkchannel. These reports are made periodicallyand are based upon signal-to-interferenceratio (SIR) measurements that the handsethas made on the downlink pilot channel.Depending upon the environment, the chan-nel conditions may change rapidly or mayremain largely static. For example a user dri-ving through a busy urban environment is
likely to experience much greater and morerapid changes in channel quality than a sta-tionary user in an open space.
Data are transported to the user via thehigh-speed downlink shared channel(HS-DSCH). The HS-DSCH is sharedbetween all the HSDPA users in the cell.Resources may be shared equally between sev-eral users or allocated entirely to one user. Theprocess of sharing the downlink requiresintelligent coordination by the base station.HSDPA also incorporates adaptive modula-tion and coding (AMC) techniques, whichadjust the downlink data rates to each useraccording to the individual channel condi-tions. For example, if interference is low thenthe base station can transmit a large packetusing 16-QAM modulation and reduce thenumber of parity bits. When poor signal con-ditions prevail, the packet will contain lessuser data with the HS-DSCH being restrictedto QPSK modulation and more parity bits areprovided for forward error correction.
HSPDA must allow for the fact that somepackets will not be received correctly and amechanism known as hybrid automaticrepeat request (HARQ) is used to retransmitthese erroneous packets. This retransmissionfunctionality is implemented within the basestation, so bad packets can be retransmittedquickly without the involvement of higherprotocol layers. This reduces the averagelatency associated with transmitting a packetthrough the system.
The task of determining the timing andquantity of data to be transmitted is per-formed by the scheduler, which functions asa resource allocation manager. The schedul-ing algorithm resides in the base station andis responsible for scheduling data for the cell.Locating the scheduler in the base stationallows it to react quickly to changing envi-ronmental conditions.
Algorithm optionsA scheduling algorithm could focus on max-imizing the cell capacity, or it could attemptto provide each user with fair access to thedownlink capacity. Alternatively, an opti-mized algorithm could attempt to meet bothof these objectives.
An efficient scheduling algorithm mustconsider many different parameters. Thesemay include information related to channelquality such as the CQI, power control andthe reported packet error rate. The algorithmmust also consider the capabilities of individ-ual handsets – such as how much data theycan process in a single time slot – and qual-ity-of-service parameters associated with thedata. In addition, a cellular operator maywish to give priority to the heaviest data users
Scheduler testing is crucial for HSDPARudolf Tanner and Nick Hallam-Baker of Aeroflex explain why HSDPA schedulingalgorithms must be thoroughly tested to ensure that base stations can reactquickly to changing environmental conditions.
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Fig. 1. A realistic HSDPA test scenario involves multiple handsets that communicate downlink conditions to the basestation, which adjusts the nature of the downlink accordingly.
2 8 P R O D U C T F O C U S
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in order to maximize revenue. An optimized scheduling algorithm can
offer financial benefits to operators because itallows them to manage their spectrum effi-ciently and ultimately increase cell capacityand lower the effective cost of data transmis-sion. Indeed, estimates indicate that HSDPAcan increase cell capacity by 30% and halvethe effective cost of transmitting a megabyteof data.
While there are clear benefits to imple-menting an appropriate scheduling algo-rithm, using real-time information todevelop a packet-transmission plan is a com-plex undertaking and involves thorough test-ing. Unfortunately even advanced MonteCarlo computer simulations cannot accountfor all possible phenomena encountered in areal system. To make matters worse, there is alack of commercial HSDPA handsets andthose that are available support only thelower data rates.
Ideal systemThe ideal HSDPA scheduler test system isshown in figure 1 and comprises many hand-sets, which measure and report their ownindependent downlink channel conditions.Any testing system must consider the effectscaused by the variations in the downlinkchannel conditions for each handset. Drivetesting is one method to verify scheduler per-formance against real fading conditions. Butdrive tests are complex to coordinate, expen-sive to run and, most importantly, cannotguarantee repeatable channel conditions.
