Mobile Broadband White Paper

8/13/2019 Mobile Broadband White Paper

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Surfing into the Future:Mobile Broadband

Technologies

This whitepaper is an extract from:

WiMAX HSPA

Mobile Broadband Markets, EV-DO, & Beyond

2007-2012

. . . information you can do business with

WHITEPAPER


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White Paper ~ SurfingintotheFuture:MobileBroadbandTechnologies

Page 1 Juniper Research Limited Tel: +44 (0)1256 830002

Surfing into the Future:

Mobile Broadband

Technologies

IntroductionMobile Broadband allows for anytime, anywhere access of high-bandwidth applications, contentand communication. This white paper introduces the reader to the main mobile broadbandtechnologies and provides global market status and subscriber forecasts.

The technologies include Mobile WiMAX and similar broadband mobile technologies like FlashOFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), also UMTS-TDD (Universal MobileTelecommunications System Time Division Duplexing), CDMA (Code Division MultipleAccess), 1x-EVDO Evolution data Only Standard that has evolved from cdma2000 1X), HSPA(High Speed Packet Access), 3GLTE Third Generation Long Term Evolution) and UMB (UltraMobile Broadband).

WiMAXWiMAX is defined as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, which allows for

broadband wireless access of information in the form of packet data. It was introduced inOctober 2001 and is also known as the IEEE 802.16 standard. The standard defines the airinterface, also known as the PHY (Physical) layer as well as the MAC (Media Access Control)layer. These are the bottom two layers, which define the OSI 7 layer model that define anetwork technology. The protocols defined in these two layers allow it to control how packetdata is handled at the air interface and at the first point of entry and exit of a system. The MAClayer is designed in such a way that it controls various PHY specifications. The originalspecification allowed it to operate in the 10 to 66 GHz range. There were subsequent changesmade to the standard, which curtailed it to the 2-11 GHz range. This was primarily done toimprove its range. The standard is meant to operate in both licensed and unlicensed frequencies.WiMAX plans to provide fixed as well as mobile access in large metropolitan areas. It wasdeveloped as a successor to the WiFi standard, which provides wireless access in local areanetworks.


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WiMAX is based on the OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) protocol wherethe information packet is broken down into closely spaced carriers, which are sent on individualfrequencies. The data on each individual or orthogonal carrier is independently modulated usingQuadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) or Phase Shift Keying (PSK) techniques. Theorthogonality allows for signals to be perpendicular to each other in mathematical terms, which

means that they are able to overlap without interfering with each other. The OFDM signal is thesum of the individual orthogonal carriers.

The Mobile WiMAX standard has been established to provide specifications for mobilebroadband wireless access systems. The IEEE Working group ratified the standard in December2005. Though the fixed version of WiMAX focuses on the point to multipoint broadband accessand the last mile solution, the mobile version of WiMAX will focus on mobility for broadband.The strength lies in the fact that apart from mobility it will also support fixed and nomadicaccess. The peak throughput rates are expected to be 75 Mbps, but the typical throughput willbe less than that. The throughput depends on the bandwidth in which the system operates.802.16e is supposed to operate in the channel bandwidth of 10 MHz, which gives the bestpossible throughput at 37 Mbps1.

The aim of the WiMAX standard is to ensure that interoperability is maintained among devices.The WiMAX Forum will ensure that the standards, which are covered under WiMAX, arereleased according to their scheduled timelines and that guidelines are maintained by thevendors. The WiMAX forum members include prominent industry vendors like Intel, Fujitsu,Samsung, AT&T, Nokia, Cisco, Motorola, Nortel and operators like Sprint, BT, ZTE, and KoreaTelecom.

The WiMAX Forum has defined a timeline (see Figure 1) which shows how WiMAX standardswill evolve to a full mobility solution 802.16e.

Figure 1: WiMAX Timeline

Source: WiMAX Forum March 2007

Mobile WiMAX is based on the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)

protocol. OFDMA allows for multiple users to be placed on various sub carriers on the samechannel at the same time. The effect of sub-channelisation is enhanced in OFDMA to enableflexible mobile and nomadic operation. This allows for the various sub-carriers to be assigned todifferent users. These groups of sub-carriers are also termed as sub-channels. There is alsosupport for features such as Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), which reduces delaysand Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna support, which increases throughput,reduces error rates and multipath fading.

