Two standards, one network – Siemens shows how intelligent products for mobile networks minimize installation costs

Siemens Networks has developed a technical concept for radio networks that helps carriers keep their costs in check. A single base station can be operated simultaneously as a GSM and W-CDMA station, letting the existing GSM infrastructure be leveraged to maximum effect – over all sections of the network. The latest members of the “One Network” product family are the W-CDMA variant for the GSM 900 MHz band and the Surpass hiD 3100 system, which transfers data via the TDM, ATM and IP protocols in the mobile transport network, making it an ideal interface between the radio and transport networks. At the ITU Telecom World/3G World Congress in Hong Kong, Siemens is premiering the entire infrastructure for the “One Network” concept.

Hongkong - A key to ensuring that carriers remain competitive is cost cutting, which is why the “One Network” concept from Siemens Networks is so attractive. To help ensure that the growing stream of data from multimedia applications and voice connections is channeled through mobile networks as cost-effectively as possible, Siemens has developed products that enable W-CDMA data to be transmitted on the GSM 900 MHz frequency. The network components are all GSM and W-CDMA capable – from network access to the core network and transport and network control.

“The goal is to allow carriers interested in offering new broadband applications to expand their existing GSM networks to include 3G with a minimum of installation costs,” explains Dina Bartels, Head of UTRAN Product Line Strategy at Siemens Networks.

The cost savings in installation are significant. If the same 900 MHz frequency is used, it is possible to keep on using not only all sites, but also antennas, cables and important parts of the GSM base station. Even more cost savings can be achieved through the operation of a combined GSM/W-CDMA network since operations, maintenance and the core network are shared.

The new Mobile Access Gateway Surpass hiD3105 makes a major contribution in this respect. It converts and moves data optimally between TDM, ATM and IP networks. This “any-to-any” functionality for GSM/W-CDMA, support of future standards such as LTE, and the possibility of integrating DSL networks reduces line leasing costs, in some cases by up to 80 percent. The multi-standard network controller makes a similarly positive contribution. 500 GSM and 512 W-CDMA base stations can be controlled using a single device. That significantly reduces the costs for renting space and for power and air-conditioning compared with individual solutions.