HSDPA significantly improves the data rates that can be delivered over a 3G network and means 3 can offer new and enhanced services to customers.
HSDPA also means 3 can make more efficient use of its existing network capacity, delivering capacity more cost effectively. It primarily works by introducing 2 techniques; Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC), which results in more efficient resource usage, and Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), which enables faster retransmissions. HSDPA effectively facilitates high user peak rates of downlink up to 14.4 Mbps by placing key packet data processing in the Node B closer to the end users, thus minimising the delays.
The live pilot, conducted jointly between NEC and 3, has been running for the last two months and has already seen speeds of up to 1.4 Mbps(million bits per second), over three times faster than current 3G speeds and more than forty times faster than GPRS. The pilot will be extended to other areas, including some central London locations in June and 3 is planning to implement HSDPA in its commercial network in the second half of 2006.
“The recent success of NEC’s HSDPA trials in the UK and also on Hong Kong’s 3G network highlights our thorough confidence in the high performance of a commercial HSDPA system. NEC is ready to deliver its HSDPA to commercial networks worldwide”, said Toshiyuki Mineno, Senior General Manager at NEC’s Carrier Solutions Business Unit. “Since Europe’s first commercial services launch by Hutchison 3G in the UK in March 2003, NEC has delivered many 3G networks to Hutchison. This latest win is further testimony of our leading competence in this field and another great milestone in the continuing success of the highly reliable 3G and HSDPA network provided by NEC to Hutchison, together with our 3G partner Siemens. We fully intend to implement further HSDPA operation trials in Europe and Asia with the cooperation of local mobile operators to ensure the successful spread of our high performance HSDPA.”
David Cooper, Chief Technical Officer 3 UK said: “3 has led the development of 3G in the UK and with this successful trial we are leading the development of HSDPA. HSDPA will bring a range of benefits to our customers including faster download speeds, higher quality content and easy transfer of larger files. HSDPA will allow us to continue offering our customers the best new services first, over the largest and most advanced 3G network in the UK. Our objective for 2006 and beyond is to continue to have the best 3G network in the UK, HSDPA is the next step.”
Kevin Buckley, Director, Mobile Network Solutions Division, NEC UK. Ltd.
said: “This announcement is particularly significant as this is an actual, live commercial pilot for HSDPA and not just another HSDPA test.
It underscores the ongoing success of the NEC/Siemens partnership and its commitment to HSDPA and beyond. Here, we have created a commercially viable, high-performance delivery platform, optimised to support the ever increasing array of multimedia applications and services 3’s customers continue to demand.”
