HSPA+ Boosters for Multifold Performance

White Paper

Contents
1. Introduction ...... .....................................................................................2 2. Reducing Uplink Interference significantly ...........................................3 3. Higher Data Rates with Dual Cell and Multicarrier HSPA+ .................7 4. UMTS900 and UMTS850 Refarming for Larger Coverage.................9 5. Enhanced Voice Quality and Capacity ..............................................11 6. Quality of Service Differentiation........................................................12 7. High Capacity Base Station and RNC ...............................................13 8. Summary .......... .......................................................................................14 9. Further Reading..................................................................................15

1. Introduction
HSPA has turned out to be the clear number one mobile broadband technology, supporting more than 1 1 billion subscribers and more than 480 commercial 2 networks globally.
Attractive HSPA-capable smartphones are leading to increased traffic volumes and growing demand from users for even higher data rates and lower latencies. HSPA continues to evolve to bring many enhancements that boost network capacity and user performance significantly, and all are backwards compatible and supported by most new devices. This paper explains the latest features available to increase the performance of HSPA networks.

1 2

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media Source: GSA report November 4 2012

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2. Reducing Uplink Interference significantly

Smartphone dominated networks are still limited by their uplink performance. This limitation is not caused by high uplink traffic, but rather by interference from the control channels and signaling. Following some hard work in 3GPP standardization and in developing new features some solutions to increase HSPA+ uplink performance have become available. These include: Network controlled fast dormancy Mass event handler Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) with Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC) High Speed Random Access Channel (HS-RACH) 4-branch uplink reception Interference Cancellation (IC)

The uplink limitation is caused mainly by control channel interference arising from DPCCH and RACH. Figure 1 illustrates the transmission of a small packet in the uplink. The Release 6 solution allocates the HSUPA channel in a few hundred milliseconds, sends the packet in a few milliseconds and then waits for a few seconds for the inactivity timer to expire. Meanwhile the DPCCH control channel is transmitted continuously, which increases uplink interference levels.

Setup

DCH

Release 6 solution UE in Cell_DCH with 100% RF activity for several seconds even if active transmission is just a few milliseconds

Setup

DCH

Release 7 with DTX (CPC) Discontinuous transmission (DTX) in Cell_DCH when data transmission stops

HS-FACH

Release 8 with HS-RACH No DCH allocation or setup signaling Data transmission with HS-RACH

= UE transmissions of control data = UE transmission of user data

Figure 1: Small packet transmission in uplink

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Service and content intelligence

to maximize customer exper

Intelligent IP Edge
2G 3G LTE (LTE-A) CDMA WiFi

Network controlled fast dormancy allows the user device to move relatively quickly from HSPA+ to the Paging Channel (PCH) state, minimizing interference and saving terminal power consumption. Another powerful solution is the Nokia Siemens Networks Mass event handler. This feature automatically adjusts cell parameters according to the loading. For example, the RRC (Radio Resource Control) retransmission timer values are increased, the maximum number of RACH (Random Access Channel) retransmissions is reduced, control channel powers are optimized and the maximum data rates are reduced. These actions can maintain stable operation of the system even under extreme loading created by large events, for example in a large sports stadium. However, small mass events can happen anywhere in the network and it is impossible to prepare for those events. The only solution is adaptive parameter optimization by the Mass event handler. Release 7 brings a major improvement to the interference challenge with discontinuous transmission (DTX) during the inactivity period. DTX is part of Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC), which has been

measured in the field to increase uplink capacity by a factor of 4-5, which is a tremendous improvement. Release 8 improves the capacity further as the packets can be transmitted on HS-RACH without any dedicated resources. Nokia Siemens Networks Smart Labs have studied in detail the impact of smartphone signaling and data traffic on network performance, which can be accessed at http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/ portfolio/solutions/smartphone-friendlynetworks/smart-labs. The estimated impact on smartphone capacity is shown in Figure 2 as a function of the packet size, assuming that packets are received on average every 60 seconds by all devices. Many smartphone applications send and receive packets that are just a few hundreds of Bytes or a few kBytes. The results show that Release 6 allows 500 subscribers per cell to be supported, Release 7 enables 2,000 subscribers, while Release 8 supports even more. Many mass events can have more than 500 subscribers per cell which highlights the capacity challenges facing the Release 6 solution.

