Huawei Announces UMTS+ to Help Operators Achieve Mobile Broadband for Everyone Anytime Anywhere

[Shenzhen, China, July 1, 2016] At the 2016 Huawei User Group Meeting, Huawei and leading operators from around the world came together in the Paving the Way to the Best MBB forum to discuss how to build ubiquitous mobile broadband networks in developing MBB countries and regions.

Dr. Margaret Hu, President of Huawei Wireless Network Marketing Dept. gave a speech at HUGM 2016

As pointed out by Dr. Margaret Hu, President of Huawei Wireless Network Marketing Dept., mobile broadband (MBB) is now registering rapid growth. It is estimated that by 2020, there will another 1 billion people across the globe to have access to mobile networks, and there will be a further 3 billion people with access to mobile broadband networks. However, we are seeing unbalanced MBB development among different countries and regions.

For slow developing markets in some countries and regions, MBB is still in its infancy, and mobile penetration is still at a low level. In such places, it is vital to create solutions that can both deliver a diversity of services for mobile users and help form user habits to encourage users to turn to MBB networks.

For fast developing markets, the increasing number of MBB users is fueling the rapid increase in data service demands. According Huawei's analysis of global typical networks, as much as 40% of cells have congestion problems and over 80% of data traffic is suppressed, seriously compromising user experience. For those markets, it is essential to find solutions to maximize the potential of networks and release the suppressed data traffic.

At the same time, operators are also confronted with challenges to grow a high-value subscriber base by providing quality user experience and rich data services. A bigger subscriber base gives operators more room to leverage data services to drive the growth of data traffic service revenues.

UMTS networks now enjoy the biggest mobile broadband coverage around the world. In developing MBB markets, more than 80% of data services are carried over UMTS networks. By 2020, UMTS networks are expected to be available to 90% of the global population. In this context, operators can have enormous opportunities to further develop their UMTS networks.

Huawei recently launched "UMTS+" solution to help operators address the challenges of spectral shortage and mounting difficulties in new site acquisition. This solution, independent of end user terminal capability, enables operators to build ubiquitous and cost-effective MBB networks, helping mobile users enjoy a digital lifestyle through "User+", "Spectrum+", "Site+", and "Experience+".

"User+" helps operators to accelerate user migration from 2G to MBB networks, enabling more subscribers to enjoy MBB services.

"Spectrum+" increases spectrum efficiency significantly. With innovative narrowband and wideband interference suppression techniques, operators can deploy both GSM and UMTS networks with a minimum of 5MHz spectrum. The multi-sector solution is offered to maximize the per-site potential. For example, the tiered multi-sector solution supports both horizontal and vertical cell splitting, which allows three sectors on a site (typically configured on previous networks) to be split into as many as 18 sectors. This way, the site can provide 3.5 times more capacity than before.

"Site+" efficiently increases site density. The agile site deployment solution enables operators to easily deploy sites on poles or underground without the hassle of site acquisition.

"Experience+" enables mobile users to enjoy crystal clear high-definition (HD) voice call experience and HD (1080p) video experience anytime, anywhere.

Peng Honghua, President of Huawei UMTS Product Line, gave a speech at HUGM 2016

"The 'UMTS+' solution helps operators build the infrastructure for MBB 2020", Peng Honghua, President of Huawei UMTS Product Line said. "Aspiring to provide innovative solutions for operators to build quality wireless networks, Huawei will continue to work with global operators to build a better connected world where everyone can enjoy MBB anytime, anywhere."

At present, Huawei has deployed over 328 UMTS networks worldwide, providing services to over one-third of the world's population. Huawei is committed to building a fully connected world that links billions of users as well as billions of terminals. "UMTS+" will continue to help operators build cost-effective MBB infrastructure, expanding Internet access via MBB to more people.

MWC Shanghai 2016 takes place in Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), China, from June 29th to July 1st. Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at the main booth in Hall N1 A40 and “Innovation City” booth in Hall N3 A40.