1The Promise of WiMAX, Motorola


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Figure 2: Difference between OFDM and OFDMA

Source: WiMAX Forum

Although 802.16e is incompatible with 802.16-2004, by supporting the 1024 FFT mode the

Mobile WiMAX standard will be compatible with the WiBro (Wireless Broadband) standard inKorea. The WiBro standard is the Korean profile of Mobile WiMAX, which has already beenreleased and it operates in the 2.3 GHz band. It was launched commercially at the end of June2006.

In January 2007 the IEEE outlined a proposed work plan for a new version of the 802.16standard that could increase speeds up to 1 Gbps while maintaining backwards compatibility withexisting WiMax products. The new version has been called 802.16m, and the IEEE aims tocomplete the standard by September 2008 for approval by December 2008. The IEEE wants todevelop a competitive and significantly improved radio access technology that is compliantwith the ITU R/IMT advanced requirements for 4G while keeping interoperability with mobileWiMax. Potential new radio interfaces will need to support up to 100Mbps for high mobility

such as mobile access and up to 1Gbps for low mobility such as nomadic/local wireless access,by around 2010. A step-change speed increase of this magnitude will enable service providersto offer a range of content-rich multimedia services such as TV, fast music downloads andstreamed video as well as greatly improved VoIP performance and capacity.

The meeting of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector Working Party 8F in early June 2007 putforward for approval the OFDMA TDD WMAN new terrestrial radio interface for IMT-2000,as requested by the WiMAX Forum and the IEEE. This is a very significant development forWiMAX because it means that WiMAX is close to being accepted by the ITU as a wirelessstandard within the 3G portfolio.

Flash OFDM

Flash OFDM is backed by Qualcomm Flarion Technologies (QFT). Qualcomm acquired FlarionTechnologies in January 2006 to expand its portfolio of OFDMA intellectual property andenhance its R&D organisation with expertise in OFDMA technology and products (source:Qualcomm). Flash stands for Fast Low Latency Access with Seamless Handoff. It is a flavour ofOFDM that incorporates the advantages of various wireless technologies, making it suitable formobile high-speed data communication.

One of the main advantages that Flash OFDM has is that it operates in the sub 1 GHz frequencyrange. This allows it to be able to have a larger range than WiMAX, which will most probablyoperate in the 2.5 GHz range and above. Flash OFDM operates in the 450 MHz and 700 MHzrange. At the 450 MHz range, Flash OFDM is able to operate with 75% fewer cell sites than anequivalent CDMA or WiMAX equivalent operating at 2.1-2.5 GHz.


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UMTS-TDD

UMTS TDD uses Time Division Duplexing (TDD) and is a packet data based technology of the3G backed UMTS standard. It is being supported by the 3GPP alliance and is also known as TD-CDMA. The technology has the advantage of having a large user base, which includes thenumerous operators across Europe and Asia who use the IMT-2000 TDD frequencies of 1900-1920 MHz and 2010-2025 MHz. There is also the provision of operating in the 3.6 GHz licensedband.

The peak downlink speeds are around 12 Mbps. UMTS TDD is one of three standardssupported by UMTS which share the same higher layer protocol stacks.

High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)

HSPA is the UMTS Forums generic term for improvements in the UMTS Radio Interface inReleases 5 and 6 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, and representsthe packet data service for the Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) standard. This means bothimprovements in the downlink allowing operators to increase throughput, often referred to asHSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and in the uplink, often called High Speed UplinkPacket Access (HSUPA) but also called Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH).

3GPP Release 5 (announced in 2003 and initially rolled out in 2005) introduced HSDPA. WithHSDPA, WCDMA has been extended with additional transport and control channels, such asthe high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH), which provides improved support forinteractive, background and, to some extent, streaming services. HSDPA enables speeds of upto a maximum of 14.4Mbit/s, subject to network conditions. HSDPA is a software upgrade that

doubles the air interface capacity of WCDMA networks and provides a 5-10 fold increase indownlink speeds of standard 3GSM/W-CDMA networks. It enables users to access theInternet on mobile phones and PC notebooks, at speeds previously reserved for DSL. Release5 also introduced the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture to enhance integratedmultimedia applications and offer mobile operators a more efficient way of offering theseservices. Release 5 also introduced the IP UTRAN concept to realise transport networkefficiencies and reduce transport network costs.