Downlink channel conditions can be simu-lated in the laboratory using fading channelsimulators, which are expensive pieces ofequipment. However, a test system that com-prises a lot of fading channel simulators iscomplex to configure and can be prohibitivelyexpensive in terms of the capital expenditure.
A more practical solution involves incor-porating the fading channel simulation intothe test handset – or user equipment (UE).
Using the proprietary concept of a “mobilitymodel”, Aeroflex has incorporated the behav-iour of up to 32 handsets – each with its ownindependent fading channel – into its TM500HSDPA Multi-UE test system (see figure 2).
Using the mobility model, users can con-figure realistic fading channel conditions,including the ITU PA-3 and VA-30 channelsspecified by the 3GPP for HSPDA confor-mance. Feedback information from eachmobile in the Multi-UE – including CQI,HARQ response and power control informa-tion – is calculated from parameters of theinstantaneous fading channel. The Multi-UEprovides the base station with the same infor-mation as real handsets in real fading envi-ronments – with the added benefit that thescenarios are deterministic and repeatable.
Beyond simplicityBasic schedulers employ simple algorithmssuch as “round robin” or “proportionallyfair”, but careful mathematical analysis of theproblem can reveal further opportunities foroptimization. Figure 3 illustrates one aspectof the HSDPA complexity that can beexplored. Illustrated is the signal-to-noiseratio (SNR) required to decode a HSDPApacket with a particular transport formatresource index (TFRI) and number ofHS-PDSCH multicodes for both QPSK and16-QAM transmissions. The TFRI corre-sponds to the size of the HSPDA packet andis defined in the 3GPP specifications.
Figure 3 illustrates that the SNR requiredto receive very large packets is not a linearfunction of packet size. Indeed, the relation-ship is not even smooth at large packet sizes,which means that the careful selection of thetransmission parameters can boost datatransmission in poorer signal conditions.This phenomenon is just one example ofhow HSDPA networks must be carefullyunderstood in order to reap the benefits ofthe technology.
It is crucial that HSDPA-enabled base sta-tions are tested using multiple handsetsunder realistic conditions. While such condi-tions could be created by connecting manyhandsets to the base station via their own fad-ing channel simulators, this is expensive interms of both time and money. Aeroflex hasresponded by developing the TM500HSDPA Multi-UE Test Mobile, which pro-vides a very practical and economical testsolution for both base-station manufacturersand network operators alike.
Looking ahead to a future in whichmobile services and networks will becomeincreasingly Internet-protocol based, thetask of the scheduler will become even morecritical. And the introduction of high speeduplink packet access (HSUPA) in Release 6of the 3GPP specifications will again requirethe development of new scheduling algo-rithms to manage uplink capacity amongmany users.www.aerof lex.com
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Fig. 2. Block diagram of the TM500 Multi-UE showing themobility model. The system can simulate up to 32 HSDPAhandsets under fading conditions.
2 9P R O D U C T F O C U S
w i r e l e s s e u r o p e wire less. iop.org F e b r u a r y / M a r c h 2 0 0 6
Pauline Bernière and Yann Toutain ofAntennessa explain why operators andlocal authorities should deploy low-cost RF monitoring equipment that canshare exposure data with the public.
Mobile-phone and other radio networks arebeing rolled out and upgraded at a relentlesspace and this has left local authorities strug-gling to find a low-cost way to collect anddisseminate information regarding the gen-eral public’s exposure to RF radiation.
Measuring the public’s exposure to electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) from base-stationantennas was initially a concern for mobileoperators and regulatory authorities.However, the near ubiquity of mobile phonenetworks has raised many questions amongthe general public and EMF levels are rapidlybecoming a social issue for operators, localauthorities and other government agencies.
Measurements taken by accredited labora-tories – originally made to ensure compliancewith EMF exposure standards – are now rou-tinely published by government agencies forthe benefit of the public. France, Germanyand the UK were among the first countries topublish such data freely on the Internet.
