FEB 2012 VOL. 14 ● NO. 1 ● ISSUE 138

Optimizing Operations to Give Hi3G: Leading the Era of HetNet Jump-Starts Mature LTE 03 Customers Better Value 22 LTE TDD/FDD Convergence 30 Commercializtion

Special Topic TD-LTE Wave Sweeping Across the Globe Building New solutions and opportunities are results of teamwork and commitment. value together Our customers know, since we have collaborated with them to create win-win solutions since our foundation in 1985. Today, ZTE is a global leader in telecom solutions, and now we want to service you. Visit www.zte.com.cn to find out more and to contact us for new opportunities. CONTENTS

In 2011, ZTE reaped the rewards of its “going global” strategy. Our journalist recently interviewed Fan Qingfeng, executive vice president of ZTE. He shared his thoughts on ZTE’s overseas expansion, global telecom environment, and some hot topics in the industry. 03

VIP Voice 03 Optimizing Operations to Give Customers Better Value Reporter: Fang Li

12 Tech Forum 07 Enhanced ICIC for LTE-A HetNet By Chao Xiong Special Topic 12 TD-LTE Wave Sweeping Across the Globe 10 An Insight into LTE 1800 Refarming By Liu Liangliang By Gong Kening With 4G approaching, TD-LTE is the optimal choice for operators that use WiMAX and PHS because it provides high spectral effi ciency and allows operators to expand quickly and reap cost advantages that derive from such expansion.

16 ZTE’s Full-Band LTE TDD Product Portfolios Boost Flexible Networking By Liu Liangliang

Operation Insight 07 19 Creating a Cloud-Terminal Integrated Pipe Operation Model By Liu Jianye

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 1 CONTENTS

A technical magazine that keeps up with the latest industry trends, communicates leading technologies and solutions, and shares stories of our customer success

ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 22

Success Stories Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief: Jiang Hua 22 Hi3G: Leading the Era of LTE TDD/FDD Convergence By Zhang Yanchuan & Lu Yue Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Huang Xinming Editorial Director: Liu Yang Executive Editor: Yue Lihua 24 Ucell Deploys a Commercial LTE Network in Uzbekistan Editor: Paul Sleswick By Zhang Zhibin Circulation Manager: Wang Pingping

26 China Mobile: Successful C-RAN Trial in Changsha By Zhao Miao Subscription / Customer Services Subscription to ZTE TECHNOLOGIES is free of charge Tel: +86-551-5533356 28 Telcel Becomes More Agile with Next-Generation Fax: +86-551-5850139 Service-Based Subscriber Data Management Email: [email protected] By Lee Doyle, IDC Website: wwwen.zte.com.cn/endata/magazine

Editorial Offi ce Solutions Address: NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, henZhen, P.R.China Postcode: 518057 30 HetNet Jump-Starts Mature LTE Commercialization By Mi Dezhong Tel: +86-755-26775211 Fax: +86-755-26775217 Email: [email protected] 32 SON: The Key to LTE Commercialization By Liu Yue ZTE Profi le ZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. It has the widest and Third Eye most complete product range in the world—covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, 34 ZTE’s Interoperability Testing Pushes TD-LTE service and terminals markets. The company delivers Technology Closer to the Mainstream innovative, custom-made products and services to over From Current Analysis 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them achieve continued revenue growth and shape the future of the world’s communications. News Brief 37 ZTE Wins Informa LTE Award for Best Enabling Technology

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Optimizing Operations to Give Customers Better Value

Reporter: Fang Li

Fan Qingfeng, executive vice president of ZTE

he telecommunications market boosted with star smartphones such as company’s overseas expansion? is in a critical period of ZTE Blade. ZTE is now one of the top What are ZTE’s main achievements Ttransition from voice to data, four mobile phone suppliers in the world. this year in overseas markets? and broadband is sweeping across the In 2011, ZTE reaped the rewards of its Fan Qingfeng: Our revenue from globe. To seize this historic opportunity “going global” strategy. Our journalist overseas markets in 2011 accounted for broadband development, ZTE recently interviewed Fan Qingfeng, for more than 60% of total operating has planned a number of 4G/LTE executive vice president of ZTE. He revenue, an increase of nearly 30% year- deployments in different locations. shared his thoughts on ZTE’s overseas on-year. ZTE has entered a phase of ZTE is seeking to gain a leading edge expansion, global telecom environment, optimized operation in Asia, Africa, in LTE. In 2011, ZTE became the fifth and some hot topics in the industry. and Latin America and has become the largest telecom equipment vendor in mainstream telecom supplier in these the world. ZTE has also recognized Journalist: In 2011, ZTE achieved regions. ZTE has also tapped into high- opportunities in the smartphone market. significant sales growth in overseas end European and American markets and The company’s brand image has been markets. Could you talk about the is now optimizing operations in order to

PB ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 3 VIP Voice

fast-track development in these markets. Journalist: What are opportunities investments, we can make full use of ZTE performed well in overseas and challenges in the international our cost advantages. Diverse operator markets in 2011. Our operating revenue telecom market? How is ZTE seizing needs also allows us to give full play to from European and American markets opportunities? our customization advantages. We can increased, and now accounts for 22% Fan Qingfeng: Growth in the global voice provide world-class products, solutions, of the total operating revenue. We have market has slowed down. Developed and services, and we have the confi dence also expanded our presence in high- countries already have a saturated voice and ability to acquire a greater share in end markets, and our “going global” market. In emerging markets, demand the global telecom market. The rapid strategy has had a noticeable impact for voice is declining and is close to growth of the government-enterprise in these markets. ZTE is one of the saturation after ten years of rapid network market will also create new world’s leading telecom suppliers. The development. As voice tariffs continue opportunities for us. key to tapping into high-end European to fall, voice revenue for operators will and American markets lies in our many decline in the years to come. Journalist: LTE is a hot topic right years of sustainable investment and Data services have developed rapidly now. Could you give us an update on operation in these regions and in our in recent years to the point where the ZTE’s involvement in LTE network world-class products and solutions. We volume of data traffi c now signifi cantly deployment? have cost advantages and competence in exceeds that of voice traffic. However, Fan Qingfeng: LTE is currently the customization, so we can better satisfy revenue from data services is only fastest-growing wireless technology. customer needs and create greater value a small proportion of operator total Since June 2010, the number of operators for our customers. revenue, and increased revenue from investing in LTE networks has almost data business does not match data traffi c doubled. By Q3 2011, ZTE had secured growth or make up for declining voice 28 commercial LTE contracts with revenue. operators including Hi3G, Softbank, The pace of global telecom Telenor, Sonaecom, and CSL. We have investment has also slowed in recent teamed up with 90 operators to deploy years to an annual growth rate of LTE trial networks worldwide. In 3–5%. Uncertainties in the global March 2011, we cooperated with Hi3G economy will also affect the growth of to construct the world’s fi rst large-scale the global telecom market. These are LTE FDD/TDD dual-mode commercial big challenges for telecom equipment network in Sweden and Denmark. suppliers. However, there are also new In 2011, ZTE made many opportunities. With the advent of the breakthroughs in LTE and was information age, there is a huge market recognized within the industry. Frost & opportunity for operators and equipment Sullivan awarded ZTE the prestigious suppliers to build government-enterprise title “2011 LTE Vendor of the Year” information systems. for its contribution to LTE. ZTE’s self- There are more opportunities than developed LTE micro base station, challenges for ZTE. We have just tapped ZXSDR BS8920, won the 2011 Informa into the European, American, and LTE award for best enabling technology. Japanese telecom markets, and there In October 2011, ZTE completed the is still much room for us to increase industry’s first test of interoperability our market share in these markets. between FDD-LTE/TD-LTE and GSM/ Although operators have curtailed their UMTS. In July 2011, ZTE unveiled the

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world’s fi rst commercial LTE micro base station, ZXSDR BS8920, with 2×10W transmit power and 2T4R modulation for a large footprint. ZTE has declared 235 essential LTE patents to ETSI, accounting for 7% of the total number of patent declarations. This makes ZTE one of the main patent holders of 4G standards.

Journalist: In recent years, national broadband network construction has gained momentum. How is NBN construction influencing the telecom industry? What role can ZTE play? Fan Qingfeng: NBN construction is another very important development in the telecom industry following voice network construction. Broadband has greatly affected the telecom industry. It has especially affected operators, who are becoming pipe providers, and their control over the value chain is gradually weakening. However, broadband networks have also brought unprecedented opportunities to the IT and CT industries. The explosive growth in traffic volume caused by the ever-growing information demands of governments, enterprises, families, and individuals, is creating great market opportunities. To adapt to broadband, we are Analytics, ZTE is now the fourth largest in the first three quarters of 2011. Our responding to challenges and crises; we mobile phone manufacturer in the world. star smartphones, such as Blade and are cementing our position in the value What are ZTE’s goals in the mobile Skate, have rapidly enhanced our brand chain; we are helping telecom operators terminal and smartphone markets? value. Our shipment of smartphones in with their business transformation and Fan Qingfeng: The global smartphone 2011 far exceeded our expectations. In value enhancement; and we are working industry grew rapidly in 2011, and the future, we hope that sales revenue with IT service providers to promote China experienced significant growth from mobile phones in North America healthy development of the industry. in smartphone sales. China surpassed will exceed that in China. Only in this the US in Q3 2011 to become the largest way can we lay a good foundation for Journalist: According to Q3 2011 reports smartphone market in the world. ZTE our sustainable development and achieve by ABI Research, IDC, and Strategy continued to expand its sales of terminals our higher goals.

