Nokia Siemens Networks Debuts Multiradio Base Station

Nokia Siemens Networks introduced its Flexi Multiradio Base Station aimed at making the evolution from 2G and 3G to LTE faster, greener and more cost-effective. The new product builds on the company's Flexi Base Station platform by adding support to cover GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE - all running concurrently in a single unit.


A key feature of the Flexi Multiradio Base Station is the ability for new and existing 2G and 3G operators to use their existing infrastructure to deploy new network-wide technologies via software upgrade to 3G or LTE. The new Multiradio Flexi is also backward compatible with current Flexi Base Station, enabling capacity upgrades to existing Base Station sites. The product also fits CDMA operators who intend to migrate to WCDMA/HSPA or LTE.


Nokia Siemens Networks said the simplicity of running multiple radio technologies in a single Base Station means reduced OPEX from fewer site visits, simplified logistics, reduced maintenance and a smaller requirement for trained staff. The possibility to reuse GSM sites for WCDMA and HSPA also delivers savings from reduced rental costs and maximized reuse of existing infrastructure.


Energy efficiency is also improved in the Flexi Multiradio. An average 3 sector Base Station site running simultaneously GSM/EDGE and WCDMA/HSPA consumes as little as 790W, while pushing 60W output per sector for maximum capacity and coverage. The small and lightweight product is also rugged enough for outdoor use without shelters or air conditioning, further minimizing their environmental impact.


Flexi Multiradio Base Station features built-in IP/Ethernet connectivity for a unified transport network for the Single RAN. Operators can also benefit from using the common NetAct network management system for planning, optimizing and operating the Single RAN. For example, NetAct Optimizer enables easy and high quality refarming of WCDMA or LTE in current GSM 900 MHz frequency band.


Deployments of this new Flexi Multiradio Base Station will start from the beginning of 2010 onwards.


"Flexi Multiradio Base Station makes network evolution faster, greener and more cost-efficient than ever, and this launch makes Nokia Siemens Networks the only vendor which enables future technology evolution steps exactly with the same hardware without radio technology specific boards. Thanks to the industry's highest degree of integration, Flexi Multiradio Base Station is able to provide three technologies in one compact 3 sector Base Station of less than 75 liters", said Marc Rouanne, head of the company's Radio Access business.


Nokia Siemens Networks is also introducing a new Multicontroller platform for radio access, which will be the basis for its future radio network controller products, including GSM and WCDMA. The new product enables operators to cope with fast changes of the network, caused by huge subscriber and data traffic growth. The Nokia Siemens Networks Multicontroller is fully adaptable to various traffic mixes and is extremely scalable with growing capacity up to 35 Gbps. First deployments of Multicontroller are starting from the second half of 2010 onwards.
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com