The results published by France’s ANFRtelecoms regulatory agency, for example,reveals that public exposure levels are farbelow the guidelines set out by theInternational Commission on Non-IonizingRadiation Protection (ICNIRP). On average,outdoor exposure levels in France are0.165 V/m and 0.58 V/m for the 900 and1800 MHz GSM bands respectively. By com-parison, levels were 1.2 V/m for FM radioand 0.2 V/m for television.
Long-term measurementsHowever, such results are often questioned bythe public because measurements are madeover very short time periods and therefore thedata may not be representative of day-to-dayexposure levels. The solution is to deployequipment that can make measurements overlonger time periods. This is being done in sev-eral European countries including France,Greece, Italy, Portugal and the UK, whereEMF monitoring projects are underway.These programmes have revealed the advan-tages of making long-term measurements.
The projects were initiated by networkoperators (in Greece, Portugal and the UK)or by public organizations (in Italy andFrance). In all these projects, data are trans-
ferred directly to a central facility, which isusually hosted by a university or a technicalinstitute. The processed data are then pub-lished on the website of the project. In Italy,for example, data is published by theMonitoraggio dei Campi Elettromagneticigovernment agency, whereas in Swansea,UK, it can be found on the local authoritywebsite, where the general public can accessthe measurement information at any time.
Traditionally, EMF measurement cam-paigns employed monitoring systems basedon a spectrum analyser. Unfortunately, thesesystems are very expensive – about 740 000for a complete system – and therefore are notappropriate for use in a comprehensive mon-itoring programme.
Antennessa recognized this gap in the mar-ket and has developed a low-cost alternativethat is capable of making selective measure-ment on up to 12 RF bands. The uniquetechnology, patented by Antennessa and
France Telecom R&D, was created initiallyfor use in a personal portable dosimeter forepidemiological studies. Using the dosimeteras a starting point, Antennessa developed aselective EMF monitoring station calledINSITE Box (see picture). The low-cost sys-tem can acquire high-quality data, which aretransferred using Internet protocol (IP) tech-nologies directly to an FTP site and ulti-mately to a website for publication.
Two INSITE Boxes have been deployed by the local council in the Brest region ofnorth-west France (see www.cub-brest.fr/environnement/ondes_radio.html). The Brestdata show that there is good agreementbetween INSITE Box measurements and dataobtained from a spectrum analyser.
Different frequenciesPassband filters are located right behind theantenna, allowing the instrument to makemeasurements on up to 12 different fre-quency bands. The system has a 40 dBdynamic range, which can measure field lev-els of between 0.05 and 5 V/m. INSITE Boxcombines a triple-axis probe for isotropicmeasurement with a RF receiver. Alsoincluded is a digital card that can store up to7168 data points for each of the 12 bands.The data are exported via a GPRS modem.
The measurement results are consistentwith those obtained by a spectrum analyser,but are slightly less precise. This is becausethe passband filters used in INSITE Box areless selective than the low-frequency filtersusually used in spectrum analysers. However,the data can be processed using software,which improves the signal rejection betweenthe bands. The measurement cycle and dura-tion as well as when data are transferred aredefined by the user. Once the data have beentransferred to an FTP site, the position ofINSITE Box can be changed without hav-ing to modify the network architecture. Theresults are presented in detail for each of theselected bands and can be expressed in daily,weekly and monthly averages and comparedto ICNIRP exposure limits.
Data acquisition and transfer parametersare highly flexible. All 12 bands can be mea-sured in a few seconds and therefore data canbe transferred via GPRS in near-real time –or the system could be configured to uploaddata once a day. INSITE Box is also avail-able with an integrated web solution thatcomprises an FTP site with integrated soft-ware for data processing and publication.www.antennessa.com
RF monitoring stations benefit operators and public alike
EMF MONITOR ING
Antennessa’s INSITE Box monitors electromagnetic fieldlevels and downloads the results via a GPRS modem.