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Journalist: Services have become a new means of profit in the telecom industry. What plans does ZTE have to develop its services, and what has ZTE achieved with its services? Fan Qingfeng: Early in 2005, ZTE planned to expand its services, and since then, our service business has grown. In 2011, we made breakthroughs in managed services for Vodafone, STC, Zain, Telefonica, AM, and China Mobile. Throughout the lifecycle of a network, strategic target and planned full- Journalist: Finally, could you talk about OPEX accounts for a significant scale entry into that market. ZTE ZTE’s business strategies for overseas proportion of an operator’s TCO. It has has established special government- markets in the next three years? been our goal over the past few years to enterprise network marketing and Fan Qingfeng: Our vision is to be a reduce operator OPEX with our services. service agencies in countries such as global telecommunications leader that At present, operators are under pressure the US, India, Brazil, Japan, Russia, provides our clients with satisfying and with their data business operations. This Britain, and France. Within a year, our customized products and services. We is what our services focus on. We will government-enterprise network channels strive to become a world-class excellent provide our customers with a turnkey have developed rapidly, especially enterprise and to be among the world’s solution for managed services and IT in Russia, Japan, the US, Brazil, and top three telecom equipment vendors integration. Europe. by 2015. In the next three years, we Focus and cooperation are our key expect to maintain growth of 20−25%, Journalist: Government-enterprise strategies in developing the overseas with higher revenue growth from the networks have become a strategic government-enterprise network market. international market than the domestic market of equipment suppliers. Would In 2012, we aim to achieve breakthroughs market. you talk about ZTE’s strategy and in high-end overseas markets with our In emerging markets, we will further implementation in the government- star products and solutions. As well as optimize our operations, better serve enterprise network sector, especially leveraging our advantages in traditional operators, and enhance our profi tability. its overseas development? government projects, we are going to In high-end markets, we will shift our Fan Qingfeng: Since beginning its develop overseas distribution channels focus from penetrating new markets to expansion into overseas markets, in key markets and focus on generating optimizing operations. We will rapidly ZTE has been improving the quality value in industries such as railway expand our overseas market share of local telecommunication services. transportation, energy, and finance. We and become a mainstream equipment With 16 years’ effort and development, will strengthen overseas cooperation supplier and service provider. We will ZTE has brought good economic and with Chinese-funded enterprises. The strengthen the competitiveness of our social benefits to local governments government-enterprise network market terminal products, including mobile and people. ZTE has cooperated with is far bigger and more complicated than phones, increase our market position, local governments and businesses in the telecom market. We will follow and become a first-class smartphone e-government, green energy, national the 80-20 rule and concentrate on manufacturer. We will also explore safety network, safe city, and smart core industries and core solutions to the government-enterprise network power grid. In 2011, ZTE made overseas sustainably develop both the telecom and market and seek new opportunities for government-enterprise networks a government-enterprise network markets. development.

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Enhanced ICIC for LTE-A HetNet By Chao Xiong

division multiplexing (OFDM) and different subcarriers to subscribers in time division multiple access (TDMA). different locations. Theoretically, it is OFDMA identifi es different subscribers impossible for subscribers at the edge in the same cell by different time and of two neighboring cells to use the TE is one of the technologies subcarriers. To maximize spectrum same frequency, and the possibility of of choice for 4G mobile efficiency, intra-frequency networking interference between two neighboring Lcommunications. So far, it has is often used in LTE. Intra-frequency cells is reduced. been deployed by 248 operators in 87 networking means that each neighboring ICIC can be classified in several countries worldwide. 35 LTE networks cell uses the same carrier. Different ways. Depending on the period of have been put into commercial operation. subscribers in the neighboring cells, resource scheduling, ICIC can be static, In LTE networking, technologies such especially those at the cell edge, may semi-static, or dynamic. It can also be as intercell interference coordination receive two or more signals of the same classifi ed into fractional frequency reuse, (ICIC), have been verified both frequency at the same time. If these co- soft frequency reuse, and full frequency theoretically and practically. With frequency signals from various cells are reuse according to the type of resource ongoing LTE network deployments and very strong, subscribers suffer severe scheduling. technological innovation, enhanced ICIC interference and the quality of their Semi-static soft frequency reuse (eICIC) has been developed for a new communication is affected. can maximize spectrum efficiency heterogeneous network topology in LTE- in a less complex system. As shown Advanced. Introduction of ICIC in Fig.1, different subcarriers are ICIC was introduced in 3GPP allocated to the edge of neighboring Intra-frequency Interference in LTE Release 8 to solve intercell intra- cells, and the subcarriers are reused in Orthogonal frequency division frequency interference. The main idea the cell centre. The power is controlled multiple access (OFDMA) used in LTE is of ICIC is to divide each cell into cell to prevent cell edges and neighboring a combination of orthogonal frequency- center and cell edge and then allocate cells from being affected.

PB ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 7 Tech Forum

Power

f1 Sector1 fCCU Frequency

Power

f2 Sector2 fCCU fCCU Frequency Development of Network Topology With the expansion of LTE Power networks and rapid development of LTE f3 Sector3 fCCU fCCU Frequency technologies, new network topologies have emerged, and ICIC has also been Figure 1. Soft frequency reuse. enhanced. LTE networks are tailored for high- speed high-throughput user groups. With growing numbers of subscribers To further expand pico coverage and affected. and demand for bandwidth, traditional carry more user traffi c, researchers have There are two main interference macro base stations can barely meet proposed cell range expansion (CRE) scenarios that need to be considered: subscriber requirements. Especially in that allows user equipment (UE) to be ● Macro-pico scenario: In areas covered some hotspots, simple macro coverage served by a cell with weaker receiving by macrocells, subscribers with is not sufficient for meeting traffic power. In this way, picocells share more access to picocells are vulnerable requirements. Such homogenous network load, and their coverage is to macro-pico interference. Their coverage inevitably causes blind spots extended. communication quality is affected. that can impact user experience. In particular, when CRE is used With the introduction of picocells, Introduction of eICIC and subscribers (often at the edge of femtocells, and relay nodes, LTE Employing HetNet topology for picocells) access the picocells with network topology becomes more fl exible LTE is a big challenge because LTE low receiving power, macrocells and can handle blind spots. This network requires intra-frequency networking. strongly interfere with them. topology is defined as heterogeneous The deployment of LPNs means more ● Macro-femto scenario: Femtocells network (HetNet) in 3GPP Release 10. In cells with intra-frequency interference belong to a closed subscriber group a HetNet, low power nodes (LPNs), such are introduced. In particular, coverage (CSG) where access and services are as RRUs/RRHs, pico eNodeBs, home overlaps between LPNs and macrocells restricted to authorized subscribers. eNodeBs, and relay nodes, are deployed in a HetNet, and intercell interference When macrocell subscribers in the macro coverage cell. is difficult to control. CRE allows enter areas covered by femtocells, Network construction starts with subscribers to access cells with weak femtocells strongly interfere with macrocells in order to expand coverage; receiving power. Low signal power and them. then LPNs are added to increase network enhanced downlink interference lead to To suppress intra-frequency capacity, eliminate blind spots, enhance a lower signal to interference plus noise interference in a HetNet and improve indoor coverage, and improve user ratio (SINR). As a result, both service system capacity and user experience, experience. channels and control channels are greatly eICIC is introduced in LTE-Advanced (3GPP Release 10). The principle of ICIC is to divide the overlapping area of neighboring cells into different frequency bands in order to reduce intercell interference. This method no longer works in a Macor Relay Pico HetNet. eICIC redefines an additional Femto time dimension, which allows signals Figure 2. Evolution from homogeneous to heterogeneous networks. in different cells to be orthogonal in

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More Users with Data Speeds over 1 Mbps

the time domain. Compared with ICIC, confi gures ABSs in the interfering cell. 78% 38% eICIC can reduce intercell interference These ABSs are used by the interfered 22%

not only on traffic channels but also on cell to provide service for its subscribers Marco Only Marco+Prico Marco+Prico (R8) (R8) with CRE and control channels. In other words, ICIC who previously experienced strong eICIC coordinates intercell interference on interference. In this way, intercell traffic channels in the frequency and interference is well coordinated. Better Cell Edge Coverage 1.7X power domains, and eICIC coordinates For the two main interference intercell interference on traffi c and control scenarios in HetNet, ABSs are 1X 1.05X channels in both the frequency, time confi gured as in Fig. 3. In a macro-pico and power domains also. eICIC in 3GPP scenario, the corresponding subframes

Release 10 only deals with non-carrier in a macrocell are configured as ABSs Marco Only Marco+Prico Marco+Prico (R8) (R8) with CRE and aggregation and will be fully compatible to prevent strong interference on UE2 eICIC with ICIC in 3GPP Release 8/9. that has access to a picocell. The picocell Figure 4. Simulation results for The concept of an almost blank provides service for UE2 using these HetNet and eICIC. subframe (ABS) is introduced in time ABSs. In a macro-femto scenario, the domain eICIC to coordinate intercell corresponding subframes in a femtocell interference in the time domain. ABS are confi gured as ABSs to prevent strong transferred via the X2 interface or only contains some necessary signals interference on a UE2 that has access OAM. In general, a picocell transfers the with low power, such as PSS/SSS, PBCH, to a macrocell. The macrocell provides confi guration via the X2 interface, and a CRS, Paging, and SIB1, for compatibility service for UE2 using these ABSs. femtocell belonging to a CSG transfers with UE in 3GPP Release 8/9. eICIC The configuration of ABSs is the confi guration manually via OAM. As operators worldwide promote and deploy HetNet, it will be a trend in future

Macro For network construction. However, HetNet Confi guration ABS UE1 ABS Subframe 0 1 2 3 4 41 42 43 44 45 cannot leverage its advantages unless Sequence Pico For For For Confi guration UE2 UE2 UE3 the issue of intra-frequency interference is addressed. Analysis and simulation shows eICIC to be an effective solution Macro UE1 to intra-frequency interference caused Pico UE3 by HetNet. After a HetNet is deployed in conjunction with CRE and eICIC, coverage at the cell edge is signifi cantly

Macro For improved and subscribers have better Confi guration ABS UE1 ABS Subframe 0 1 2 3 4 41 42 43 44 45 experience (Fig. 4). Sequence Femto For For For eICIC also provides optional solutions Confi guration UE2 UE2 UE3 for multicarriers, carrier aggregation, asynchronization network, and multiple Macro UE1 timeslot configurations in the same Femto UE3 network. eICIC is especially important when using a multicarrier network to help operators leverage their spectrum advantages, protect their investments, and Figure 3. Confi guration of ABSs in eICIC. raise their revenue.

