Huawei Technologies

2005.10

MAIN TOPIC

2G BTS draws on 3G technologies

2G BTS draws on
3G technologies
T

wo highlights in the rich

development of the 3G networks
are advanced technologies and
high efficiency. However, the
GSM network is the most widely applied
network in the world. After a decade of
development, the GSM network is still
favored and constantly evolves due to the
maturity of technical applications and
business models.
Reviewing the 2G developments
from 3G commercial applications, people
may ask: Is it possible to apply the highefficiency and energy-saving technologies
of the 3G systems to the 2G systems? Can
we smoothly evolve the 2G systems to
the 3G systems? Huaweis new-generation
EnerG GSM solution will offer you the
best answer.

Multi-carrier technology
for 2G
In the traditional GSM base transceiver
station (BTS), a radio frequency unit
(RFU) can only process one carrier signal,
therefore, a 12-TRX macro BTS needs 12
RFUs. Each BTS is cumbersome when
equipped with the necessary combiners
and duplexers. With technical innovations,
each RFU can now process two radio
frequency (RF) signals, and a 12-TRX
19 FEB 2008 . ISSUE 38

macro BTS needs only 6 dual transceiver

units (DTRUs) and less combiners and
duplexers. Compared with the BTS with
single-TRXs RFU, the new-generation
BTS is smaller, leaner, and offers better
radio performance.
Currently, Huawei is the only vendor
who has developed a QTRU - a type of
RFU based on multi-carrier technology.
Each QTRU supports the processing of six
RF signals. Digital intermediate frequency
(IF) combining technology is also used. Six
RF signals are combined in the QTRU,
and no independent combiner is required.
Power of the six RF signals can be shared
to improve radio performance. The QTRU
based on the multi-carrier technology is
the same size as a DTRU, but has three
times the capacity of the DTRU.
Multi-carrier technology can bring
noteworthy improvements to 2G
networks. Take Huaweis indoor macro
BTS3012 for example, since the QTRU
a n d D T RU a r e t h e s a m e s i z e , t h e
BTS3012 is able to support both the
QTRU and DTRU at the same time. The
DTRU-based BTS3012 can support up
to 12 TRXs and needs combiners. The
QTRU-based BTS3012 can support up to
36 TRXs without combiners. To construct
a S12/12/12 site, an operator needs three
DTRU-based BTS3012s or only one
QTRU-based BTS3012 with no combiner.

By Pang Yingwen

High efficiency 3G PA
technology for 2G
To deploy a wireless network with
overall coverage and good performance,
thousands of BTSs may be needed. As a
result, the costs of BTSs account for the
biggest proportion of overall network
construction costs. In each BTS that
works as a radio transceiver, the RF power
amplifier (PA) is the most important
component. The linear PA accounts
for about 1/3 of the total cost of each
BTS, and the RF PA is a main power
consumption unit of BTS.
To cut BTS costs, an effective method
is to decrease the costs of the RF PA unit
for each BTS. This requires the use of a
PA that has wide bandwidth, high linear
features, and increased efficiency.
The DPD + Doherty high-efficiency
digital PA technology does quite well. The
digital pre-distortion (DPD) technology
enables signal pre-distortion. A predistorter is cascaded over a PA. Because the
non-linear distortions enabled by the predistorter are equivalent to those enabled
by the PA in quantity but are opposite in
function, thus high linear PA output can
be achieved.
The Doherty PA technology has two
main parts: the carrier (C) amplifier and

Huawei Technologies

the peak (P) amplifier. The carrier PA works constantly,

while the peak PA works only at the preset peak. The
carrier PA works in a nearly saturated state to get higher
efficiency, and it amplifies most signals. The peak PA works
only at the peak value, and does not consume power most
of the time. The linear area with combined output and
input features has been greatly expanded from the linear
area of a single amplifier, which enables high efficiency
when signals are in the linear area.
Huaweis new-generation GSM RF PA improves
efficiency up to 50% while saving over 49% in power
consumption when compared with a traditional BTS.
This is accomplished by coupling power amplification
technology with some innovative PA power consumption
management technologies like intelligent shut-off of PA
power and dynamic adjustment of PA voltage.
If existing sites are replaced by Huaweis newgeneration BTSs that adopt the 3G high-efficiency PA
and the multi-carrier technology, a medium-sized city
with 2,000 sites can save 33.29 million kilowatts (KW)
of electricity each year. The environment is spared 22,000
tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the operator
saves money too.

