Mobile World Congress,
Barcelona, Spain – February 20, 2012
Presents first ever demo of HSPA+ Multiflow on commercial infrastructure equipment, delivering up to double the cell edge data speed
Operators will be able to offer enhanced mobile broadband with a new feature for HSPA+ networks from Nokia Siemens Networks and Qualcomm*. Known as HSPA+ Multiflow, it allows devices located close to the edge of a mobile base station’s cell to connect with a second base station serving a neighboring cell. The ‘Multiflow’ name refers to the two different paths data can then take to reach a device. The feature makes far more efficient use of network resources, delivering up to double the data speed and up to 50% faster response compared to existing HSPA+ networks.
A live demonstration** at Mobile World Congress 2012 of the feature will be based on Nokia Siemens Networks’ commercial Single RAN offering and Qualcomm’s prototype USB dongles.
“With 100 million smart devices being added every month, we see a consequent increase in ‘smart’ applications that make use of their advanced capabilities. Not only is network traffic rising dramatically, much of it is also unpredictable in nature, and this can impact user experience,” said Keith Sutton, head of the WCDMA business line for Nokia Siemens Networks. “This is where HSPA+ Multiflow helps operators – it reduces imbalances that typically occur in network resource usage, and increases HSPA+ speed and capacity.”
HSPA+ Multiflow enables simultaneous transmission of two data streams from base stations in two adjacent cells to a single user device instead of one data stream from one base station as is the case with HSPA+*** today. Overall, this can up to double throughput (data speeds) for users at cell edge. Due to Nokia Siemens Networks’ highly scalable Single RAN equipment, operators can protect their earlier network investments, by evolving their existing HSPA networks to the new technology with a simple software upgrade.
“We are working with Nokia Siemens Networks to drive the evolution and deployment of technologies like HSPA+,” said Serge Willenegger, vice president of product management at Qualcomm. “This demonstration confirms that HSPA+ Multiflow will enable us to further enhance the HSPA+ mobile broadband user experience, and is thus a valuable contribution toward enhancing the HSPA+ value proposition and further expanding global mobile broadband coverage.”
The HSPA+ Multiflow feature is expected to be 3GPP standardized**** by mid 2012, and will be available commercially from Nokia Siemens Networks by second half of 2013.
To share your thoughts on the topic, join the discussion on Twitter using #MWC12, #HSPA+ and #mobilebroadband.
About Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Siemens Networks is the world’s specialist in mobile broadband. From the first ever call on GSM, to the first call on LTE, we operate at the forefront of each generation of mobile technology. Our global experts invent the new capabilities our customers need in their networks. We provide the world’s most efficient mobile networks, the intelligence to maximize the value of those networks, and the services to make it all work seamlessly.
With headquarters in Espoo, Finland, we operate in over 150 countries and had revenues of over 14 billion euros in 2011. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Media Enquiries
Nokia Siemens Networks
Johanna Harjula
Media Relations
Phone: +358 7180 31399
E-mail: johanna.harjula@nsn.com
Media Relations
Phone: +358 7180 31451
E-mail: mediarelations@nsn.com
Notes:
*Nokia Siemens Networks and Qualcomm are cooperating closely to drive the further evolution of HSPA+. In addition to HSPA+ Multiflow, the companies had earlier demonstrated an HSPA+ data call with peak throughput of 336 megabits per second (Mbps) at PT Expo Comm in Beijing, China, in September 2011.
**The HSPA+ Multiflow demonstration at MWC 2012 will be conducted using Nokia Siemens Networks’ commercial Single RAN equipment (Flexi Multiradio Base Station) and Qualcomm’s prototype USB dongles.
The 3 prototype USB dongles from Qualcomm will be connected to Nokia Siemens Networks’ HSPA+ network via a radio frequency network emulator. When HSPA+ Multiflow is activated in the network, multiflow-capable user equipment will experience up to 100% throughput increase in the cell edge area while legacy user equipment will experience neither gains nor degradation.
***HSPA+ is the natural evolution of HSPA, comprising a set of HSPA enhancements defined in 3GPP beyond Release 6 (R6). It enhances the mobile broadband experience by offering significantly increased data rates, increased capacity and efficiency including voice evolution.
****HSPA+ Multiflow is a candidate feature for 3GPP Release 11, and is expected to be standardized by mid 2012.
PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date