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An Insight into LTE 1800 Refarming

By Gong Kening

Why Refarm the 1800 MHz Spectrum for LTE Use? obile data services have developed very fast in recent Myears. The popularity of smartphones, especially iPhone, means the number of mobile data services is doubling every year. Increasing the capacity to accommodate data services has become the top priority of bands for LTE. mobile operators. Compared with 3G technology, LTE has high spectrum use, Global Analysis of the 1800 MHz high peak data rates, and low latency. Spectrum However, there is not much spectrum 3GPP specifi es the bandwidth for the available for LTE, and the price for LTE 1800 MHz spectrum as 2 × 75 MHz. spectrum is very high. Many operators This is a huge continuous bandwidth are therefore considering the potential of that encompasses frequencies supported existing frequencies. In most countries, in Europe, APAC, India, China, Africa, 1800 MHz is used for GSM, and it has and the Middle East. 1800 MHz is a lot of free frequency bands for other technically neutral in many countries, mobile technologies. Therefore, it is which makes it easier to refarm enough possible to use these free 1800 MHz spectrum for LTE and increases the

Table 1. Coverage capability of 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz. Dense Urban Areas Urban Areas Suburban Areas Rural Areas Cell Edge User 512 256 128 64 Throughput (Kbps) Uplink Cell Range (Km) 0.38 0.68 2.78 7.13 1.8 GHz 2 Coverage Area (Km ) 0.28 0.90 15.10 99.07 Cell Edge User 512 256 128 64 Throughput (Kbps) Uplink Cell Range (Km) 0.27 0.27 1.93 4.93 2.6 GHz Coverage Area (Km2) 0.14 0.14 7.28 47.45

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Table 2. Guard band requirements for different LTE bandwidths. potential of 1800 MHz becoming a worldwide roaming spectrum. LTE GSM/LTE Co-site Guard Band requirement 1800 MHz is suitable for wide-area Bandwidth Theoretical Actual coverage, and 2.6 GHz is suitable for 1.4 MHz 0.2 MHz 0.2 MHz dense urban hotspot coverage. At the 3 MHz 0.2 MHz 0.2 MHz very beginning of LTE deployment, 5 MHz 0.2 MHz 0 1800 MHz is more suitable for deploying data services. 10 MHz 0.2 MHz 0 The 1800 MHz band has up to twice 15 MHz 0.2 MHz 0 the coverage area of the 2.6 GHz band. 20 MHz 0.2 MHz 0 This halves TCO and makes it possible to cover both urban and suburban areas. As technologies advance, SDR is needed. If the LTE1800 bandwidth is making GSM1800 and LTE1800 co-sites more than 3 MHz, no guard band is the 2G/3G system. A GSM/LTE dual- possible. GSM1800 operators benefi t by needed. mode terminal is needed. being able to reuse existing antennas, When LTE1800 is located on one Solution B: Single radio voice call TMAs, antenna feed-lines, site space, side of GSM1800 frequency band and the continuity (SRVCC). IP multimedia power facilities, and backhaul transport LTE bandwidth is 1.4 MHz or 3 MHz, a subsystem (IMS) is needed and the cost of GSM1800. guard band of 0.2 MHz is also needed, is very high. and interference between LTE and its Packet-switched (PS) service LTE1800 Refarming Solutions neighboring frequency band has to be interoperability requires load sharing Solution A: Refarm the entire GSM1800 considered. between LTE and 3G. This can be spectrum for LTE use. implemented in two stages. Operators only need to swap their Traffi c Migration Solutions Stage 1: When LTE system still has existing terminals from 1800 MHz to Solution A: Refarm the entire GSM1800 much capacity, UMTS/LTE dual-mode 900 MHz. The spectrum refarming is spectrum for LTE use. terminals will first reside in an LTE quite straightforward. GSM1800 traffic is generally not network where PS traffi c is carried. Solution B: Refarm part of the GSM1800 high. The major issue is swapping Stage 2: When LTE equipment reaches spectrum for LTE use. LTE1800 is user terminals to adapt to other GSM its capacity threshold, the load is located between GSM1800 frequency frequency bands. Currently, dual- or seamlessly balanced between LTE1800 bands. triple-band GSM terminals are widely and HSPA. VIP LTE users reside in Operators have to consider spread. an LTE network for optimum service interference between LTE and GSM at Solution B: Refarm part of the GSM1800 experience, and all their traffic is the frequency edge. spectrum for LTE use. carried on the LTE network. Other LTE Solution C: Refarm part of the GSM1800 Operators have to improve spectrum users reside in an HSPA network. Load spectrum for LTE use. LTE1800 is utilization in GSM1800 and reduce its balancing optimization ensures they located on one side of GSM1800 bandwidth. They also have to improve can reselect the LTE network to access frequency band. spectrum utilization in GSM900 and latency-sensitive or throughput-sensitive Operators have to consider interference migrate traffic from GSM1800 to services such as real-time gaming and between LTE and GSM at the frequency GSM900. FTP downloading. edge as well as interference between LTE and another neighboring frequency band. Interoperability after LTE1800 Conclusion Refarming With LTE being deployed worldwide, LTE1800 Refarming Interference Two solutions are possible for voice market demand is growing, and the use When LTE1800 is located between interoperability between LTE and of the GSM1800 for LTE deployment GSM1800 frequency bands and the 2G/3G. is looking favorable. The GSM1800 LTE1800 bandwidth is 1.4 MHz or Solution A: Circuit switched (CS) frequency band is becoming an important 3 MHz, a guard band of 0.2 MHz is fallback. Voice services are carried on part of LTE development.

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12 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 13 SpecialVIP Voice Topic

TD-LTE Wave Sweeping Across the Globe

By Liu Liangliang

TD-LTE Development Milestones November 2008: Qualcomm announced it was ending development of UMB, favoring LTE instead. March 2009: 3GPP froze the specifi cations for LTE Release 8. October 2010: TD-LTE-Advanced was chosen by the ITU as a candidate for the 4G wireless communication standard. September 2011: The world’s fi rst commercial TD-LTE network was offi cially announced. 2012: A TD-LTE tide will sweep across the globe.

ver the past 20 years, mobile technological advances stimulate user demand. communications have developed rapidly Ofrom analog to digital, voice to data, The Choice of TD-LTE narrowband to broadband, and single mode to Demand for high-speed wireless data and fast multimode with the aim of broader bandwidth service provision is a key driving force for the and more diverse services. A wide range of smart advancement of wireless technologies. Wireless terminals have emerged, and mobile Internet technologies are also being advanced to leverage services are changing from day to day. Explosive existing 2G and 3G resources, cut TCO, and growth in data traffic has put much pressure on maximize cost benefits. LTE fulfills these needs network operators. Ever-increasing user demand and is important in the evolution of wireless is driving technological advances, and these technologies.

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With 4G approaching, TD-LTE is the “ optimal choice for operators that use WiMAX and PHS because it provides high spectral efficiency and allows operators to expand quickly and reap cost advantages that derive from such expansion. ” LTE can be classified as TD-LTE or and low-speed data services over 2G and FDD-LTE, and the differences between 3G networks and that want to co-locate these two are nearly all in the duplex TDD and FDD sites in order to share mode. Compared with FDD, asymmetric existing infrastructure. TDD is more flexible in its use of the world’s leading semiconductor spectrum resources and can better meet Building a TD-LTE Ecosystem device manufacturers. Altogether, 18 the requirements of mobile Internet Mass supply of TD-LTE terminals manufacturers worldwide have researched dominated by asymmetric services. TD- is a symbol of maturity in the TD-LTE and invested in TD-LTE semiconductors. LTE is becoming the global technology industrial chain. In February 2011, Qualcomm and ST-Ericsson recently of choice for unpaired spectrum. With China Mobile, together with Softband, announced the sampling of multimode 4G approaching, TD-LTE is the optimal Bharit, Vodafone, Clearwire, and other LTE/3G chips, which is a significant choice for operators that use WiMAX and operators, established the Global TD- milestone on the way to solving the TD- PHS because it provides high spectral LTE Initiative (GTI). GTI aims to work LTE bottleneck problem. At present, effi ciency and allows operators to expand with industrial partners to build a strong HTC, Media Tek and Quanta from quickly and reap cost advantages that and thriving TD-LTE ecosystem, promote Taiwan, ZTE, Hisilicon, Leadcore and derive from such expansion. the commercial deployment of TD-LTE Yulong are the dominant suppliers of In most scenarios, the ratio of data worldwide, and provide subscribers TD-LTE terminals. In 2012, Hisilicon uploading to downloading is 1:10. with mobile Internet terminals that will launch fi ve-mode chips that support TD-LTE provides multiple time slot perform optimally and give the best user GSM, CDMA, UMTS, TD-LTE and configurations that allow capacity experience. Currently, 32 members from FDD LTE. ZTE will launch commercial to be flexibly allocated to the uplink Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania TD-SCDMA and TDD-LTE multimode and downlink. TD-LTE also provides are jointly researching key commercial terminals, which are directed towards uFi a downlink rate of up to 100 Mbps. issues, such as global roaming terminals, (supporting TD-LTE wireless hot spots) Therefore, TD-LTE is the best choice for multiantenna techniques, and intra- and smartphones. operators seeking to mitigate data traffi c frequency networking. They are seeking Apple has also promised to launch an pressure. to accelerate the development of the TD- iPhone that supports TD-LTE. This was TD-LTE and LTE FDD share the LTE industry through concerted effort. promised by Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, same core network and most of the Smartphones and semiconductor when he visited China Mobile as COO. standards and design. They allow devices have always been a major seamless interoperability between 4G and bottleneck for the development of TD-LTE Deployments Worldwide 2G/3G networks. LTE is the preferred TD-SCDMA. However, TD-LTE has In September 2011, China Mobile choice for operators that provide voice aroused considerable interest from completed the first phase of its TD-LTE

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trial in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, LTE trial networks have been constructed Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Xiamen. The test in North America, Europe, and Asia. results showed that TD-LTE performance The number of TD-LTE base stations is is satisfactory and industry requirements estimated to reach 6,500 by the end of can be met. Both TD-LTE infrastructure by 2012, covering 85% of the country’s 2011 and 30,000 by the end of 2012. and terminals qualify for commercial use. population. In November 2011, Japan’s third In India, Reliance, Bharti, Aircel, Looking to the Future largest mobile operator, Softbank, made and Tikona plan to launch their TD-LTE According to a forecast by Goldman AXGP commercially available. AXGP commercial networks in the first half Sachs, global TD-LTE CAPEX could is similar to TD-LTE, and has been of 2012. These companies are focused reach US$15 billion to US$20 billion deployed in Japan in conjunction with on the burgeoning tablet PC to make from 2012 to 2014 and attract more than ZTE and Huawei. Two thousand base supplement to their existing services. 40 million subscribers. China Mobile’s stations were built in the fi rst phase, and Swedish operator, Hi3G, will work first phase of TD-LTE network trial there will be up to 10,000 base stations with ZTE to commercialize its 4G includes 850 base stations in six cities in built in the second phase. Ninety-nine network, the world’s largest TD-LTE/ China. Half of China Mobile’s 230,000 percent of the Japanese population will LTE FDD dual-mode network, by the end TD-SCDMA base stations will be be covered by 2012. So far, the Softbank of 2011. gradually upgraded to TD-LTE. China network is the largest commercial Clearwire from the US and Sky TV Mobile will deploy 10,000 to 20,000 TD- TD-LTE network in the world. Wang from Brazil have also decided to join the LTE base stations across China by 2012. Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, TD-LTE group. Other regions where TD- China Mobile, Bharti, and Softbank said, “If in the past the TD-LTE network LTE has great potential are Southeast will launch more TD-LTE commercial was just a stratagem on paper, now it has Asia, South America, Canada, the Middle services by the end of 2012 and into turned into a reality.” East, Africa, and Russia. According 2013. China, India and Japan, where In September 2011, Mobily launched to statistics from China Mobile, two these TD-LTE services will be offered, its commercial TD-LTE network operators worldwide have officially have a population of 2.7 billion, 39% covering 10 cities in Saudi Arabia. It is launched TD-LTE commercial services, of the world’s population. The market expected that the TD-LTE network will and ten operators have made plans for potential for TD-LTE in these countries is be available in 30 cities in Saudi Arabia commercial services. More than 30 TD- very signifi cant.