3GPP Release 6 provides for High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) with increased speedup to 5.8Mbps via a dedicated uplink channel, the second phase of IP Multimedia Subsystem(IMS), inter-working with Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Multimedia BroadcastMulticast Service (MBMS), and Enablers for Push to talk (PoC). Release 6 was completed in

March 2005, and 2006 and 2007 have seen a number of trials and demonstrations of its featuressuch as HSUPA. One operator (mobilkom Austria A1) has HSUPA in service as at June 2007.

The next phase of HSDPA is specified in 3GPP Release 7 and enhances Release 6 HSPAperformance. Release 7s main priority is improved support and performance forconversational and interactive services such as Push-to-talk, picture and video sharing, and Voiceand Video over IP.

These HSPA standards only relate to the access network, so the only changes necessary for thecore network will be to cater for the extra capacity that will be required to handle the expectedincrease in traffic, for example backhaul equipment. For users, all these developments translateinto improved network performance, faster application performance, a wider range of

applications that function well, and increased productivity.


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Beyond Release 7, 3GPP currently has a study item referred to as HSPA Evolution orHSPA+ not yet in a formal specification development stage. The intent is to create a highlyoptimised version of HSPA that uses both Release 7 features and other features such asinterference cancellation and optimisations to reduce latency. Peak data rates could approach42 Mbit/s in the downlink, depending on configuration. These improvements are designed to

enable HSPA to remain competitive until at least 2010.

However there is also a 3GPP vision of Long Term Evolution (LTE), although it is not yet at thestage of being specified as part of any Release 8. The overall aim is to improve the capacity ofthe 3GPP system to cope with ever-increasing volumes of data traffic in the longer term over10 years. The system needs to continually evolve to remain competitive in cost andperformance versus the other mobile data technologies. LTE goals include:

Downlink peak data rates up to 100 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth Uplink peak data rates up to 50 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth Operation in both TDD and FDD modes Increased spectral efficiency over Release 6 HSPA by a factor of two to four Reduced latencyFigure 3 below shows the 10 year transition from circuit switched to packet switched corenetworks that will be achieved through LTE:

Figure 3: LTE Migration to Packet Core

Source: Cingular Wireless; 3G Americas

In the very long term, operators could deploy Fourth Generation (4G) networks using LTEtechnology as a foundation. There are no official standards or formal definitions yet for 4G, but

preliminary research is focusing on technologies capable of delivering peak rates of 1 Gbps, fullyIP based, and with full network agility for handovers between different types of networks,

CDMA 1X EVDO & UMB

The CDMA EVDO (Evolution Data-Only) standard is a part of the family of 3G CDMAstandards. It officially belongs to the cdma2000 family and is backed by Qualcomm. As the namesuggests, it supports only data and no voice. In case it is deployed with a voice network it needsto support an extra 1.25 MHz channel. There are three versions of 1x EVDO, which include 1xEVDO Rev 0, Rev A and Rev B. The initial revision of the standard, Rev 0 is an improvement

over the 1xRTT data standard. Rev 0 was approved by the ITU (International CommunicationsUnion) in 2000 and has been in use all over the world. The Rev A standard offers improvementsin latencies and data rates over Rev 0. Rev A can now support low latency applications like VoIP


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along with Internet services. The data rates for Rev A are around 3 Mbps for the downlink andaround 1.8 Mbps for the uplink. The next revision of the standard, EV-DO Rev. B, allowsoperators to combine Rev. A channels for increased performance and capacity. Qualcommshowed a live, over-the-air demonstration of Rev. B that achieved a 9.3 Mbps downlink data ratein 5 MHz at the CTIA Wireless exhibition in March 2007. This first implementation of Rev. B is

available as a software upgrade to existing Rev. A channel cards. The Rev. B standard supportspeak three-channel data rates of up to 14.7 Mbps.

At the CTIA Wireless show in March 2007, Qualcomm announced the addition of an end-to-endsolution for Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) or EVDO Rev. C to its roadmap. UMB technologyincorporates the benefits of OFDMA, CDMA and other air interface techniques with MIMO andadvanced antenna technologies to offer features such as support for broadband speeds, greatercapacity and coverage, and an enhanced user experience for future mobile services.

Also at CTIA, Qualcomm demonstrated the following:

A live over-the air demonstration of UMB showing simultaneous high-definitionvideo streaming, video conferencing, VoIP and Web browsing applications;

A demonstration of telco-quality VoIP services over EV-DO Rev. A, includingmobile-to-mobile voice calls, video telephony and simultaneous VoIP and datasessions.

