NSN tech to boost HSPA+ cell coverage
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has unveiled a technology that improves HSPA+ network performance by allowing users to connect to two base stations at the same time. The technology allows mobile devices that are located near the edge of cells within networks to connect to a second base station in a neighbouring cell. This means data can take two different paths to the device, leading to more efficient use of network resources.
When fitted to commercial infrastructure equipment, the HSPA+ Multiflow technology can double the data speed on mobile broadband services at the edge of network cells, and provide a 50 percent faster response rate compared to existing HSPA+ networks, according to NSN.
Head of NSN’s WCDMA business line, Keith Sutton, said the increasing amount of network traffic is “unpredictable in nature,” and can impact user experience.“This is where HSPA+ Multiflow helps operators - it reduces imbalances that typically occur in network resource usage, and increases HSPA+ speed and capacity,” he said.
NSN expects the HSPA+ Multiflow technology be standardised by the 3GPP by the middle of the year, and be commercially available in the second half of 2013. Operators will be able to adopt the technology on existing HSPA networks through a software upgrade.
HSPA+ Multiflow will be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress next week, using NSN’s Single RAN technology and prototype USB dongles from Qualcomm.