14 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 15 Special Topic

ZTE’s Full-Band LTE TDD Product Portfolios Boost Flexible Networking

By Liu Liangliang

n 2009, TeliaSonera was the only villages. It must provide microcell dimensional coverage requirements operator to launch commercial LTE coverage for urban hotspots and CBDs; ● ensuring there is multifrequency Inetworks in Sweden and Norway. By in-depth coverage in gyms, office equipment to accommodate various the end of 2010, these networks neared buildings, conference centres, exhibition frequency resources available to their primary stage of commercialization. halls, and other large venues; and point operators Leading operators have begun shifting coverage for high-speed railways, ● how to provide satisfactory coverage their focus from discussing LTE concepts overpasses, bridges, subways, tunnels, in fast moving environments to putting these concepts into practice. and scenic spots. An increasing number ● how to provide low-cost, high- China Mobile, Softbank, and Hutchison of operators realize that only three- quality coverage and save network Whampoa have already started deploying dimensional coverage provided by TD- investment in remote and diffi cult-to- TD-LTE worldwide. TD-LTE’s LTE can improve user experience. access areas. coverage is attracting much attention; a TD-LTE coverage can be classified comprehensive and three-dimensional as indoor, outdoor, or special scenario. ZTE’s Concept of Coverage coverage solution is required before TD- Mostly, network quality can be improved ZTE has studied the diverse needs of LTE can be widely commercialized. by enhancing indoor coverage. However, customers and has much experience in there are some issues that need to be TDD. ZTE proposes large-capacity, full- Requirement for Three-Dimensional considered: band, multilevel TD-LTE products for Wireless Coverage ● how to meet the substantial increase broad coverage in different scenarios. TD-LTE must provide macrocell in demand for data services without Macro base stations are for outdoors. coverage for densely populated cities, taking up too much space A distributed BBU+RRU architecture has less-populated cities, and suburbs and ● how to meet different three- large capacity for meeting networking

16 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 17 SpecialVIP Voice Topic

requirements in densely populated cities, less-populated cities, suburbs, and villages. Micro base stations provide moderate-traffic solutions for hotspots and CBD areas. Pico- and femto-integrated base stations provide solutions for light and heavy traffic in big gyms, office buildings, conference centres, exhibitions halls, and other large buildings. Pico base stations can be installed on a derrick, wall, or other location, and they are especially suitable for buildings where indoor construction is not possible. Pico base stations support Ethernet transmission, which makes network deployment easy. Compared with macro stations, pico and femto base stations cost less and cover more regions. The pressure on capacity of an outdoor macro stations is reduced. For remote places, long-distance 8-Channel RRU coverage solutions are used, and ZTE proposes distributed base stations. ZXSDR B8200 Power, transmission, and baseband are put into station-based cabinets, and 4-Channel Pico RRU Base Station RRUs are installed according to specifi c landscapes. ZXSDR B8200 For fast-moving scenarios, such as 2-Channel RRU Femto high-speed trains, ZTE proposes adaptive Base Station frequency-offset correction algorithm. 1.4/1.8/3.5G Information about the current subframe Outdoor BBU RRU frequency deviation can be detected in real time at the baseband level. Then, the baseband signal phase offset caused by Figure 1. Full-band TD-LTE products. frequency deviation is corrected. As a

16 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 17 Special Topic

Macro BS In 2010, ZTE launched a series of full-band TD-LTE products which Micro BS include 8 channel and 4 channel outdoor single-frequency RRU, and dual-channel indoor RRU. These products can satisfy the networking requirements for F, A, Pico BS E and D bands in different scenarios. During China Mobile’s fourth-round of bid for TD-SCDMA, ZTE introduced its Femto BS double-module product, R8928FA, for indoor and outdoor coverage. R8928FA Figure 2. Network of layered coverage. supports TD-LTE system without any changes being made to the antenna. An operator’s investment is guaranteed to the greatest extent. The full-band BBU and RRU result, demodulation in the base station base stations for wide coverage in products can be flexibly combined. is improved and the Doppler Effect can the initial stage. As the network They can also be combined into be countered at up to 500 km/h. The expands with an increasing number of different macro and micro base stations SDR-based RRU can support cascaded subscribers, operators can plan thicker to meet frequency and station address drawing, which suits continuous relay and deeper networks in high-traffic requirements in different scenarios. coverage for band-shaped regions. regions according to actual needs. The The networking is more flexible and For network coverage, ZTE proposes whole network can be fl exibly controlled. construction is more convenient. hierarchical deployment that is flexible Consultancy fi rm, Open Vista, issued in terms of capacity, planning, and Full-Band LTE TDD Product its LTE Development Briefing 2010 in implementation. Portfolios February 2011. In the briefi ng, coverage, A wireless data network is suitable The spectrum resources available capacity, serialization, portfolio, and for unbalanced distribution. Operators to most operators using TD-LTE are evolution of LTE products are discussed. can choose the type of ZTE TD-LTE diverse. China Mobile has 1.9G, 2.0G, ZTE was noted as having highest number base station according to different 2.3G and 2.6G bands (F, A, E and D of TD-LTE product series and as being traffic conditions and coverage. In bands). In a TD-SCDMA system, 1.9G the first commercial manufacturer of heavy traffi c regions, macro stations are and 2.0G use 55 MHz, and for TD-LTE soft base stations. ZTE is also the first insufficient, and the station addresses indoor coverage, 2.3G uses the 50 MHz company to support CDMA/LTE, GSM/ are extremely difficult to access. With between 2320 MHz and 2370 MHz. For LTE, UMTS/LTE and GSM/UMTS/LTE flexible deployment of micro base TD-LTE outdoor coverage, 2.6G uses modules as well as TD-LTE in a unifi ed stations, regional traffic capacity can the 50 MHz between 2570 MHz to 2620 hardware platform. be offloaded. These stations also have MHz. Besides the universal 2.3G and The development of LTE will gain limited interaction with macro base 2.6G band, ZTE’s TD-LTE equipment pace in 2012. ZTE’s full-band TD-LTE stations because of lower transmit power. also supports the 3.5G band, which is products help operators deploy higher To avoid overinvestment, operators reassuring for operators planning for quality, more fl exible networks and pave usually build a thin network of macro LTE development. the way to success.

18 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES PB OperationVIP Insight Voice

Creating a Cloud-Terminal Integrated Pipe Operation Model By Liu Jianye

he transition from voice to data is a revolution in mobile Tcommunications. This revolution has meant that telecom operators are no longer central in the service value chain because end users have become more concerned with quality of experience (QoE) and telecom operators have been unable to meet this requirement. Cloud- terminal integration is more effective Liu Jianye, chief architect of ZTE core network products than pipes, and spectrum resources are under threat from unauthorized bands. ISPs are attracting users with a serve first, charge later model and are vying restricts users from creating personalized that accurately corresponds to their for user desktops. Despite their full services. Because of the lack of cost- usage. With a traffic-based charging participation in the 7-layer open systems effective well-delivered pipe services model, the same price is charged per interconnection (OSI) model adopted and the loss of phone number stickiness, bit to all users. However, to satisfy for telecommunications and Internet, it is easy for users to vote with their feet. the dynamic demand for high-quality operators must strive to gain their This is how “buying pipes online”―a service, the cost per bit when the network supremacy by virtue of applications. new business model―is taking shape. is busy is different from that when the Unlike common commodities that network is idle. Creating a Mobile Internet Oriented users purchase online, pipe services are Suppose you install a “My Star-Rated Operation and Service Mode network capabilities, such as quality, Service” client on your smartphone. The Creating new operation and service bandwidth, and network type, or client provides you with rules for mobile Internet is a top service capabilities, such as content, ● Traffic Observer. This displays priority. As competition intensifies applications, and interfaces. Users who running applications, uplink and and the importance of communication are invited to transparently manage pipe downlink speeds across different pipes becomes more pronounced, the operation can customize services, pay on networks, the amount of data used competitive edge lies in the provision demand, and track updates at any time. in the month, the amount of data of smart, flat, broadband pipe services. remaining, and daily and monthly The current pipe business model is still Building Transparent Smart Pipes fees. based on simplifi ed bundle packages and Users demand transparent charging ● Services On the Go. This informs

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 19 Operation Insight

transportation” ● increase pipe revenue (made up for revenue lost in idle hours).