3 0 P R O D U C T S
Indoor access pointsupports HSDPADescribed as a high-speed access point thatenhances indoor 3G services, the MotorolaAXPT will be showcased at 3GSM.According to Motorola, the access point canbe added to any UMTS network to ensurethat 3G coverage is maintained when asubscriber enters a building. The AXPT wasdeveloped to address the indoor coverageand capacity challenges that mobileoperators face when delivering HSDPAmobile broadband services within offices.
The AXPT combines traditional networkfunctionality with Internet-protocolbackhaul. It is available in a compactpackage that can be mounted discreetly on awall. Motorola claims that the AXPT can bedeployed as easily as WiFi equipment.Hal l 8 Stand A7 www.motorola.com
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3GSM PREV IEW
Analysis tool forecastsnetwork trafficVersion 1.5 of the GSM NetworkDimensioning Manager (NDM) fromSchema will be on show at 3GSM.Described as an advanced analysis tool thatcan deliver significant cost savings to cellularnetwork operators, NDM maximizes the useof existing network resources. This allowsoperators to boost network capacity withouthaving to deploy additional base stations.
NDM v.1.5 allows telecom operators toanalyse the traffic load on their networks,providing information on the performanceof base-station transceivers and timeslotconfigurations. The system employsadvanced statistical analysis to identifypotential bottlenecks in the network beforecustomers encounter a problem. Hal l 1 Stand D10www.schema.com
Backhaul products on showRAD Data Communications will beexhibiting its portfolio of cellular backhaulproducts at 3GSM. Designed to transmitcellular traffic over packet-switchednetworks, the products aim to helpoperators migrate from legacy TDM andATM systems to new Ethernet/IP/MPLSbackbone networks. RAD offers a broadrange of devices that are optimized forpacket-based infrastructure. These includeDSL modems for packet transport overcopper and integrated access devices (IADs).
RAD will unveil its new Vmux-420 A-bis(BTS to BSC) and A-ter (BSC-to-MSC)standalone optimization gateway. Accordingto RAD the Vmux-420 enables mobileoperators to make better use of networkresources by achieving up to 3:1 bandwidthoptimization as well as a 2:1 reduction inthe number of E1 ports required. Theproduct is adapted for use in a terrestrial,satellite or microwave environment overpacket-switched networks (Ethernet/IP/MPLS), or TDM-based transport. Hal l 1 Stand C45www.rad.com
Antennas tilt in real timeAndrew Corporation has introduced asoftware system that enables the real-timeadjustment of base-station antennas over theInternet. The Network Management System(ANMS) works in conjunction withAndrew’s Teletilt ATC200-1000 local rack-mounted controller. It allows engineers toschedule antenna down-tilt adjustments tooccur at any time and at any location.According to Andrew, this eliminates thecost and inconvenience of dispatching crewsto make the adjustments on site.Additionally, ANMS enables more precisehand-offs with fewer gaps in coveragebecause adjustments on multiple antennascan be made simultaneously.
ANMS is Windows-based and cancommunicate via a customer-suppliedEthernet connection located at the basestation – or via a wireless connectionprovided by Andrew. A secure virtual-
private-network (VPN) link connects theTeletilt ATC200-1000 at the base station tothe operational maintenance centre. Hal l 1 Stand D8www.andrew.com
IAS updates handset settingsTektronix has added the IntelligentApplication Services (IAS) feature to itsUnified Assurance (UA) mobile networkmanagement system. According toTektronix, IAS can help network operatorsimprove service delivery, leading toimproved customer satisfaction, cost savingsand increased revenues.
The IAS applications use informationgathered by Tektronix’s GeoProbe networkmonitoring platform. The data areprocessed to provide network intelligencereports to various parts of the operator’sorganization including customer care,network operations and engineering, andmarketing and sales.