Distributed architecture for

2G BTS
To reduce 3G network construction costs, Huawei
pioneered in launching 3G Node Bs based on the
distributed architecture in 2005. In the distributed
architecture, the baseband unit (BBU) and the remote
radio unit (RRU) are separated and connected through the
standard common public radio interface (CPRI).
The distributed architecture divides the traditional
Node Bs into two small modules, BBU and RRU. This
facilitates site acquisition, simplifies installation, and
drastically cuts 3G network construction costs. Based
on its mature design and application experience in 3G
distributed Node Bs, Huawei launched the DBS3036, a
GSM distributed BTS with large capacity, high integrity
and high reliability.
By applying advanced 3G RF technologies like multi-

FEB 2008 . ISSUE 38

20

MAIN TOPIC

2G BTS draws on 3G technologies

carrier technology and the high-efficiency digital PA to

the 2G system, Huawei will soon launch the RRU3036
for new-generation 2G distributed BTSs. Each
RRU3036 can support up to 6 carriers. For an S6/6/6
site, only three RRU3036 modules are needed. In the
future, big, bulky BTSs with high power consumption
will be phased out in 2G network construction.

End-to-end IP technologies
The GSM and the WCDMA belong to the same
standard system and support smooth evolution. The
IP radio access network (RAN) technology used in 3G
systems has many similarities to the BSS IP technology
used in 2G systems. The IP technologies adopted in 3G
systems can all be used in 2G systems and guarantee the
sustainable development of 2G systems.
In product platform development, the BSC and
BTS of the GSM system are both based on an All-IP
platform. This dramatically improves the integration
of 2G products, decreases power consumption and
maintenance costs, and enables smooth evolution to 3G
systems. In the past, 5 to10 cabinets were needed for a
BSC that supports 2,000 TRXs, including the packet
control unit (PCU) and transcoder (TC). Now only
one cabinet is required with Huaweis new-generation
BSC6000 designed with the IP platform technology. The
BSC6000 and the radio network controller (RNC) are
both based on the PARC IP platform. The BSC6000 can
be upgraded to a RNC by a simple software upgrade and
replacement of a few interface boards.
In networking, Huaweis new-generation distributed
BTS provides IP interfaces for 2G networks. The
Gb interface, Abis interface and A interface are all
designed to support IP connection directly. As a result,
the structure of the 2G network is simplified, the
transmission expenses in 2G networking are curtailed,
and increased requirements for digital services can
be accommodated. For example, the 3G network of
EMOBILE in Japan has saved up to 95% lease expenses
on transmission devices each year after adopting
Huaweis IP RAN solution.
When 3G IP technologies are used in 2G product
development and IP networking, the reliability and
efficiency of 2G networks can be greatly improved.
Through IP networking, such functions as the BSC
pool or the MSC pool can be conveniently enabled.
If a BSC or MSC in the network fails in transmission,
another BSC or MSC can take up the services and
system services will not be interrupted.
Huawei has diversified and upgraded mobile
applications by introducing advanced 3G technologies
to the 2G system. By adopting the same technologies,
2G and 3G products will naturally evolve from technical
convergence to product convergence.
21 FEB 2008 . ISSUE 38

Link

Huaweis next
genaration GSM
distributed BTS
By Yin Dongming & Xu Yan
3G distributed Node Bs are maturing and GSM
operators have begun to cooperate with telecom vendors to
explore the possibilities of applying distributed BTSs in the
GSM field. However, many products are simple imitations
of 3G distributed Node Bs in appearance, installation
features and transmission media. The fact is that GSM
networks are significantly different from universal mobile
telecommunications system (UMTS) networks, especially
in capacity, evolution and environmental impact.