Application Cloud-Terminal Integrated SaaS Services Cloud Architecture Open Information and ZTE has developed cloud-based pipe Capability Interfaces Sensor services to improve QoE. ZTE’s cloud- Cloud PaaS based smart-pipe architecture consists of Smart Pipe Analysis Service the desktop cloud, access cloud, control cloud, sensor cloud, and application Policy Management Billing Management Control cloud (Fig. 1). The terminal-pipe-cloud Cloud integrated architecture can be used to QoS Optimization Cache DPI build a self-sensing, self-learning, self- LaaS Access organizing, self-adaptive, self-managing Cloud digital neural network that delivers different cloud services at different layers. Terminals Desktop Cloud ZTE has also proposed a standard architecture with enhanced end-to-end information sensing and open interfaces Figure 1. Cloud-based smart-pipe architecture. (Fig. 2). This helps in the creation of a transparent network. A network information collection system is used you about whether the network ● improve network use to enhance end-to-end analysis of the is busy or idle; it displays the fee ● increase pipe revenue and user sensor cloud. The sensor cloud makes schedule according to the network satisfaction. network information and capabilities status, and provides network access When the pipes are busy, operators can available to terminals so that users can options. It also provides bandwidth ● notify users of the tariff at busy hours sense network conditions and customize guarantee when the network is busy, and in busy areas their experience. The sensor cloud queries your preferences according ● allow users to be more autonomous also makes network information and to your subscription package when ● adjust network traffic according to capabilities available to services so the network is idle, and applies for an tariffs in a similar way to “intelligent that third parties can more effectively interim bandwidth guarantee based on real-time services, for example, video conferencing. ZTE proposes an advanced smart- IDC pipe solution called ZSP2.0 that helps operators crack dumb pipes and build Information Push Analysis Sensor Cloud Service Ns smart pipes at low cost and with better Open Information Nu Nu Na Np/Rx Ni/Nd Rx/Nx QoE. ZSP2.0 aims to double pipe gains, Capability Network Network and DPI Information control the network for superior QoE, Information Service Access Desktop User Information Collection and allow user autonomy. Information Collection Collection Feedback When the pipes are idle, operators can Policy Biling ● push services ● adaptively increase user data rates (beyond that allowed in the Desktop Cloud Access Cloud Control Cloud Service Cloud subscription) ● recommend preferential policies Figure 2. End-to-end information sensing and open architecture.

20 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 OperationVIP Insight Voice

develop value-added services. Desktop cloud: Building a core portal to To gain a competitive edge operators need to form a new homepage for users provide star-rated services, create a way of The key to creating new operation “ buying pipes online, build a cloud-terminal and service rules for mobile Internet is to build a core portal that is indispensable integrated architecture for pipe services, and and that allows users to manage pipes accentuate the importance of creating new by themselves. Operators can bundle the core portal with other Internet homepages. applications and customized content to form a new homepage for users. The portal could be similar to the Baidu loop control solution for policy” control cloud-terminal integrated architecture search engine, which is centered on the according to idle or busy network for pipe services, and accentuate the search box. conditions and resource allocation importance of creating new homepages. Access cloud: The screen display and among heterogeneous networks. However, it takes time to make all these access mode are separated, which frees A content-delivery engine is also changes because they involve specific them from the restrictions of wireless used in the control cloud to improve enterprise standards and complex system standards QoE. The content-delivery engine allows architectures. Constructing a ubiquitous Although operators have built control of virus removal, web page access cloud network with multiple large-scale WLANs, few of these are optimization, media code conversion, access binding (MAB) is important to adequately used because mobile phones CDN, and web cache. address issues that arise from different don’t use them to offload traffic as Sensor cloud: Necessary for creating an wireless standards, terminals, and desired. Considering most smartphones open mobile Internet environment . networks. support Wi-Fi, ZTE has developed The cloud computing center can store a personal gateway that can convert and deal with terminal data, network Application Cases different wireless standards into Wi- data, management data, support data, ZTE’s industry-leading smart- Fi. As a result, the screen display is user data, and service data. Architecture pipe solution has found widespread separated from access mode, and a wide for mining mass data provides core application. Since 2009, Hong Kong’s range of “star” terminals can be used capabilities for a data mining platform largest mobile operator, CSL, has by operators. The access cloud helps based on long-tail analysis. These cooperated with ZTE in rolling out an in the creation of a ubiquitous wireless core capabilities include personalized optimized operation and management network that integrates multiple wireless interfaces, service behavior analysis, solution (ZOOMs). ZOOMs has helped networks and all WLAN hot areas into hot content analysis, and business CSL manage service packages, improve a heterogeneous network. WLAN then intelligence (BI) reporting for capability network OAM, and lower OAM costs. becomes a data network equivalent to providers. The smart-pipe solution was also GSM/UMTS and LTE. A user-oriented integrated service adopted by China Telecom in Sichuan Cloud means all kinds of access platform can provide a self-service to solve problems that were occurring modes for users. Users don’t need to customization client for customers, in busy areas and at busy hours. This consider which network to use or how application transaction for service helped operators make full use of their to perform network authentication and developers, and one-stop Internet resources and generate more revenue. handover. The access cloud greatly services. A developer-oriented capability ZTE has cooperated extensively improves QoE and increases the revenue convergence platform can also provide with leading operators worldwide and from a multinetwork deployment. managed application execution, open has helped them solve operational Control cloud: A smart network with telecom access, and Internet service problems with cutting-edge solutions. By real-time analysis and closed-loop access. cooperating and exchanging ideas with control To gain a competitive edge operators operators, ZTE has also enriched its smart- ZTE has developed an innovative need to provide star-rated services, create pipe solution, making it widely applicable real-time network analysis and a closed- a way of buying pipes online, build a and cost effective.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 21 Success Stories

Hi3G: Leading the Era of LTE TDD/FDD Convergence

By Zhang Yanchuan & Lu Yue

candinavia has a history of producing innovative operators and vendors. Many cutting- Sedge innovations, advanced communication technologies, and high-end communication services are conceived there. Swedish operator TeliaSonera launched the world’s first commercial FDD LTE network at the end of 2009; Danish operator TDC became the second to deploy an LTE network in Europe in June 2010; and Swedish operator Net4Mobility deployed an LTE commercial network at the end of 2010. Another Scandinavian operator, Hi3G, has the fourth largest market share in Sweden and Denmark. Its competitors have all deployed LTE networks, and this has greatly impacted Hi3G’s development. Therefore, it is imperative for Hi3G to launch LTE. Many high-end operators are choosing traditional FDD mode. However, Hi3G believes that after FDD and TDD standards are converged, a 4G network with TDD will have the same quality as FDD but will be cheaper because of spectral resource efficiency. Building LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode networks is the best choice for operators. Hi3G has only 2 × 10 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band for FDD in Sweden and Denmark. This narrow bandwidth makes it hard to provide competitive data throughput in hotspots. Hi3G therefore has to consider using an LTE TDD/FDD hybrid network that can cater for high-rate data services and leverage existing spectral resources. In September 2010, Hi3G put out a tender for an LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode network solution. Interoperability between LTE TDD/FDD and Hi3G’s existing UMTS was

22 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 SuccessVIP Stories Voice

“We have chosen ZTE for an additional 3G 900/2100 rollout and for LTE networks in Sweden because of the possibility to house three different mobile standards in the same physical infrastructure and the low cost of ownership. Furthermore, ZTE has advanced LTE dual-mode solutions and quick consignment responses that really meet our requirements,” said Peter Ramel, CEO of Hi3G.

a requirement. Moreover, the LTE FDD network had to combiners. provide wide coverage, and both TDD and FDD had to be Hotspots require high network throughput. Hi3G applied in the same hotspots. Later, the LTE TDD network has limited site resources and sought to make full use of would be further expanded to cover more hotspots. From their existing UMTS sites. Winter temperatures are very equipment delivery to installation and commissioning, the low in Sweden, and this places very high requirements entire converged network had to be completed within three on base stations in terms of capacity, size, installation months. flexibility, and performance. In response to these needs, Early in the bidding, Hi3G selected two suppliers to ZTE provided different LTE base stations that could be build its LTE network in Sweden. As the project proceeded, used in different scenarios and perform well even at -40 ZTE stood out from the competition with its advanced degrees Celsius. ZTE’s FDD/TDD dual-mode SDR base LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode solution, multimode SDR stations, compact outdoor BBU cabinets, large outdoor platform, diverse base stations, customized transmission BBU cabinets, and outdoor distributed base stations solutions, leading multimode terminals, and powerful were combined in different arrangements according to project delivery and logistics capabilities. In March 2011, the environment. The eNB can be installed indoors or Hi3G selected ZTE as its exclusive LTE vendor. outdoors, mounted on a tower, or under a tower. This ZTE’s TDD LTE/FDD LTE/UMTS multimode helped Hi3G save on engineering, alleviate installation converged solution met the requirements for diffi culty, and speed up network construction. interoperability and load balancing between Hi3G’s Hi3G was a pioneer in 3G, and lagging behind in existing 3G network and the new LTE network. The 4G development was never an option. Fast network solution improved system security and stability and deployment and differentiated 4G terminals are key to ensured network throughput in hotspots. With shared LTE commercialization. ZTE launched the world’s first BBUs, antennas, GPS, transmission, OMC and EPC, data cards based on Qualcomm chipsets that support 3G, the LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode network meant that site TDD LTE and FDD LTE systems. This helps Hi3G rapidly investment and network O&M costs were reduced for commercialize its LTE network. Hi3G, and the network was constructed quickly. For operators, failure to commercialize a network Because of system interference caused by co-siting leads to a tremendous loss of revenue and creates the risk the TDD LTE, FDD LTE, and UMTS networks, ZTE of perpetually lagging behind the competition. ZTE set up offered a co-antenna solution that was warmly received professional project management teams for site acquisition, by Hi3G. ZTE used two-path broadband antennas that civil engineering, equipment installation, and managed reduced interference between TDD LTE and FDD services. Hi3G was very satisfi ed with ZTE’s standardized LTE through proper antenna isolation and customized operation and quality project delivery.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 23 Success Stories

Ucell Deploys a Commercial LTE Network in Uzbekistan By Zhang Zhibin

zbekistan has witnessed a sharp intensified competition, reduced tariffs, of Uzbekistan. The construction of growth in the number of mobile and insufficient 3G services to attract the network was based on ZTE’s Uni- Uusers in recent years. Ucell, a subscribers. Furthermore, with the boom RAN solution using the advanced SDR wholly-owned subsidiary of TeliaSonera, in mobile data and rapid deployment technology. Ucell is the first operator is the second-largest mobile operator in of LTE around the world, Ucell has to deploy an LTE network within the Uzbekistan. Ucell has a fast-growing had to work harder to develop more 3G Commonwealth of Independent States. mobile subscriber base, and its total data users and keep a close eye on LTE These achievements are attributable to number of mobile subscribers reached trends. Boosting data services is the key Ucell’s efficient internal processes as eight million in July 2011. Ucell was to increasing operator ARPU. Therefore, well as ZTE’s outstanding LTE solutions awarded a 4G license by the government Ucell planned to build a quality mobile and strong project execution capabilities. of Uzbekistan in July 2010. network that could deliver feature- With an increase in the number of rich data services and provide the best Rapid Deployment mobile subscribers in Uzbekistan, the coverage. After careful consideration, The services ZTE provided to UCell proportion of “ghost subscribers” and Ucell fi nally chose ZTE as its main LTE included site acquisition and survey, suspended subscribers is also on the rise. equipment supplier. network planning and design, equipment The number of premium subscribers, In August 2010, Ucell and ZTE installation and commissioning, and however, continues to decline. APRU is jointly announced the successful launch managed services. Ucell and ZTE also significantly declining because of of an LTE network in Tashkent, capital worked together to overcome diffi culties