Technology SummaryMany detailed technical papers have been authored that compare the technical merits of the

various solutions, and it is not the intention of this white paper to replicate these. However itis safe to conclude that the ultimate technology choice for network operators depends on a mixof the above parameters, according to their relative importance given the business objective ofthe operator. Ultimately the technology choice is actually first of all a business case decisionthat itself depends on the services and applications that the operator wants to roll out. Thetechnology choice will then follow, designed to ensure that it will enable achievement of thebusiness objectives.

HSPA & Mobile WiMAX: Market

StatusHSPA and Mobile WiMAX are the most publicised technical solutions but how do theycompare in the marketplace?

HSPA and its variants are well ahead with 117 HSDPA operators in commercial service in 59countries. There are a further 81 country commitments, 80 networks planned or indeployments and 5 at trial stage. This compares to 250 trial Mobile WiMAX networks globally,but only two commercial networks in service. However, over the last year Mobile WiMAX hasbecome a market threat to HSPA technologies, whereas it has previously been just a technicalthreat. Juniper Research has identified 18 announcements of Mobile WiMAX trials to date in

2007, along with a further 12 announcements of contracts placed for commercial networks tobe built in the future.


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Mobile Broadband Subscriber ForecastsJuniper Researchs forecasts show the development of mobile broadband over the 2007 to 2012timeframe.

Junipers forecast is based on the numbers of SIM cards and so includes devices that are nottraditional phones such as laptops and converged devices such as Blackberries. On this basisthe global broadband base will be just over 1.2bn SIM card-carrying subscribers by 2012.

HSPA is forecast to be the dominant technology for mobile broadband with about 70% of totalsubscribers by 2012.

Figure 4: Global Broadband Subscriber Forecast (m) by Technology 2007-2012

Source: Juniper Research

However, based on its primary and secondary research programme, Juniper believes that severaldisruptive or wildcard factors could significantly increase the size of the market including theemergence of very low cost laptops, and adding broadband capability to a range of devices such

as portable music/MP3 players, cars, cameras, satellite navigation systems and games consoles.

Order the Full Report

Mobile Broadband Markets: WiMAX, HSPA, EV-DO &

Beyond 2007-2012

This whitepaper is taken from the first edition of Juniper Researchs report entitled MobileBroadband Markets: WiMAX, HSPA, EV-DO & Beyond 2007-2012.


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In the full report, Juniper Research analyses the current status and future development of mobilebroadband based on interviews, industry examples and insight from representatives of some ofthe leading organisations in the growing mobile broadband market.

As well as extensive qualitative analysis, this report provides five-year forecasts, across eight

regions of the world. Forecasts are broken down into mobile broadband subscriber numbers,and also mobile broadband service revenues. Regional subscriber numbers are shown bytechnology: EV-DO, HSPA, Mobile WiMAX, 3GLTE and UMB.

For more details on this report visit the website www.juniperresearch.com or phone+44 (0)1256 830002.

Juniper Research LimitedJuniper Research specialises in providing high quality analytical research reports and consultancyservices to the telecoms industry. We have particular expertise in the mobile, wireless,broadband and IP-convergence sectors. Juniper is independent, unbiased, and able to draw fromexperienced senior managers with proven track records.

About the Author

Howard Wilcox is an Analyst with Juniper Research. He has over twenty five yearsexperience in the Telecommunications sector. Howard has extensive experience of analysingmarkets, vendors and service providers in the telecoms networks marketplace. He waspreviously Director of Industry Intelligence at Marconi, where he has spent most of his career ina variety of analytical roles.

Howard began his career at Ferranti where he established a win/loss system. From 1997 to2004 he represented UK Telecoms Industry body Intellect as a Member of European ITObservatory (EITO) Task Force. Howard has a BA in Business Administration with Frenchfrom Loughborough University.

Publication Details

Publication date: August 2007

For more information, please contact:

Michele Ince, General Manager [email protected]

Juniper Research Limited, Wakeford Farm Business Park, Pamber End Tadley, Basingstoke,Hampshire RG26 5QN England

Tel: +44 (0)1256 830002/889555 Fax: +44 (0) 8707 622426

Further whitepapers can be downloaded at http://www.juniperresearch.com

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