Max subscribers per cell with 60 s packet period 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 16.0 32.0 64.0 Packet size [kB] Release 6 Release 7 (CPC) Release 8 (HS-RACH)

Figure 2. Maximum subscribers per cell with Release 6, 7 and 8 features

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Another attractive solution for the uplink capacity is four-branch base station reception. Base stations typically use twobranch reception. Increasing the number of receiver branches from two to four reduces terminal transmission power, lowers interference levels and increases uplink capacity.

Figure 3 shows drive test measurements where the terminal transmission powers are reduced by 1.1 4.7 dB by four-branch reception compared to two branch reception, and by as much as 3.2 7.6 dB compared to single branch reception. The four branch reception site solution can be minimized in size by using compact, dual, cross-polarized antennas.

Reduction of UE transmit power with BTS antenna diversity 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 dB 4.0 3.2 3.0 2.3 2.0 1.0 0.0 2RX 2.7 1.1 dB 3.7 7.6 3.7 dB 4.7 dB 7.4

Case 1 4RX

Case 2

Case 3

Figure 3. Gain of uplink 2-branch and 4-branch diversity

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The uplink capacity can be pushed even higher by advanced base station interference cancellation. Figure 4 shows example measurements with a mixture of 2-ms and 10-ms HSUPA users and a voice user. The cell throughput is increased up to 80% with interference cancellation. The cell

throughput is maintained at a constant even if the number of users is increased in the base station receiver. If interference cancellation is not used, the uplink capacity, unfortunately, would fall with an increasing number of users due to control channel overhead and interference.

Cell throughput 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 kbps 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 +16% +24% +37% +79%

Call Mix 1 (4 HSUPA + Voice) No IC

Call Mix 2 (5 HSUPA + Voice) With Flexi BTS IC

Call Mix 3 (6 HSUPA + Voice)

Call Mix 4 (7 HSUPA + Voice)

Figure 4. Gain of base station interference cancellation

Global Mobile Traffic Forecast 50,000 45,000 6 40,000 Liquid Net 35,000 )

3G

LTE (LTE-A)

CDMA

WiFi

3. Higher Data Rates with Dual Cell and Multicarrier HSPA+

The data rate can be increased by expanding RF module the bandwidth and by using more antennas. System module The most straightforward way to expand System module bandwidth is with Dual Cell HSPA+ to double the practical data rates while still maintaining full backwards compatibility with legacy terminals. Single carrier HSDPA provides a peak rate of 21 Mbps, dual cell HSDPA (DC-HSDPA) of 42 Mbps and three-carrier HSDPA (3C-HSDPA) of 63 Mbps. If multiantenna transmission and reception (MIMO) is also used, the data rates are further doubled. DC-HSDPA has been widely deployed
RF module

commercially and is supported by manynew devices including high end smartphones. RF module with higher power DC-HSDPA also brings the benefit that the System module with new software loading can be instantaneously balanced between the carriers in the packet scheduler usng millisecond resolution. The fast frequency domain scheduling improves the network efficiency. The higher data rate is complemented by the low latency in Nokia Siemens Networks products the end-to-end two-way latency can be less than 20 milliseconds. Low latency is becoming increasingly important to support interactive applications and to complement higher data rates.

21 Mbps 21 Mbps 21 Mbps 3C-HSDPA 63 Mbps

DC-HSDPA 42 Mbps

Instantaneous load balancing on millisecond resolution

Figure 5. DC-HSDPA and 3C-HSDPA principle

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Data rates can also be boosted by advanced terminal receivers. 3GPP has defined performance requirements for receivers that are able to remove inter-cell interference. Simulation results for Type 3 (no inter-cell interference cancellation) and 3i (with intercell interference cancellation) are shown in Figure 6. The throughput gains with 3i compared to Type 3 are 20-25% for the cell

edge conditions with a Geometry-factor (G-factor) of -3 dB and 0 dB. Live network measurements have shown even higher gains in practice. The advanced UE receiver benefits the operator because no changes need to be made to the base station the network can automatically allocate higher data rates for the advanced receivers.

2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 kbps 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 Type 3

G = -3 dB Type 3i

G = 0 dB

Figure 6. Benefit of advanced 3i terminal receiver (show 20-25% in figure)

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4. UMTS900 and UMTS850 Refarming for Larger Coverage

UMTS refarming to the 900 MHz and 850 MHz bands has turned out to be a very successful solution that can triple the coverage area compared to UMTS2100 and deliver better indoor penetration. UMTS900 and UMTS850 are widely supported in all new devices. The latest features make refarming even more attractive with: DC-HSDPA capability at 900/850 MHz Multiband load balancing between low band and high band RF sharing between UMTS900 and GSM900, and UMTS850 and GSM850 following refarming by an operator with 11.4 MHz of spectrum in total, which is one-third of the 900 MHz band. A single HSPA+ carrier can be deployed in 3.8 4.2 MHz, and two carriers in 7.6 8.2 MHz. Field measurements show that more than 30 Mbps throughput can be achieved even in this narrow band deployment. The GSM capacity in this narrow band can be boosted by the latest GSM features like Orthogonal Sub-Channels (OSC), which allows up to four users with good voice quality per time slot, and with Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation (DFCA), which minimizes inter-cell interference by clever resource allocation.