24 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 SuccessVIP Stories Voice

in acquiring sites and gaining the and 4G networks. Seamless 3G and rooms, transmission, feeder antenna, necessary construction permits. It took 4G interoperability allows subscribers and power supply to be shared between ZTE only one month to manufacture and to access mature 3G services and GSM, UMTS, and LTE systems. This ship equipment for the LTE deployment. high-speed LTE data services. It also solved difficulties in site acquisition, The fi rst LTE data call was successfully encourages more subscribers to use the swap-over, and maintenance and helped made one week after all equipment had quality LTE network in the mature stage Ucell cut CAPEX and OPEX. arrived in Uzbekistan. Ucell CTO, Sait of LTE deployment. Eryilmaz, wrote a letter of thanks to ZTE proposed interoperability tests Looking into the Future ZTE for their excellent work during the for Ucell’s LTE and exiting 3G networks. Ucell’s new LTE network leverages project. Multimode LTE terminals were used to the spectrum advantages that were “I appreciate not only the success of implement reselection and interoperation present in its existing network and the deployment but also the commitment in 3G and 4G systems. The tests showed offers complete coverage and world- and determination of ZTE’s team. On that there was no adverse effect on user leading mobile broadband performance. behalf Ucell, I am really proud of the experience. Ucell succeeded in realizing The ultra-high-speed transmission and incredible work we high bandwidth of the completed together in LTE network will give such a short time. The users with unprecedented Ucell technical team is “We are proud that Uzbekistan has become one of the mobile access. very happy to work with few countries in the world to use the 4G network. As As well as providing you,” said Sait Eryilmaz. high-speed data access and “ a part of TeliaSonera, a company with over a hundred “The launch of such complete mobility, a highly new technology within years of experience in telecommunications, we are reliable LTE network also such a short period was committed to delivering state-of-the art technologies enriches entertainment almost impossible, but and an excellent wireless data experience to our and interaction. People your team made possible customers,” said UCell CEO, Oguz Memiguven. can enjoy high-bandwidth what is impossible, HDTV, 3D-TV, interactive and that might be a games, and e-Learning world record. I hope we ” anytime and anywhere. continue this successful cooperation in seamless interoperability and smooth The LTE network will change the way the future.” service migration among different people work, live, play and communicate. operators and different systems. It will allow them to be fully immersed Seamless 3G and 4G in a high-speed mobile experience. Interoperability Innovative Solutions In terms of business applications, Ucell had a complete 3G network ZTE’s 700/2600 MHz dual-band LTE networks will provide mobile offi ce, with a huge subscriber base. Its newly- coverage solution leverages Ucell’s mobile HD video conference, real-time built LTE network will provide existing LTE spectrum resources and mobile monitoring, mobile interactive subscribers with high bandwidth and shares BBUs between LTE700 and market promotion, and real-time mobile feature-rich data services. However, LTE2600 networks. ZTE’s industry medical imaging. This will create more because of the immaturity of the LTE leading SDR-based network convergence business opportunities for enterprise industry, in the initial LTE rollout, solution was also used in the Ucell users and help them become more Ucell could have faced problems with deployment. The SDR solution protects effective and productive. incomplete coverage, and the quality Ucell’s investment and has enhanced its Ucell aims to advance 4G telecom of the LTE network may not have network competitiveness. Distributed and will continue to work with ZTE to been the same as the 3G standard. It base stations were used to save offer more innovative and customer- was therefore necessary for Ucell to equipment room, and a multimode co- oriented services to mobile users in ensure interoperability between 3G site solution was used to allow equipment Uzbekistan.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 25 Success Stories

China Mobile: Successful C-RAN Trial in Changsha By Zhao Miao

26 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 SuccessVIP Stories Voice

ith the rapid development complex, and network KPIs need further Drive test results show that the uplink of telecom services and improvement. The trial area was also obtains 3 to 7 dB gain, MOS increases Wc o n s t a n t c h a n g e s i n suitable for verifying dynamic sharing of by 11.4%, and intercell handover is subscriber behavior, operators are faced baseband resources with tidal traffi c from reduced by 15.3%. The multi-RRU and with unprecedented challenges in their the college district. co-cell mode enhances signal stability radio access networks (RANs): high- After the test scheme was determined, and increases cell coverage quality and power consumption caused by large the network deployment and all tests handover success rate. numbers of sites, increasing CAPEX were completed within 26 days. The and OPEX, and low wireless coverage test results show that C-RAN has great Saving Fiber Resources and quality caused by complex networks. Site potential and show the highlights of Protecting Services Using RRU resources are hard to acquire, and some ZTE’s GSM C-RAN solution. Cascaded Ring Networking base stations are being used ineffi ciently The test results showed that each because of the tidal effect. In the midst of Overcoming Tidal Effect Through of the 18 cascaded RRUs functioned technology, cost, resource, and security Centralized Baseband normally. Delay compensation was challenges, a completely new platform is During the test, baseband units were normal, and QoS met the standards. Ring emerging. placed in the central equipment room networking guarantees the reliability of In April 2010, China Mobile of Tianmashan. This saved equipment cascaded RRU sites. If any fi ber section proposed the C-RAN architecture—a room. The monitoring data shows that or any RRU in the link is damaged, the new-generation, green RAN architecture. the tidal effect was very strong between current link is automatically switched to C-RAN is another innovation based 21:45 and 22:45. When students return to the reverse link so that upper-level RRU on distributed base stations. Using their dormitories after evening study, the and lower-level RRU is not affected. centralized baseband, collaborative traffi c in the teaching building declines radio technologies, and real-time cloud and traffic in the dormitories increased Reducing Network TCO and computing, C-RAN allows dynamic markedly. When the tidal effect occurs, Shortening Deployment Time with network load balancing, and it allows baseband resources are dynamically C-RAN network resources to be shared. C-RAN adjusted; that is, the baseband resources Using C-RAN, China Mobile can is a clean and effi cient RAN that allows begin to migrate from the teaching reduce CAPEX by 27.1% and OPEX by smooth evolution and provides higher buildings to the dormitories. The 63.9% for 11 sites with 272 carriers. In bandwidths. More flexible multiple baseband resources are shared by two Changsha, C-RAN can reduce China operation standards are also supported. sites, so the resources are saved by 16% Mobile’s CAPEX by RMB 1.435 million Shortly after proposing the C-RAN and BBUs are reduced by 14% in the and OPEX by RMB 666,000 a year. For a architecture, China Mobile immediately baseband board. local network with 10,000 sites, C-RAN conducted feasibility studies for can reduce CAPEX by RMB 2 billion a commercial deployment in several Improving Service Through Radio year and OPEX by RMB 0.4 billion a year. provinces. In Changsha, Hunan province, Collaboration If C-RAN is used to build networks on a China Mobile selected ZTE as its partner Usually, the antenna feeder is large scale, OPEX is signifi cantly reduced. to trial the GSM C-RAN. To verify the mounted on the rooftop and covers two Using centralized baseband and C-RAN network functions and capability, cells. In one coverage cell, signal loss collaborative radio, new-generation China Mobile chose the college district is severe because of trees and plants. C-RAN enables dynamic network load near Yuelu Mount as the trial area. In a The other has a weak indoor area. In balancing and network resources to be population of 40,000, there are 22,000 the C-RAN network, a multi-RRU and shared. C-RAN fully incorporates the 2G subscribers, so the location was co-cell mode is used. Two RRUs are concepts of “green, collaborative, and suitable for verifying C-RAN capability connected to two antennas. One antenna sharing.” At present, C-RAN is only in in a densely populated metropolitan area is mainly used to cover the remote end of the initial stage, and with the application with heavy traffic. The area contains the cell, and the other antenna is mainly of new concepts and technologies, many student dormitories and residential used to cover the near end of the cell. C-RAN will bring even greater benefi ts buildings. The radio environment is very Two RRUs are confi gured to one cell. to networks.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 27 Success Stories

Telcel Becomes More Agile with Next-Generation Service-Based Subscriber Data Management By Lee Doyle, IDC

Introduction addressed are charging, assurance, and chose ZTE to provide a next-generation elcel Mexico is the local brand pre-paid billing. These systems must be subscriber data management system of America Movil, a Fortune 500 scalable, highly reliable, flexible, and called universal subscriber profile Tcompany and one of the largest secure. platform (ZXUN USPP). companies in Latin America. It has Telcel needed to replace its legacy over 236 million subscribers in Mexico, subscriber data management system for Implementation Latin America, and the Caribbean, a number of reasons. Operating costs In late 2009, Telcel decided to making it the fourth largest mobile were high because multiple databases upgrade to a new subscriber management operator in the world. Like many mobile were required to support applications. system. Among the six vendors that operators, Telcel is facing the challenge There was a lack of service and support were considered during the thorough of modernizing its infrastructure to because of the age of the system, and RFP evaluation, ZTE was selected improve operational efficiency and to new services could not be easily added for its solution and experience. ZTE quickly deliver new revenue-generating because of the dependence on subscriber established a project implementation services to its broad customer base. data. Dependency on old server and team comprising experts from its China Given competitive pressures and storage design limited scalability and headquarters and local office to work the size and growth of its customer Telcel’s ability to keep up with growth in closely with Telcel. base, Telcel is looking to transform subscriber numbers. Also, old database The ZTE implementation team its back-office operations in order to design resulted in poor reliability and provided detailed professional services quickly introduce new services with disaster recovery. to smoothly migrate from the legacy low operating cost. Key functions to be For part of the OS upgrade, Telcel platform. ZTE worked to tight deadlines:

28 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 SuccessVIP Stories Voice