IAS allows operators to analyse, detectand correct the presence of improperlyconfigured handsets in a network. Whensuch a handset is detected by IAS, over-the-air (OTA) reconfiguration messages can besent automatically to correct the problem.This allows the subscriber to gain access tothe desired services without significantdelay. IAS can also notify the operator’scustomer-care system with the pertinentinformation, further boosting efficiency,quality of service and customer satisfaction.Hal l 1 Stand D30www.tektronix.com
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Antenna technologies unveiledRadio Frequency Systems (RFS) will unveilan expanded range of antenna systemcluster configurations at 3GSM. Designedto ease base-station site acquisition andinstallation processes, the low-profile RFSintegrated cluster series can now supportany member of RFS’s high-performanceOptimizer cellular antenna family.
The RFS integrated cluster is a completeantenna system that incorporates a tri-sectorarrangement of RFS Optimizer antennas invarious lengths from 0.7 to 2.0 m. It cansupport antennas with fully integratedtower-mount amplifiers (TMA). All theassociated jumpers and connectors arehidden from view. Antenna control units(ACUs) for the Optimizer RT remoteantenna tilt system can also be deployed onthe integrated clusters.
According to RFS, the clusterconfigurations can be used to create verylow profile antenna systems that deliver allthe functionality and performance ofconventional installations. RFS also claimsthat they offer the only cluster on themarket that provides up to 20° ofindependent antenna azimuth adjustmentin either direction.
RFS will also unveil an all-in-one antennasystem at 3GSM. The Optimizer Plus is atower-top assembly comprising an antenna,tower-mounted amplifier (TMA) andantenna tilt control unit (ACU). RFS saysthe system can cut the cost and lead-timeassociated with cellular base-station siteacquisition and antenna installation.Hal l 2 Stand F30www.rfswor ld.com
HSUPA test systems on showRohde & Schwarz will be showcasing itsportfolio of HSUPA and HSDPA testequipment and related software at 3GSM.The company will debut test software for itsCRTU-W and CRTU-M platforms thatsimulates the layer-1 behaviour of a HSUPAbase station. The software generates complex
HSUPA downlink signals and evaluates howthe signals are received and processed inlayer-1 of the handset under test.
Rohde & Schwarz has added HSUPAfuctionality to its FSQ, FSP and FSU signaland spectrum analysers and to its FS-K72/-K73/-K74 application firmware packages.Their SMx K45 software provides a HSUPAupdate for the SMU200A, SMATE200Aand SMJ100A vector signal generators.
The CMU300 network optimization
system has a new HSDPA monitoringoption, which checks HSDPA settings atUMTS base stations and performsmeasurements on the physical HSDPAchannels. The CMU-K72 HSDPAmonitoring option measures datathroughput and provides information forthe analysis and optimization of resource-assignment algorithms. Hal l 1 Stand D42www.rohde-schwarz.com
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3GSM PREV IEW
www.andrew.com
Andrew offers industry leading solutions.Andrew Corporation is a one-stop, end-to-end RF systems and solutionssupplier with global resources. Our product portfolio encompassestraditional wireless networks, third-generation technologies, Internetservices, and specialized applications in microwave, satellite, radar,and HF communications. Our passion for innovation, commitment toquality, and dedicated customer service shows in everything we do.
RF Site Wireless Network Satellite CoverageSolutions Infrastructure Solutions Communications and Capacity
CLEARADVANTAGES
FROM ANDREW
CLEARADVANTAGES
FROM ANDREW
3 2 P R O D U C T S
Analyser has newmeasurement optionWilltek Communications will beshowcasing its 9102 Handheld SpectrumAnalyzer with the 9131 EMF MeasurementOption at 3GSM. Described as an easy-to-use and lightweight test system, theinstrument allows network operators,regulatory authorities and other interestedparties to measure electromagnetic radiationlevels and then compare the results with theappropriate legal limits.
According to Willtek, the 9102/9131combination is better than the heavy andbulky equipment normally used. All controland calculation software is included in theanalyser, eliminating the need for a computer.Hal l 2 Stand E93www.wi l l tek.com
GPS chip is for handsetsAtmel will introduce its latest GPS receiverat 3GSM. The single-chip ATR0630 deliversAtmel’s Anatris 4 GPS receiver plus ROM-based software in a 96-pin BGA package.Designed for use in mobile phones andother handheld devices, the chip measures7 × 10 mm and draws 5 µA of current.
