Huawei SingleRAN
Encyclopedia
Huawei SingleRAN is a radio access network
(RAN) technology offered by Huawei
that allows mobile telecommunications operators
to support multiple mobile communications standards
and wireless telephone services on a single network. The technology incorporates a software-defined radio
device, and is designed with a consolidated set of hardware components, allowing operators to purchase, operate and maintain a single telecommunications network and set of equipment, while supporting multiple mobile communications standards.
to UMTS
network standards or use both simultaneously. That year Huawei also launched a commercial network based on SingleRAN that offered simultaneous CDMA
and LTE
modes.
, the largest mobile operator in Latin America, deployed Huawei’s SingleRAN GSM and UMTS system in Panama
, providing its customers with voice and data services from GSM and UMTS networks simultaneously. According to The Economist
, América Móvil found that the power consumption of its base stations was reduced by 50% and the volume of equipment it needed was reduced by 70%, following deployment of Huawei’s SingleRAN hardware.
In June 2009, Huawei’s SingleRAN technology was selected by TeliaSonera
for Europe’s first GSM/UMTS network with software-defined radio
(SDR) technology. TeliaSonera used Huawei SingleRAN to provide its subscribers in Finland
with both GSM and UMTS services using the same 900MHz spectrum. Later that year, in December 2009, TeliaSonera also used Huawei's SingleRAN LTE technology to launch the world’s first LTE commercial network in Norway
. That same month, Net4Mobility
selected Huawei SingleRAN GSM system to deploy their GSM/LTE 900MHz SDR network in Sweden
.
and LTE TDD
networks. That same month, Aero2 selected Huawei’s SingleRAN technology to deploy the world's first GSM and LTE 1800MHz SDR network in Poland
, which was due to become operational in early 2011.
In the first half of 2011, Huawei launched a SingleRAN system that supported both WiMAX and LTE. To date, Huawei has deployed over 130 SingleRAN networks worldwide for global network operators including Telefónica
, O2 Germany, China Unicom
, America Movil, Telenor
, Net4Mobility and TeliaSonera.
in Barcelona in February 2010. This product helps operators to accommodate large increases in mobile broadband traffic and reduce the per-bit costs of network operation. According to Huawei, SingleRAN@Broad is capable of increasing operators’ mobile broadband capacity to handle high traffic generated by smartphones and similar devices. In November 2010, Huawei released SingleRAN WiMAX/LTE TDD, which allows operators to migrate from WiMAX to LTE TDD networks by configuring the technology as either a WiMAX module, a LTE TDD module, or a dual-mode module.
In addition to the SingleRAN products for mobile telecommunications operators, Huawei also offers a SingleRAN product aimed at railway transport systems. SingleRAN GSM-R is a suite of communications technologies that are designed to improve telecommunications performance through long tunnels, over very long distances, and in high-traffic areas. Huawei began researching GSM-R technologies in 2001 and, according to Cellular News, is "one of only a few" GSM-R network providers in the world.
award in the category of “New Product Concepts” from the International Engineering Consortium (IEC) at the Broadband World Forum in Paris
. The following year, at the Broadband World Forum in October 2010, Huawei’s SingleRAN@Broad technology was awarded the 2010 InfoVision Award in the category of “Broadband Access Network Technologies and Services”. In May 2011, Huawei’s SingleRAN 5-Band 3-Mode 1-Cabinet technology (BTS 3900L) won the “Best LTE Network Elements” award at the LTE World Summit. In June 2011, Huawei won a 2011 CDMA Development Group (CDG) Industry Achievement Award for its SingleRAN CDMA/LTE technology in the category of “Innovation in Network Technology and Mobile Applications.”
Radio access network
A radio access network is part of a mobile Telecommunication system. It implements a radio access technology. Conceptually, it resides between a device such as a Mobile phone, a computer, or any remotely controlled machine and provides connection with its core network...
(RAN) technology offered by Huawei
Huawei
Huawei is a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China...
that allows mobile telecommunications operators
Mobile network operator
A mobile network operator , also known as mobile phone operator , carrier service provider , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, or cellular company, or mobile network carrier is a telephone company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers.One essential...
to support multiple mobile communications standards
Comparison of mobile phone standards
-Issues:Global System for Mobile Communications and IS-95 were the two most prevalent 2G mobile communication technologies in 2007...
and wireless telephone services on a single network. The technology incorporates a software-defined radio
Software-defined radio
A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices...
device, and is designed with a consolidated set of hardware components, allowing operators to purchase, operate and maintain a single telecommunications network and set of equipment, while supporting multiple mobile communications standards.
Development and deployment
Huawei began to develop its SingleRAN technology in order to address network operators' demand for improved cost efficiency in managing telecommunications network sites, spectrum, pipeline and staff. In 2008, the company introduced the industry’s first commercial SingleRAN product, which allowed mobile operators to switch from GSMGlobal System for Mobile Communications
GSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
to UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third generation mobile cellular technology for networks based on the GSM standard. Developed by the 3GPP , UMTS is a component of the International Telecommunications Union IMT-2000 standard set and compares with the CDMA2000 standard set for...
network standards or use both simultaneously. That year Huawei also launched a commercial network based on SingleRAN that offered simultaneous CDMA
IS-95
Interim Standard 95 is the first CDMA-based digital cellular standard by Qualcomm. The brand name for IS-95 is cdmaOne. IS-95 is also known as TIA-EIA-95....
and LTE
3GPP Long Term Evolution
3GPP Long Term Evolution, usually referred to as LTE, is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques...
modes.