● planning and technical specifi cations: ● improved security. It provides one month Solution flexibility in security profiles and ● hardware and software installation: ZTE’s USPP solution was chosen allows access to information on a one month to provide service-based subscriber need-to-know basis so that customer ● testing of availability, security, and data management. Since it was first privacy is protected. management: one month released in 2006, ZTE USPP has been ● high reliability with hot standby ● integration of value added improved and is now widely used in the capability and geographic redundancy. applications such as, ringtones, SMS, market. With a distributed architecture, It is 99.9999% reliable. and voicemail: three months it leverages a centralized database and ● improved measurement of ● migration from legacy provisioning provides open interfaces that support performance indicators, including system: one week standards such as LDAP, MML, SOAP, memory, CPU, and traffic. This During each phase of the project, XML, Web Service, ODBC, and JDBC provides a much data about the ZTE worked closely with Telcel’s to facilitate convergence of user data. operation of the platform for easy operations personnel to provide onsite ZXUN USPP, based on the ATCA management. training and knowledge transfer. ZTE platform, has large capacity. It has 3 racks The system provides distributed also now provides round-the-clock that can support 100 million dynamic memory across different compute blades support services for Telcel. subscribers, and it has low power in the server as well as tight integration consumption, which reduces OPEX. with the DBMS software. The new Challenges ZXUN USPP supports 12 types of FE LDAP directory architecture offers more An important challenge in this project applications, which allows for unified efficient memory use and much faster was to smoothly migrate from the legacy UMTS, CDMA, SAE, and IMS services. performance for database queries. platform to next-generation subscriber This, in turn, allows for subscription A key benefi t is the ability to quickly data management system. The transition control convergence. ZXUN USPP develop new revenue-generating services needed to be transparent to Telcel’s simplifi es network deployment, accelerates for Telcel’s customers. Telcel is in the customers and allow for integration the provision of new services, and promotes process of rolling out new services, and of existing (20+) applications such as service innovation. It helps operators the new subscriber management systems ringtones, voice mail, and SMS. The new provide competitive integrated services. greatly reduces the time it takes Telcel to system needed to be able to handle mass develop, test and integrate a new service. data and have very fast response times. It B e n e fi t s In one case, the time taken to introduce also needed to be able to rapidly integrate Telcel’s new data management a new service was reduced from 8 new value-added services. For scalability, architecture delivers the desired benefi ts months to 2 months. ZTE is helping reliability, and performance, a new of a project. ZTE ZXUN USPP is the Telcel integrate new services into the subscriber management system requires basis of a modern data management subscriber management system and is tight integration between the hardware system and has the following benefi ts: enabling future development via training (blade server and storage), the database ● high performance. It can handle more and knowledge transfer. management system, and the applications. than 30,000 transactions per second. Telcel is satisfied that its new ZTE smoothly migrated Telcel’s ● large capacity. It can accommodate subscriber data management system legacy platform by adapting non- more than 100 million subscribers. will facilitate integration with LTE and standard applications that support the ● high scalability of server capacity new requirements such as machine- LDAP protocol. All implementations of (ATCA blade server design). to-machine mobile communications. this type require high-quality integration ● quick delivery of new services. It has In addition, large capacity, increased services, and ZTE personnel were on site a converged database with unifi ed and performance, and simplifi ed management to help with this transition. open interfaces. are very useful to Telcel.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 29 Solutions

HetNet Jump-Starts Mature LTE Commercialization By Mi Dezhong

report published by the Global mobile (HetNet) is introduced in 3GPP. HetNet means Suppliers Association (GSA) in October low-power nodes (LPNs) are placed throughout a A 2011 confi rms that, to date, 35 LTE networks macrocell layout (overlaid) and also different layers have been commercialized in 21 countries, and 248 are coordinated. In a HetNet, a macro network served operators in 87 countries are now investing in LTE. by high-power base stations provides the foundation 185 operators worldwide have committed to LTE, for wide area coverage. LPNs, including microcells, and 63 operators worldwide are conducting pre- picocells, femtocells/home eNBs (HeNBs), and commitment trials. The GSA also forecasts that at least relay nodes (RNs), are designed for incremental 103 LTE networks will be in commercial service by capacity growth, eliminating coverage holes, richer the end 2012. However, some problems have emerged user experience and indoor coverage. LPNs have the with the large-scale deployment of LTE. following features: ● Most LTE networks operate at high frequency bands ● Microcells or picocells are usually centrally and have large signal attenuation and penetration deployed, and serve several dozen users within a loss. This results in poor indoor coverage and even radio range of 300 m or less. They have a typical blind spots. transmit power range of 23 to 30 dBm and are ● Data traffi c has continued to grow but is distributed mainly used for capacity as well as outdoor or unequally. Insufficient capacity is a problem in indoor coverage infi ll in environments where there urban hotspots and in densely populated areas is insuffi cient macro penetration, such as bus/train where data traffi c is heavy. stations, airports, underground parking, and offi ce ● Macrocell deployment puts high requirements on buildings. base station sites. Site acquisition is a big challenge ● Femtocells, also known as home eNBs, are low-cost, in dense urban areas. low-power user-deployed access points that provide To address these issues, heterogeneous network blind spot or hotspot coverage in homes or small business environments. Typically, the femtocell range is less than 50 m, and the femtocell’s transmit power is less than 23 dBm. Femtocell terminals support plug-and-play. ● Relay nodes connect with macrocells via radio links. They are positioned to increase signal

30 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 VIPSolutions Voice

With multilayer coordination, HetNet“ addresses coverage issues strength and help operators cheaply expand network coverage. They can be also used for temporary for indoor areas, blind spots, network deployment and to provide limited and high-speed scenarios and coverage in high-speed scenarios. enhances system capacity in Compared to a traditional homogeneous network Het Net prov ide s comprising a single layer of macrocells, HetNet small a seamless network hot spots. cells are deployed in large numbers and are overlaid experience, and users ” with macrocells. This presents new challenges for can enjoy high-speed interference elimination, self-organizing network communication anywhere and (SON), network management, traffic offloading, and anytime. user equipment (UE) mobility. Because coverage ZTE has been developing a series of LTE base overlaps between LPNs and macrocells in a HetNet, stations. ZTE’s LTE macro base stations include intercell interference is more diffi cult to control than distributed base stations, indoor macro base in a homogeneous network, and the interference also stations, and outdoor macro base stations for various changes as a UE moves between macrocells and deployment scenarios. ZTE has collaborated with CSL LPNs. To reduce or eliminate intercell interference, Hong Kong and Hutchinson Sweden to commercialize several new techniques have been introduced in LTE- these base stations. In June 2011, ZTE unveiled the Advanced networks, including TDM-based enhanced world’s fi rst commercial LTE micro base station. The intercell interference cancellation (eICIC) with ABS base station is small, lightweight, and easy to install. configuration, FDM-based carrier aggregation (CA) It supports AC/DC power supply and all frequency with cross-carrier scheduling, and MIMO-based bands for LTE. It can be quickly and cheaply deployed coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission and in hotspot areas. ZTE has also been developing reception. femtocells, picocells, and relay nodes. With a full HetNet is based on a mixed deployment of series of LTE products and an end-to-end HetNet macrocells and LPNs, which facilitates large-scale solution, ZTE is well-positioned to meet operator LTE and mature commercialization of LTE networks. With needs in different scenarios and to strengthen the core multilayer coordination, HetNet addresses coverage competitiveness of operators. issues for indoor areas, blind spots, and high-speed scenarios and enhances system capacity in hot spots.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 31 Solutions

SON: The Key to LTE Commercialization By Liu Yue

TE is preferred by operators What Functions Does SON Have? because it can reduce user SON is characterized by self- Ldelay, it can handle higher user configuration, self-optimization, and data rates, it has higher volume and self-healing. better coverage, maintenance costs are Self-configuration means that there lower, and it can be smoothly evolved. is little or no human intervention, from However, these advantages do not equipment installation to network guarantee the LTE will be successful access. It simplifies new station commercialized. Better user experience measurement processes, reduces the and lower operation costs bring with necessity for human intervention, and them new challenges in terms of lowers construction needed for realizing network deployment, maintenance, and plug and play. It substantially reduces the trouble ticket. Self-optimisation implementation. Self organization is the difficulty of deploying new base includes optimizing coverage and a newly introduced network concept stations and OAM costs. A SON is capacity, adjusting power transmission that improves the intelligence of LTE capable of autonomously establishing (or even shutting down cells) to save networks. transmission, authenticating nodes, energy, detecting and reconfiguring to installing and updating software avoid conflict or confusion, optimizing What is SON? versions, testing equipment, planning mobility robustness and load balance, Self organizing network (SON) is a neighbourhoods, managing assets, and optimizing RACH, coordinating complete set of network concepts for the planning wireless parameters. intercell interference and optimizing development of LTE. It is designed for Self-optimization involves automatic QoS. operators who are trying to reduce LTE optimization of network parameters. UE Self-healing, by definition, means network construction and OAM costs. and eNB performance are measured in the network can cure itself of network It has now been extended to include the order to improve network quality and problems. Self-healing involves entire wireless network. reduce optimization costs. Traditional correlating alarms, locating root causes, SON is a new idea for network optimization of OAM is based on detecting silent cells, detecting and construction, operation, and assessments made by engineers after compensating for faulty cells, and maintenance. It is based on the latest drive tests have been performed and automatically tracking and diagnosing wireless technology and combines simulation data analyzed. SON reduces problems. the advantages of traditional network the need to hire specialists and provides SON involves all aspects of network planning and optimization. SON is timely reminders and more accurate, deployment, and makes traditional OAM mainly applied to LTE but can also be detailed test data for network defects. methods more intelligent. applied to 2G and 3G networks. It quickens the processing speed of

32 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 VIPSolutions Voice

scenarios. It is necessary to consider the affect of changing wireless environment, turn-on time and frequency flexibility, and power consumption for end users. These are challenges in traditional network planning, construction, and maintenance. In addition, the coexistence of LTE, 2G and 3G networks needs to be taken into account to ensure smooth future evolution. Many other issues cannot be dealt with by traditional maintenance methods. Such issues include capacity and power consumed as a result of wide coverage, flexible deployment and changed OAM modes based on home eNB, interference caused by hotspot coverage, and load adaptation. These increase labor and maintenance costs, and so operators have long awaited the arrival of SON. Why Does LTE Need SON? of wireless base station configuration The network element node of an LTE parameters increases sharply. The cost of SON’s Progressive Development access network is evolved NodeB. eNB network planning, OAM, and upgrading SON is an essential part of LTE evolved from NodeB and RNC in 3G. X2 is unacceptably high for operators. development and commercialization. is the interface between nodes, and S1 Also, the number of element nodes and As a result of 3GPP and NGMN-related is the interface of the core network. The eNBs increases signifi cantly for the full- projects, issue-tracking and legalization compressed nodes considerably improve coverage LTE network. Because of the are under way. There is still much processing speed and efficiency in considerably weakened LTE frequency work to be done in terms of functional internal signalling. The full evolution of and penetration loss at high-frequency, collaboration and improvement. packet networks is a typical improvement small cells are used by leading Commercialization involves a run-in in LTE networks. The 3GPP definition telecommunication manufacturers and period. ZTE, the leading provider of of SAE architecture specifies support operators. LTE equipment and solutions has been for multiple wireless modes and the For full coverage and high capacity, keeping abreast of relevant legislation necessity for high speed, low latency, HetNet is proposed. In addition to macro and is conducting R&D on SON. As the and optimized packet transmission. S1 is eNB, home eNB is introduced to extend result of substantial investment in R&D, must be used to switch between different indoor coverage and increase capacity in ZTE has come up with a series of SON network standards, and X2 can be used urban hotspots. Wireless relay stations solutions. to switch between LTE cells. are used for low-cost coverage. All these SON is an essential driving force Because of LTE’s flat structure, elements form a real heterogeneous behind the evolution from mobile eNBs encompass two original elements network. Macro stations reduce the telecommunication networks to smart of the access network of 2G and 3G. operation cost of SON, and home eNB networks and is playing an increasingly Therefore, the number and complexity meets the needs of SON in various important role in LTE.

FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 33 Third Eye

ZTE’s Interoperability Testing Pushes TD-LTE Technology Closer to the Mainstream

July 2011, selected from market research fi rm Current Analysis

Event Summary uly 11, 2011―ZTE announced that Vendor importance: high Event Ratings

it had completed interoperability ZTE is looking to maintain its TD- Perspective Jtesting of a multimode device LTE momentum by expanding its that can support handovers between a 25 network trials and deployments. Response Vendor TD-LTE network and CDMA, GSM, Expanding the market for TD- Intensity Importance WCDMA, and LTE networks. The LTE will require the technology to multimode device used in the testing is support handover between TD-LTE a prototype and is not yet commercial. and traditional FDD-based wireless Innovation Market Impact ZTE claims this interoperability test is a technologies. Handover is needed to market fi rst. support carrier-to-carrier roaming and to Copyright @ 2011 Current Analysis,Inc. ensure established mobile operators can Generated:07-14-2011 Analytical Summary integrate TD-LTE with their previously Perspective: moderate deployed networks. Current Analysis has a moderate especially in driving development of new outlook for ZTE’s multimode TD- Market impact: high markets. LTE device that can support network ZTE’s impact in the wireless Competitive Positives handover between TD-LTE networks infrastructure market will be high. TD- ● Signals growing maturity of ZTE’s and GSM, WCDMA, CDMA EV-DO, LTE interoperation with GSM/WCDMA/ TD-LTE solution and LTE networks. By successfully CDMA EV-DO could greatly increase ● Should help expand operator interest managing network handovers between the interest of mobile operators in TD- in TD-LTE TD-LTE and other networks highlights, LTE. Established mobile operators will ● Interoperability includes both 3GPP ZTE demonstrates the growing maturity be more likely to deploy TD-LTE if and 3GPP2 networks of its TD-LTE solutions. ZTE has helped it can interoperate with their existing ● Highlights that ZTE is both a device raise interest in TD-LTE by showing networks. ZTE’s test also shows how and infrastructure vendor operators how TD-LTE can be integrated a vendor can benefit from having ● Points to the company’s overall momentum into their existing networks. both device and infrastructure assets, with TD-LTE

34 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 NewsVIP Voice Brief

ZTE-Implemented Bangladesh WiMAX ZTE Completes Network Hits 200,000 Subscribers World-First TD-LTE CSFB Tests

the national Bangladeshi network in 22 December 2011, Shenzhen ― only one year. The network supports ZTE announced it has completed a series TDD-LTE evolution and uses the of world’s first tests between TD-LTE telecom industry’s most advanced and 2/3G GSM/UMTS networks using large-capacity BTS 4×8 equipment. circuit switching fallback (CSFB). Banglaion is Bangladesh’s No.1 A number of services, including WiMAX operator. mobile originating calls, mobile “We’d like to thank ZTE for its terminating calls and short messaging support as the exclusive supplier for service (SMS), were tested. The tests Banglalion’s WiMAX network. Our further reinforce the convergence of TD- customers were pleased by the quality of LTE and existing networks. In addition, the network,” said Banglalion CEO Neil the tests demonstrate that CSFB is Graham. a reliable voice solution on TD-LTE “ZTE will continue to collaborate networks. closely with Banglalion to maintain When someone uses a CSFB phone high-speed and stable networks with on an LTE network to make a call 12 January 2012, Shenzhen ― ZTE rich services for the Bangladeshi within the range of a 4G network, the announced that the WiMAX network people,” said ZTE Bangladesh country handset rapidly falls back to available it implemented in Bangladesh in manager Sabin Shrestha. “Our aim is 2/3G networks to complete the call. cooperation with operator Banglalion to help Banglalion maintain its leading This use of existing infrastructure now serves 200,000 subscribers. position in WiMAX and to assist it enables voice services without the ZTE is the exclusive network with launching more diverse services need for IMS deployments. It is a equipment supplier for Banglalion such as VoIP, video surveillance and single chip voice-implemented solution and helped the operator implement conferencing.” defined by 3GPP.

ZTE Drives LTE Adoption at 2012 Consumer Electronics Show ZTE showcases latest handsets at CES

11 January 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada At CES 2012, ZTE is demonstrating ― ZTE is participating in the annual latest LTE handsets including Arthur, Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this LTE tablets V6 and V8, LTE hotspots week in Las Vegas, Nevada. MF91, LTE datacard MF 880 and CES kicks off 2012 for ZTE, a year MF821, LTE CPE MF28D, and Windows in which the company will drive LTE Phone Tania, as well as the newest adoption by launching a full series products brought to market in 2011, of LTE handset products, including which included 10 devices for top tier smartphones, hotspots, tablets and fi xed- American carriers. This year’s display of station products. New devices will also U.S. devices includes the ZTE WarpTM feature powerful, high-end technology and ZTE ScoreTM smartphones as well while enhancing users’ experience with as the ZTE MemoTM and ZTE ChorusTM audio, visual and touch functionality. feature phones.

PB ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 35 News Brief

ZTE Launches Headquarters of ZTE Germany in Dusseldorf Waterproof STAR7 Softbank 009Z Smartphone in Japan

20 December 2011, Tokyo ― ZTE announced the launch of the unique, waterproof STAR7 Softbank 009Z smartphone in Japan. The STAR7 Softbank 009Z is a fashionable, easy-to-operate Android 2.3 smartphone. It features a wide 3.8-inch touch screen and takes its inspiration from the solar system, planets and satellites. It is available in a lineup of seven metallic colors: Neptune green, Venus yellow, Mars red, Jupiter pink, Moon white, Saturn black and ZTE Germany Receives Health and Earth blue. Safety Certificate by TÜV Rheinland

14 December 2011, Düsseldorf ― preventively implements the highest ZTE has been awarded an occupational standards of health and safety. health & safety advisory services The OHSAS 18001 standard is (OHSAS) 18001 certificate by TÜV recognized in more than 80 countries and Rheinland. The OHSAS 18001 is the best-known and most important confirms ZTE Germany’s compliance standard for a safety management with the European and German labor system. The goal is the prevention of safety requirements. The certificate occupational accidents and improving

STAR7 Softbank 009Z Smartphones also demonstrates that ZTE Germany the health of employees in the workplace.

Hi3G and ZTE Announce

Launch of World’s First LTE the subscriber experience with signifi cantly faster radio access FDD/TDD Network speeds and a much more extensive range of data services. Hi3G signed the LTE network contract with ZTE in March 15 December 2011, Shenzhen ― ZTE, in collaboration 2011 to cover the whole of Sweden. with Swedish carrier Hi3G, has announced that the world’s fi rst Jörgen Askeroth, CTO of Hi3G, commented, “This commercial LTE FDD/TDD dual-mode network has gone live network fully indicates the practical use of the mature LTE in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. multi-mode convergent solution. It allows us to extend the Hi3G is committed to upgrading its network to enhance partnership with ZTE.”

36 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 37 NewsVIP Voice Brief

ZTE Wins Informa LTE Award ZTE Wins 50% for Best Enabling Technology in Centralized Purchase of China 21 November 2011, Shenzhen ― ZTE commercial LTE micro base station. Telecom’s Metro announced its ZXSDR BS8920 micro The product’s hardware cost is 50% Aggregation and base station won the 2011 Informa LTE less than traditional distributed base Award for Best Enabling Technology at stations, and its auxiliary facility Access Network the LTE North America conference in costs are 30% less in comparison. It is Project Dallas, Texas. compact and lightweight and supports The ZXSDR BS8920 was all-standard LTE bands. Its low power developed based on ZTE’s Uni- consumption helps operators reduce 12 December 2011, Shenzhen ― RAN platform and is the world's first total cost of ownership. ZTE announced it has won 50% of the contract business for China Telecom’s 2011 comprehensive metro aggregation and access network project, the highest percentage of all contract bidders. The contract was issued in response to an urgent need by China Telecom for a comprehensive bearer network in multiple Chinese cities capable of carrying CDMA base stations and providing large customer services and soft-switching. As part of the China Telecom Metro network project, ZTE will build 6 local networks in six core cities: Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Quanzhou and Wenzhou. The networks will be built with ZTE’s IP RAN (IP/MPLS) solutions, which are based on the company’s ZXCTN 9000/6000 series products.

H3G Austria’s Mobile Network from ZTE Named Fastest in the Country

14 December 2011, Shenzhen ― ZTE formal tests of mobile networks covering second fastest network. and H3G Austria, have announced that the the German-speaking countries Austria, CONNECT magazine editor Bernd H3G mobile network has been proved to be Germany and Switzerland. The programme Theiss said, “H3G Austria was not only the fastest in Austria, in independent tests includes tests for download speeds, the fastest network; it also achieved a conducted by European telecommunications upload speeds and user experience. In the score of 476 out of a possible 500 in publication CONNECT. download speed test, H3G’s network-wide customers’ evaluation of overall network Each year, CONNECT organizes average rate was 9 Mbps, far ahead of the performance.”

36 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES FEB 2012 FEB 2012 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 37