2004

HSDPA-enabled picocell base stations to play major role in extending 3G services indoors, predicts PA Consulting Group - paper to be given at IBC's UMTS Congress, London - 05 October 2004

Alan Carr from PA Consulting Group will explain why HSDPA-enabled picocell base stations will play a major role in extending 3G services to indoor users in a paper to be given (10.05am) on Thursday, 21 October at IBC’s UMTS Congress 2004 (day two of  Mobile Infratech) at the London Olympia.

The main added value in a UMTS network is its ability to provide advanced high-data-rate services to end-users. This facility will be extended when the new HSDPA system is added to networks. HSDPA will substantially enhance the performance of the downlink path from base station to mobile, improving the user experience for services ranging from video downloads to Web-style applications.

However, some 70% of users will be located indoors when they want to use these higher rate services and PA’s analysis shows it will be impossible to provide sufficient user capacity and coverage using conventional outdoor base station cell sites. An effective solution is to deploy picocells inside buildings.

There are various ways to achieve this, including using the so-called distributed antenna systems connected to conventional base station equipment. Such systems can be expensive in terms of both capital investment and installation costs and PA believes that HSDPA-enabled picocell base stations are less expensive and more flexible.

The paper will explain why picocell base stations are key to ensuring the success of 3G networks in indoor application and will consider: 

• why picocells are needed inside buildings
• cost comparisons of different Pico cell provision
• the impact of IP-oriented standards such as WiMAX
• the role of HSDPA-enabled UMTS picocell base stations and the form such base stations can take.

Alan Carr has been working on 3G infrastructure solutions since the mid 90s. Since joining PA in 2000 he has pioneered the development of fully software-defined 3G base stations,in both pico and micro cell form, for infrastructure manufacturers and network operators worldwide. 

PA Consulting Group’s wireless technology expertise includes network and system design and evaluation, radio network dimensioning and planning, cost modeling, technology comparisons, product benchmarking and due diligence, as well as service and product development for wireless operators and equipment suppliers.

IBC’s UMTS Congress 2004, part of Mobile Infratech, 20/21 October, London Olympia.
  http://www.ibctelecoms.com/infratech/default.asp?url=umts

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For more information, please contact:

John O'Neill PA Consulting Group Cambridge Technology Centre Melbourn Royston, HERTS SG8 6DP United Kingdom Tel: +44 1763 267 133 Fax: +44 1763 267135 E-mail: john.o'neill@paconsulting.com

Notes to editors

About PA

PA Consulting Group is a leading management, systems and technology consulting firm. Operating worldwide in more than 35 countries, PA draws on the knowledge and experience of 3,000 people, whose skills span the initial generation of ideas, insights and solutions all the way through to detailed implementation.

PA focuses on creating benefits for clients rather than merely proposing them. Our work is founded on powerful insights into our clients' issues, and in the private sector in particular, on the need to deliver superior shareholder returns. We help accelerate business growth by developing innovative products for our clients and by the application of emerging technology. We deliver major transformation programmes, mobilize human resources, and manage complex IT and technically-challenging programmes.

PA's results-focused approach is founded on a unique commitment to excellence, value and independence:

• Excellence. We are committed to unremitting excellence and quality in every aspect of our work:  in our relationships with our clients, in the client assignments we deliver, and in the people we recruit and develop, who enjoy exciting and rewarding careers at PA.
• Value. PA's consultants bring an intense focus on delivering value through deep industry insight, the development and application of technology, and our culture of respect, collaboration and flexibility in working with clients.
• Independence.  PA is independent of outsourcing, software, hardware and audit providers. We are the pre-eminent client-side advisor on IT and outsourcing projects, and deliver, in partnership with our clients, business solutions tailored to our clients' needs, rather than solutions pre-determined by commercial alliances. As an employee-owned company, we are answerable to our clients and to ourselves only.

www.paconsulting.com

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