Nokia Siemens Unveils New HSPA+ Multiflow Feature, One Device Connects to Two Cell Sites Simultaneously
Most of us have experienced what it’s like to use a smartphone while moving, which eventually leads to depressed connectivity if you stray too far from a cell tower or another. Some of us even have the bad luck of spending most of our time on the outside of a cell site leading to undesirable cell connectivity for the better part of the day.
Nokia Siemens hopes to alleviate part of this issue with a new feature called HSPA+ Multiflow. The feature aims to “deliver double the data speed at a 50 percent faster response compared to other existing HSPA+ networks.” Nokia Siemens plans to demonstrate the technology at this year’s Mobile World Congress show. Basically, Multiflow enables compatible devices on the edge of a cell to connect to two cell sites at the same time, allowing your device to send and receive data between two base stations at once.
The Multiflow feature is expected to launch as a software update for Single RAN systems, and is expected to launch during the second half of 2013. Continue reading below for the entire press release.
Nokia Siemens Networks delivers faster, more flexible 4G (HSPA+)
Presents first ever demo of HSPA+ Multiflow on commercial infrastructure equipment, delivering up to double the cell edge data speed
Operators will be able to offer enhanced mobile broadband with a new feature for HSPA+ networks from Nokia Siemens Networks and Qualcomm*. Known as HSPA+ Multiflow, it allows devices located close to the edge of a mobile base station’s cell to connect with a second base station serving a neighboring cell. The ‘Multiflow’ name refers to the two different paths data can then take to reach a device. The feature makes far more efficient use of network resources, delivering up to double the data speed and up to 50% faster response compared to existing HSPA+ networks.
A live demonstration** at Mobile World Congress 2012 of the feature will be based on Nokia Siemens Networks’ commercial Single RAN offering and Qualcomm’s prototype USB dongles.
“With 100 million smart devices being added every month, we see a consequent increase in ‘smart’ applications that make use of their advanced capabilities. Not only is network traffic rising dramatically, much of it is also unpredictable in nature, and this can impact user experience,” said Keith Sutton, head of the WCDMA business line for Nokia Siemens Networks. “This is where HSPA+ Multiflow helps operators – it reduces imbalances that typically occur in network resource usage, and increases HSPA+ speed and capacity.”
HSPA+ Multiflow enables simultaneous transmission of two data streams from base stations in two adjacent cells to a single user device instead of one data stream from one base station as is the case with HSPA+*** today. Overall, this can up to double throughput (data speeds) for users at cell edge. Due to Nokia Siemens Networks’ highly scalable Single RAN equipment, operators can protect their earlier network investments, by evolving their existing HSPA networks to the new technology with a simple software upgrade.
“We are working with Nokia Siemens Networks to drive the evolution and deployment of technologies like HSPA+,” said Serge Willenegger, vice president of product management at Qualcomm. “This demonstration confirms that HSPA+ Multiflow will enable us to further enhance the HSPA+ mobile broadband user experience, and is thus a valuable contribution toward enhancing the HSPA+ value proposition and further expanding global mobile broadband coverage.”
The HSPA+ Multiflow feature is expected to be 3GPP standardized**** by mid 2012, and will be available commercially from Nokia Siemens Networks by second half of 2013.
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