Atmel is also debuting a 32-bit RISCcrypto-controller for use in next generation(U)SIM cards. The AT91SC512384RCT isbased on the ARM SecurCoreTM SC100CPU core and features 512 kbyte of ROM,384 kbyte of high-performance EEPROMand 24 kbyte of RAM.Hal l 1 Stand D116www.atmel .com
Anritsu showcases HSDPA/HSUPA test equipmentA portfolio of instruments for testingHSDPA and HSUPA equipment will bedemonstrated at 3GSM by Anritsu.Described as the first handheld testinstrument with HSDPA/W-CDMAanalysis capability, the UMTS MasterMT8220A analyser is said to perform all3GPP specification measurements for thedeployment and installation of HSDPAmobile networks.
In the pass/fail mode, the UMTS Masterstores the five HSDPA test modelconditions specified in the 3GPPspecification. After selecting the test model,the UMTS Master displays whether the basestation has passed or failed the test. Customlists, including min/max for each parameter,
can be created using Anritsu’s MasterSoftware Tools and downloaded into theUMTS Master.
Anritsu will also demonstrate the HSUPAcapabilities of its MD8480C SignallingTester. According to Anritsu, the newHSUPA capability involves the reuse ofsoftware scenarios already deployed on theMD8480 platform, which means that legacyinstruments can be upgraded for HSDPA.
Anritsu will preview its new MD8391ACompact RNC simulator, which weighs lessthan 10 kg and covers 3GPP release 5including HSDPA. Anritsu will also bepreviewing a system for testing the SGSNportion of mobile networks that is based onthe company’s MD1230B Data QualityAnalyser Ethernet platform.
The company will also demonstrate itsMasterQuest IP Service KPI, which helpsoperators to monitor, analyse andtroubleshoot network and serviceperformance in GPRS and UMTS networks. Hal l 1 Stand D06www.eu.anr i tsu.com
RF switch handles 10 WFeaturing a 10 W power rating, theAWS5532 RF switch is new fromAnadigics, which will be exhibiting at3GSM. Aimed at the GSM, CDMA andWLAN mobile platforms market as well asautomotive telematics, the single-poledouble-throw (SPDT) switch maintainssignal integrity at frequencies up to2.5 GHz. At 2 GHz it offers a typicalinsertion loss of 0.4 dB, return loss of 20 dBand isolation of 28 dB.
The new RF switch is fabricated usingAnadigics pHEMT process, which makes itvery robust. The device is supplied in a 12-pin S26 MLF package that measures3 × 3 × 1 mm and meets the EuropeanUnion’s Restriction of HazardousSubstances (RoHS) requirements. TheAWS5532 costs $2.00 in quantities of10 000 units and samples are available. Hal l 2 Stand F51www.anadig ics.com
Multimedia for GSM/EDGEThe new SoftFone baseband chipset forEDGE and GSM/GPRS cellular phonesfrom Analog Devices (ADI) supports a3 Mpixel camera and other multimediafeatures without the need for a co-processor.The chipset combines ADI’s AD6900digital baseband processor and the AD6855analogue baseband processor.
The chipset design is based on ADI’sRAM-based SoftFone architecture, whichthe company says can deliver flexibility andpower savings to handset designers. ADIalso says that as a software-based system,
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3GSM PREV IEW
3 3P R O D U C T S
SoftFone allows handset manufacturers todesign multiple families of products using asingle development platform.