Figure 7 shows how spectrum is used

GSM only

11.4 MHz

1 x HSPA + GSM

3.8 - 4.2 MHz HSPA

7.6 - 8.0 MHz DC-HSPA + GSM HSPA 3.8 MHz HSPA

Figure 7. Dual Cell HSPA+ spectrum use following refarming

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RF module RF module System module Multiband load balancing ensures that both System module frequency layers, low and high, are used optimally. The low band has better signal propagation, making it more attractive to the terminal, while the high band gives operators more spectrum. Load balancing takes into account the instantaneous loading, signal levels, terminal capabilities and services when allocating terminals between the low and high bands. The use of multi-band load balancing can create up to 20% capacity gain on multicarrier networks with existing hardware, RF module with higher power proven by field measurements during System module with balancing operator trials. Multiband load new software is depicted in Figure 8.

Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi RF module can be shared between GSM and UMTS, which makes it the most compact RF solution for UMTS refarming and GSM modernization. GSM modernization also brings the latest features to the GSM network, as well as minimizing network power consumption and operating expenses.

Load Signal level Services Terminal capability UMTS2100

UMTS900

Figure 8. Multiband load balancing between UMTS900 and UMTS2100

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work Insight

Value Added Services

integrated into traditional gateways t networks and bundle different IP Ed to maximize customer experience di

Intelligent IP Edge
3G

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5. Enhanced Voice Quality and Capacity

LTE (LTE-A) CDMA WiFi

Voice quality can be improved substantially by using wideband voice coding with Adaptive Multirate Wideband (AMR-WB). The radio data rate in AMR-WB is the same as in AMR narrowband and the resulting radio capacity is the same. AMR-WB uses twice the sampling rate to enhance the voice quality, but retains the same radio data rate. AMR-WB has been launched in 45 networks in 35 countries and is RF module supported by more than 80 phone models RF (GSA, August module 2012).
System module System module Voice capacity can be enhanced by running voice on top of HSPA+ instead of using WCDMA dedicated channels. The capacity benefits are achieved because all HSPA+ performance enhancements can be applied for voice, including equalizer receivers, interference cancellation, fast retransmissions, adaptive modulation and coding and fast scheduling. These enhancements improve voice capacity by 50-100%.

AMR-WB 7000 Hz

Landline and AMR-NB

3400 Hz RF module with higher power System module with new software 300 Hz

50 Hz

Figure 9. Enhanced voice quality with AMR-Wideband

Voice services on top of HSPA+ can use either Circuit Switched voice (CS over HSPA) or Voice over IP (VoIP). The benefit of HSPA+ radio is that both voice options are supported and the transition from CS voice to VoIP can be introduced flexibly when needed.

HSDPA can provide reliable mobility without soft handover because of features such as fast link adaptation and fast retransmissions. The reliability of mobility performance on HSPA+ can be further improved by new features that include Enhanced serving cell change and bi-casting in cases of extreme mobility.

40 35 30 User per MHz 25 20 15 10 5 0 GSM EFR 50,000 45,000 GSM40,000 AMR 35,000 Annual traffic (PB) 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Liquid Net 2015 11 WCDMA 12.2 kbps WCDMA 5.9 kbps HSPA 12.2 kbps HSPA 5.9 kbps Global Mobile Traffic Forecast

Figure 10. Voice capacity enhancements with HSPA+ and low rate AMR

6. Quality of Service Differentiation

RF module RF module System module System module Quality of Service (QoS) differentiation can help an operator to optimize, monetize and personalize its offering. QoS mechanisms can differentiate applications and subscribers and to provide fair use policy by lowering the priority of heavy users. QoS differentiation enables up to 50% more users to be supported per cell, or alternatively, more than 30% savings can be achieved. RF module with higher power System module with new software transport, Radio Network Controller (RNC) and core network. Furthermore, the Nokia Siemens Networks Radio Access Network (RAN) offers Application awareness that also works with other vendor core networks. RAN Application Awareness is illustrated in Figure 11. The core network simply marks the packets with priorities and the radio network provides the QoS differentiation. This is an efficient and simple process that eliminates the need for terminal support, secondary PDP context and further core network support.

