Dual-Cell HSDPA
Encyclopedia
Dual-Cell HSDPA is a wireless broadband standard based on HSPA
that is defined in 3GPP
UMTS release 8.
Dual Cell (DC-)HSDPA is the natural evolution of HSPA by means of carrier aggregation in the downlink. UMTS licenses are often issued as 10 or 15 MHz paired spectrum allocations. The basic idea of the multicarrier feature is to achieve better resource utilization and spectrum efficiency by means of joint resource allocation and load balancing across the downlink carriers.
An advanced HSPA network can theoretically support up to 28 Mbit/s and 42 Mbit/s with a single 5 MHz carrier for Rel7 (MIMO with 16QAM) and Rel8 (64-QAM + MIMO
), in good channel condition with low correlation between transmit antennas. An alternative method to double the data rates is to double the bandwidth, i.e. 10 MHz by using DC-HSDPA. Additionally, some diversity and joint scheduling gains can also be expected with improved QoS for end users in poor environment conditions where existing techniques such as MIMO spatial multiplexing cannot be used to increase data rates. In 3GPP a study item was completed in June 2008. The outcome can be found in a technical report . New HSDPA UE categories 21-24 have been introduced that support DC-HSDPA. DC-HSDPA can support up to 42Mbit/s, but unlike HSPA
, it does not need to rely on MIMO transmission.
From Release 9 onwards it will be possible to use DC-HSDPA in combination with MIMO used on both carrier. The support of MIMO in combination with DC-HSDPA will allow operators deploying Release 7 MIMO to benefit from the DC-HSDPA functionality as defined in Release 8. While in Release 8 DC-HSPDA can only operate on adjacent carriers, Release 9 allow that the paired cells can operate on two different frequency bands.
in Australia announced they had implemented the protocol in their live NextG network on 18 January 2010. On 15 February 2010 they announced that the upgrade had been completed to section of their network in capital cities and major regional centers. As of July 2010, two devices were available; a USB device manufactured by Sierra Wireless
, the AirCard 312U, and a portable WiFi hot spot device.
In August 2010, Telus
in Canada announced that they have completed tests and are working to deploy in the first quarter of 2011.
In October 2010, Vodafone
in Portugal announced a commercial offer of 43.2 Mbit/s download and 11.4 Mbit/s upload. The service is currently available in Lisbon
.
On Nov 18 2010, Bell Canada
announced it would begin doubling its network speeds to 42 Mbit/s beginning Nov 23 2010 using HSPA+ Dual Cell technology.
On December 3, 2010, E Mobile
in Japan announced the availability of 42 Mbit/s service based upon DC-HSDPA.
On March 10, 2011, SaskTel
announced that Dual-Cell HSPA+ will be available in Saskatoon and Regina by the summer. SaskTel also announced that the first device to take advantage of this new technology will be the Novatel Wireless MC547 Mobile Internet Stick.
On August 23, 2011, Telenor Hungary started Dual-Cell HSPA+ service in Budapest
and its surroundings.
In 2011, Viva Telecom Kuwait started started offering Dual-Cell HSPA+ to its customers.
High Speed Packet Access
High Speed Packet Access is an amalgamation of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access and High Speed Uplink Packet Access , that extends and improves the performance of existing WCDMA protocols...
that is defined in 3GPP
3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organizational Partners...
UMTS release 8.
Dual Cell (DC-)HSDPA is the natural evolution of HSPA by means of carrier aggregation in the downlink. UMTS licenses are often issued as 10 or 15 MHz paired spectrum allocations. The basic idea of the multicarrier feature is to achieve better resource utilization and spectrum efficiency by means of joint resource allocation and load balancing across the downlink carriers.
An advanced HSPA network can theoretically support up to 28 Mbit/s and 42 Mbit/s with a single 5 MHz carrier for Rel7 (MIMO with 16QAM) and Rel8 (64-QAM + MIMO
MIMO
In radio, multiple-input and multiple-output, or MIMO , is the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. It is one of several forms of smart antenna technology...
), in good channel condition with low correlation between transmit antennas. An alternative method to double the data rates is to double the bandwidth, i.e. 10 MHz by using DC-HSDPA. Additionally, some diversity and joint scheduling gains can also be expected with improved QoS for end users in poor environment conditions where existing techniques such as MIMO spatial multiplexing cannot be used to increase data rates. In 3GPP a study item was completed in June 2008. The outcome can be found in a technical report . New HSDPA UE categories 21-24 have been introduced that support DC-HSDPA. DC-HSDPA can support up to 42Mbit/s, but unlike HSPA
High Speed Packet Access
High Speed Packet Access is an amalgamation of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access and High Speed Uplink Packet Access , that extends and improves the performance of existing WCDMA protocols...
, it does not need to rely on MIMO transmission.
From Release 9 onwards it will be possible to use DC-HSDPA in combination with MIMO used on both carrier. The support of MIMO in combination with DC-HSDPA will allow operators deploying Release 7 MIMO to benefit from the DC-HSDPA functionality as defined in Release 8. While in Release 8 DC-HSPDA can only operate on adjacent carriers, Release 9 allow that the paired cells can operate on two different frequency bands.
Deployments
The specification was completed in December 2008. TelstraTelstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
in Australia announced they had implemented the protocol in their live NextG network on 18 January 2010. On 15 February 2010 they announced that the upgrade had been completed to section of their network in capital cities and major regional centers. As of July 2010, two devices were available; a USB device manufactured by Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless is a wireless communications equipment designer and manufacturer, founded in 1993 and currently headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada....
, the AirCard 312U, and a portable WiFi hot spot device.
In August 2010, Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
in Canada announced that they have completed tests and are working to deploy in the first quarter of 2011.
In October 2010, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
in Portugal announced a commercial offer of 43.2 Mbit/s download and 11.4 Mbit/s upload. The service is currently available in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
.
On Nov 18 2010, Bell Canada
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
announced it would begin doubling its network speeds to 42 Mbit/s beginning Nov 23 2010 using HSPA+ Dual Cell technology.
On December 3, 2010, E Mobile
EMOBILE Limited
E Mobile is a cell phone operator in Japan offering 3G/HSPA data services. As they used to offer only data service, they were not widely known, but now after teaming up with NTT docomo to offer voice service, they are becoming more popular. Between March 2007 and March 2008 they expanded their...
in Japan announced the availability of 42 Mbit/s service based upon DC-HSDPA.
On March 10, 2011, SaskTel
SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications is a provincial Crown Corporation operating under the authority of the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Act. It is the only remaining Crown Corporation in the Canadian telecommunications industry....
announced that Dual-Cell HSPA+ will be available in Saskatoon and Regina by the summer. SaskTel also announced that the first device to take advantage of this new technology will be the Novatel Wireless MC547 Mobile Internet Stick.
On August 23, 2011, Telenor Hungary started Dual-Cell HSPA+ service in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and its surroundings.
In 2011, Viva Telecom Kuwait started started offering Dual-Cell HSPA+ to its customers.