The AD6900 processor combines ADI’sBlackfin processor with an ARM926EJ-Sprocessor. Both processors run at 260 MHzto perform both the communications andaudio/video signal processing tasks. Thecompanion AD6855 processor handles theanalogue processing requirements includingthe baseband radio interface, voiceband andstereo digital/analogue conversion, andvoltage regulation. The dynamic powermanagement feature included in theSoftFone multimedia chipset controls thefrequency and core voltage of the processorto minimize power consumption. Hal l 1 Stand D43www.analog.com
Chip delivers mobile TVDescribed as a revolutionary DVB-Hdemodulator chip, the LOREN IC is newfrom SIDSA. The chip enables theworldwide reception of mobile TV services– including video-on-demand on mobilephones and other handheld devices.
The device offers a full implementation ofthe DVB-T and DVB-H standards andsupports a range of host interfaces includingSDIO, Compact Flash, USB and Ethernet.The multiband chip supports both the Land UHF bands.
The chip offers plug-and-playimplementation and uses an Internetprotocol stack. According to SIDSA, thesetwo features combine to accelerate productdevelopment. In addition, no specificmiddleware software or drivers are requiredto deploy the chip. SIDSA is also marketingintellectual property related to the LORENIC to third parties. The company will beexhibiting at the Spanish Pavilion at 3GSM. Courtyard Stand CY14www.sidsa.com
UTRAN analyser andapplications unveiled Described as an efficient and powerfulInternet protocol (IP) UMTS terrestrial radioaccess network (UTRAN) signalling analyser,the J6846A will be debuted by AgilentTechnologies at 3GSM. According to Agilent
the analyser can accelerate the developmentand deployment of 3G UMTS networks andhelps operators migrate their networks toemerging IP UTRAN architectures.
The J6846A software covers UMTSrelease 5 (HSDPA) and allows engineers tovisualize data and perform a comprehensiveanalysis of the signalling and user-planeperformance on IP UTRAN interfaces.These include the Iu, Iur, Iub-cs (circuit-switched), and Iub-ps (packet-switched)interfaces. The signalling analyser is suppliedwith a variety of applications to examineradio network impairments, such as radiocoverage, signal levels, call-processingperformance and user plane quality.
Agilent will also be unveiling its E6701EGSM/GPRS and E6703D W-CDMA/HSDPA Lab Applications, which run onthe Agilent 8960 Wireless Test Set. TheE6701E Lab Application features dualtransfer mode (DTM) and two-cellemulation. The E6703D Lab Applicationoffers throughput and application testingfunctionality for HSDPA packet-datadevelopment. Hal l 1 Stand D45www.agi lent .com
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With voice revenue being undercut, the need for different sources of revenue becomes ever greater. Whatnew services are being developed? Which platforms will they work on? How can you reduce time-to-revenue? How can you miss this event?
For further information please get in touch with Sumreen Rizvi on [email protected] or +44 (0) 207 637 0843
The Telecoms SDP Migration and Value Creation ForumCentral London, UK 5th-7th April 2006
conferences
Learn from our excellentspeaker panel which includes:
Tony Houghton Business Strategy and TechnologyConsultantBT
Francis Depuydt Senior Team ManagerNetwork Communications ServicesBELGACOM
Ovidio MichelangeliHead of Wireline and Wireless Technologies Development WIND
Zygmunt Lozinski President THE PARLAY GROUP
Corrado MoisoSenior Architect TELECOM ITALIA
Dr Marco EggenkampSenior Researcher TNO TELECOM
3 4 T H E F U T U R E
How is Icera realizing soft modem technology?We have developed the world’s highest perform-ing chip in terms of the number of operationsthat can be executed per second on a singleprocessor core. Our technology has 10–15 timesmore performance than the nearest commercialDSP, allowing us to express the modem entirelyin software for the first time. It’s implemented ina simple system chip with on-board memoriesin the latest geometry processes. It’s small, lowpower and fully functional.
We then build the modem technology insoftware, exploiting the programmability inseveral different ways to create an extremelyadaptive and flexible modem technology. Forexample, by designing an HSDPA modem in adifferent way, we can often achieve a two tothree times performance gain in terms of theactual data rate that can be achieved under agiven set of channel conditions.