Early deployment
In May 2009, América MóvilAmérica Móvil
América Móvil is a Mexican telecommunication company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the fourth largest mobile network operator in terms of equity subscribers, one of the largest corporations in Latin America, and the world. America Movil is a Fortune 500 company...
, the largest mobile operator in Latin America, deployed Huawei’s SingleRAN GSM and UMTS system in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, providing its customers with voice and data services from GSM and UMTS networks simultaneously. According to The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, América Móvil found that the power consumption of its base stations was reduced by 50% and the volume of equipment it needed was reduced by 70%, following deployment of Huawei’s SingleRAN hardware.
In June 2009, Huawei’s SingleRAN technology was selected by TeliaSonera
TeliaSonera
TeliaSonera AB is the dominant telephone company and mobile network operator in Sweden and Finland. The company has operations in other countries in Northern, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Spain, with a total of 150 million mobile customers...
for Europe’s first GSM/UMTS network with software-defined radio
Software-defined radio
A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices...
(SDR) technology. TeliaSonera used Huawei SingleRAN to provide its subscribers in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
with both GSM and UMTS services using the same 900MHz spectrum. Later that year, in December 2009, TeliaSonera also used Huawei's SingleRAN LTE technology to launch the world’s first LTE commercial network in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. That same month, Net4Mobility
Net4Mobility
Net4Mobility is a joint venture between Telenor Sweden and Tele2 Sweden. The company’s main goal is to build, own and operate a state of the art LTE Network and Transmission Network in Sweden...
selected Huawei SingleRAN GSM system to deploy their GSM/LTE 900MHz SDR network in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Recent developments
In March 2010, Huawei achieved what it stated is a world-record 1.2Gbps download speed on a demo network built around Huawei’s prototype SingleRAN LTE-Advanced device. In November that year, the company released a new SingleRAN technology, enabling operators to migrate between WiMAXWiMAX
WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
and LTE TDD
Time-Division Long-Term Evolution
Time-Division Long-Term Evolution , also referred to as Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex , is China's home-grown 4-G mobile-telecommunications technology and standard co-developed, since late 2007, by Datang Telecom, China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE, Nokia Siemens Networks, Alcatel Shanghai Bell,...
networks. That same month, Aero2 selected Huawei’s SingleRAN technology to deploy the world's first GSM and LTE 1800MHz SDR network in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, which was due to become operational in early 2011.
In the first half of 2011, Huawei launched a SingleRAN system that supported both WiMAX and LTE. To date, Huawei has deployed over 130 SingleRAN networks worldwide for global network operators including Telefónica
Telefónica
Telefónica, S.A. is a Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider in Europe and Latin America. Operating globally, it is the third largest provider in the world...
, O2 Germany, China Unicom
China Unicom
China Unicom or China United Netcom Ltd , is a Chinese state-owned telecommunications operator in the People's Republic of China.-History:...
, America Movil, Telenor
Telenor
Telenor Group is the incumbent telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu, close to Oslo. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand...
, Net4Mobility and TeliaSonera.
Products
Huawei has developed and provides four SingleRAN products for mobile network operators. According to Huawei, SingleRAN GSM is designed for mobile operators using GSM networks, allowing them to simultaneously offer GSM with UMTS or LTE. The product also aims to prepare operators for future evolution of technology, including moving to mobile broadband networks. Huawei’s SingleRAN LTE allows mobile service operators to migrate to LTE networks, and also continue to offer GSM, EDGE, UMTS or HSPA. The technology provides download speeds of up to 100Mbps. The SingleRAN@Broad system was launched by Huawei at the Mobile World CongressMobile World Congress
The GSMA Mobile World Congress is the combination of the world's largest exhibition for the mobile industry and a conference featuring prominent Chief Executives representing mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors and content owners from across the world...
in Barcelona in February 2010. This product helps operators to accommodate large increases in mobile broadband traffic and reduce the per-bit costs of network operation. According to Huawei, SingleRAN@Broad is capable of increasing operators’ mobile broadband capacity to handle high traffic generated by smartphones and similar devices. In November 2010, Huawei released SingleRAN WiMAX/LTE TDD, which allows operators to migrate from WiMAX to LTE TDD networks by configuring the technology as either a WiMAX module, a LTE TDD module, or a dual-mode module.
In addition to the SingleRAN products for mobile telecommunications operators, Huawei also offers a SingleRAN product aimed at railway transport systems. SingleRAN GSM-R is a suite of communications technologies that are designed to improve telecommunications performance through long tunnels, over very long distances, and in high-traffic areas. Huawei began researching GSM-R technologies in 2001 and, according to Cellular News, is "one of only a few" GSM-R network providers in the world.
Awards
In September 2009, Huawei’s SingleRAN Dual-Mode Remote Radio Unit 3808 won an InfoVisionInfovision
InfoVision is an annual global business and academic conference in India that brings together the knowledge and information society stakeholders for focussed discussions on topics of interest to this community. Organized in the form of sessions, each session has internationally known thought...
award in the category of “New Product Concepts” from the International Engineering Consortium (IEC) at the Broadband World Forum in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The following year, at the Broadband World Forum in October 2010, Huawei’s SingleRAN@Broad technology was awarded the 2010 InfoVision Award in the category of “Broadband Access Network Technologies and Services”. In May 2011, Huawei’s SingleRAN 5-Band 3-Mode 1-Cabinet technology (BTS 3900L) won the “Best LTE Network Elements” award at the LTE World Summit. In June 2011, Huawei won a 2011 CDMA Development Group (CDG) Industry Achievement Award for its SingleRAN CDMA/LTE technology in the category of “Innovation in Network Technology and Mobile Applications.”