The Nokia Siemens Networks QoS solution is supported end-to-end including radio,

Define application specific QoS-policies

SGSN (Flexi NS)

PCRF (PCS 5000) PCEF (Flexi NG incl. DPI)

Charging

Internet

3G BTS

RNC

Supported by all devices

Read colormarkings and assign radio QoS priorities Works both in radio uplink and downlink Works in Iub congestion Non-GBR supported

DPI: monitor application use, detect and report Colormark different applications according to policies

Figure 11. Quality of Service differentiation with RAN Application Awareness

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7. High Capacity Base Station and RNC

RF module RF module System module System module RF module with higher power System module with new software

Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is an industry-leading, cost-effective and energy-efficient multiradio base station for Single RAN Advanced mobile broadband networks. The Flexi Multiradio 10 hardware platform enables site capacity to be multiplied up to

10 Gbps in its advanced configuration and with a 30% reduction in power consumption. Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is the only macro base station on the market that can build outdoor sites without a cabinet. It fits into any standard 19 indoor cabinet.

Flexi Base Station 10 Gbps baseband 3-sector base station Less than 50 kg

Multicontroller RNC Highest capacity per volume

Figure 12. Flexi Multiradio 10 base station and Multicontroller RNC

Global Mobile Traffic Forecast 50,000 45,000

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The evolved Flexi Base Station uses 50% less site space than the already very small, current Flexi Base Station. This is achieved by the industrys highest RF module efficiency, optimized baseband software and more efficient baseband processors. The changes in site space are illustrated in Figure 13. One of the key advantages of the Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is its flexibility. An operator can start small and scale up in line

with market demand by adding capacity plug-in sub-modules and also by chaining modules to achieve very high capacity. The base station can be upgraded easily to take advantage of all the features described in this paper and with its capacity expandable to a multi-carrier configuration. Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station is complemented by the most compact Multicontroller RNC on the market.

50% less site space Most efficient RF module in the industry Software upgrade for double baseband capacity RF module RF module System module System module RF module with higher power System module with new software

Figure 13. Cutting site space by a further 50% with Flexi Base Station evolution

8. Summary
introduced painlessly and at the lowest cost. The latest HSPA+ features and Nokia Siemens Networks products are well Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading matched to help operators meet many of the innovator in HSPA+ technology, has challenges they face today, including driven many 3GPP improvements and can efficient uplink interference control, higher provide the most efficient smartphone data rates, better voice quality and more solutions based on the pioneering work of compact products. Most of these features its Smart Labs in cooperation with are widely supported by the latest smartphone vendors. smartphones, enabling features to be Traffic Forecast Global Mobile
50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 Annual traffic (PB) 30,000 25,000 20,000

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9. Further Reading
okia Siemens Networks Smart Labs: N http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/ portfolio/solutions/smartphone-friendlynetworks/smart-labs okia Siemens Networks Continuous N Packet Connectivity: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/ news-events/press-room/press-releases/ nokia-siemens-networks-boostssmartphone-experience-on-hspa-networks okia Siemens Networks N Refarming Solution: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/ portfolio/solutions/wcdma-refarming okia Siemens Networks Flexi N Multiradio 10 Base Station: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/portfolio/ products/mobile-broadband/single-ranadvanced/flexi-multiradio-10-base-station okia Siemens Networks N Multicontroller RNC: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/portfolio/ products/mobile-broadband/single-ranadvanced/multicontroller-platform-0 okia Siemens Networks Orthogonal N Sub Channel (OSC): http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/portfolio/ products/radio-access/orthogonal_sub_channel

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Nokia Siemens Networks P.O. Box 1 FI-02022 NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS Finland Visiting address: Karaportti 3 ESPOO Finland Switchboard +358 71 400 4000 (Finland) Switchboard +49 89 5159 01 (Germany) Order No. C401-00778-WP-201211-1-EN Copyright 2012 Nokia Siemens Networks. All rights reserved.
Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation, Siemens is a registered trademark of Siemens AG. The wave logo is a trademark of Nokia Siemens Networks Oy. Other company and product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks of their respective owners, and they arementioned for identification purposes only. This publication is issued to provide information only and is notto form part of any order or contract. The products and services described herein are subject to availability and change without notice.

Copyright 2012 Nokia Siemens Networks. All rights reserved. Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. Siemens is a registered trademark of Siemens AG.

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