Our soft-modem technology supports GSM,GPRS, EDGE and regular UMTS. It is scalable up to andbeyond HSDPA/HSUPA and as standards evolve we will bethe first to respond. Another key benefit of the technology isthat it can deliver multimode capability on the same silicon. Aswell as supporting 3GPP technologies, a single modem can alsosupport WiMAX, WiBro, TD-CDMA and TD-SCDMA with-out the need for additional transistors or memory.
Is this software defined radio?Not in a strict sense, we focus on creating products for specificapplications and the fact that we are doing it in software isalmost hidden. Indeed, software defined radio (SDR) hasbecome a much maligned term thanks to a period of hype in2000–01. Several companies promoted the concept of a handsetthat would sniff out the network and configure itself by down-loading the appropriate air interface. Unfortunately, this was autopian dream. In reality, this generation of reconfigurable base-bands were massive, power-hungry beasts and therefore cannotbe used in any commercially viable system.
Of course, one of the biggest challenges for any SDR con-cept is in the radio, which must operate across multiple fre-quencies while being both cost and power effective. Thistechnology has yet to materialize, so an SDR handset todaywould require multiple radios tuned to different frequencies,and this is not commercially viable.
How does WiMAX fit into your plans?The current fear, uncertainty and doubt surrounding WiMAXis a good thing for Icera. Today we’re not focused on buildingWiMAX modem soft technology, but Icera’s silicon can sup-
port all the algorithms required for multi-megabit WiMAX, including OFDM modula-tion. This way, we are able to adapt to meetwhichever direction the market heads, withouthaving to change architectures.
What other technologies are you looking atfor the future?There are many candidates for future 4G stan-dards. In Japan, some operators look set to evolveto something dubbed “Super 3G”, likely to be ahybrid of OFDM and W-CDMA technologies.There are TD-CDMA and TD-SCDMA tech-nologies, time-division multiplexed variants ofCDMA-type systems and more focused OFDMsystems such as Flarion’s Flash-OFDM/802.20mobile broadband wireless access standard. All ofthese co-exist alongside the big push being givento WiMAX/WiBro by companies such as Inteland Samsung. But there’s no clear winner andmany emerging standards have significant spec-
trum availability or standard non-readiness issues.As a result, our main focus is on HSDPA and its uplink sis-
ter, HSUPA. By late summer, most major operators will be pro-viding HSDPA services. Many will launch with data cards aheadof the first HSDPA handsets, which will appear by the end ofthis year. We also expect to see HSDPA in mobile media play-ers such as iPod-like devices. This application has already beenproven in Japan, where KDDI has launched a successful musicdownload service over its cdma2000 1x EV-DO network.
By 2008 around 60% of all handsets sold in Europe look setto be 3G phones. They will be as small and as cheap as GSMphones and about 70% of these will support HSDPA, at least3.6 Mbit/s. Indeed, by 2008 you may no longer be able to buya 3G phone that does not offer HSDPA. If we are right, Icerawill help drive the migration to HSDPA by providing soft-modem technologies that will reduce the size and cost of hand-sets, while boosting their performance.
HSUPA will be relatively easy to implement on the handsetbecause encoding data for transmission is much simpler thandecoding at the receiver. We can support HSUPA in our softmodem technology by simply adding more software.
HSDPA and HSUPA will herald a major transformation of3G services. Promises that were made 10 years ago will finally bekept or even exceeded and subscribers will have access to amulti-megabit-per-second network with extremely low latency.A multitude of devices will have modem chips and, perhapsmost importantly, these devices will be delivered at a very rea-sonable cost that is comparable to today’s GSM terminals. ■
Interview by Hamish Johnston, editor of Wireless Europe.
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Soft modems will drive HSDPA handsetsStan Boland, President and CEO of Icera, explains why
soft modems are the future of mobile phones.
Stan Boland: “By 2008 you may nolonger be able to buy a 3G phonethat does not offer HSDPA.”
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Visit us at 3GSM booth D43, 13th - 16th February 2006, Barcelona.