Not mere imitations

GSM distributed BTSs are not mere imitations
of the 3G models, but are definitely inheritance and
improvement based on the original. Hardware sharing the
same platform represents the idea of modular design and
product maturity. As the smallest and lightest BTS in the
industry, Huaweis next-generation GSM distributed BTS
is based on the latest platform that is applicable to UMTS
networks and even long-term evolution (LTE) networks.
The next-generation GSM distributed BTSs baseband
unit (BBU) inherits high integrity from the 3G distributed
Node Bs. Its common public radio interface (CPRI) and
board structure are of mature designs, while the remote
radio unit (RRU) has been greatly improved. By adopting
the natural heat dissipation mode and compact size, the
RRU is of higher stability, larger capacity, and greater
output power. The distributed BTS maturity has been
shined based on in-depth commercial test data, and the
BTS features optimized radio frequency (RF) components,
heat dissipation, and antenna system.
A basic requirement for GSM networks is the
assurance of smooth evolution to future networks.
Huaweis next-generation GSM distributed BTS enables
GSM and UMTS systems to share the same platform,
fully supporting coexistence of 2G and 3G networks
and smooth evolution to future networks. The product
also adopts the IP platform design mode and uses IP

Huawei Technologies

technologies from the core to interfaces.

Based on extensive experience in the IP
field, Huawei has pioneered in using
the IP clock server to transfer clocks
on IP networks and realized IP mobile
networking from network elements to the
overall network architecture.

Full display of distributed

features
Differing from Node Bs in 3G
networks, GSM BTSs require larger
c a p a c i t y. A t p r e s e n t , m a n y G S M
distributed BTSs in the industry support
only two carriers due to technical
limitations, which seriously limits coverage
scenarios. These BTSs can only be used
as components for macro BTSs or for
small-capacity indoor coverage. To utilize
distributed features, the next-generation
GSM distributed BTSs must support
large-capacity networking and provide
the capabilities of macro BTSs in terms of
coverage and expansion.
Huaweis next-generation distributed
BTS stands out from all the GSM
distributed BTSs that can be installed
on towers for its support of S4/4/4
configuration and S12/12/12 after
upgrades. The application performance
with 30W cabinet-top output power is
equivalent to that of a macro BTS.
By using Huaweis next-generation GSM
BTS, operators can have up to 36 carriers in
baseband processing, and can add two BBUs
to expand each single BTS to support 12
cells and 72 carriers. This can greatly enrich
the application scenarios of GSM distributed
BTSs and handle the requirements of heavytraffic users and highly-integrated services,
whether indoors or outdoors. In each sector,
a single RRU of Huaweis next-generation
GSM distributed BTS can support 4 carriers,
and the capacity can be further expanded
through cascading. Since the unit supports
transmit diversity and 4-antenna receive
diversity, the receive sensitivity can be up
to -112.5 dBm at normal temperature.
Operators can stop worrying about degraded

quality of service (QoS) and wont need to

construct more sites or plan more networks,
while enjoying the features of distributed
BTSs.
With the purposes of reducing
energy consumption, noise pollution,
electromagnetic radiation and interference,
Huawei has transplanted a green idea
into the design of its next-generation
GSM distributed BTS. By adopting digital
power amplifier and intelligent power
control technologies, Huaweis nextgeneration GSM distributed BTS achieves
a power amplification efficiency of more
than 40%. As a result, power consumption
is further decreased while the same output
power is maintained.

Experience promises a
bright future
Engineering experience from 3G
networks is greatly helpful in deploying
GSM distributed BTSs. With its 3G
distributed Node Bs, Huawei helped
Vodafone Spain migrate the networks in
Madrid and Barcelona. By installing RRUs
on towers to improve coverage, Vodafone
Spain greatly improved its voice quality
and high-speed packet access (HSPA) data
throughput.
In Hong Kong, where features the
most complicated wireless environment
and great difficulty in site acquisition,

Huawei used the ray-tracing model and

3G distributed Node Bs to build a highquality network, while saving space and
rental costs.
In Singapore, Huawei used distributed
Node Bs to realize the coverage of two
different scenarios in downtown areas and
residential areas. By using fiber extensions
and reading directly the original network
configuration data, Huawei managed to
speed up the network optimization with
a record-setting delivery of 100 sites per
week.
In Japan, Huawei tailored its
distributed Node Bs to meet the operators
rigorous requirements for earthquake
resistance, moisture resistance, natural heat
dissipation, and reliability, and succeeded
in constructing the fastest mobile
broadband network nationwide with more
than 70% coverage.
Although the mature application of
3G distributed Node Bs have significantly
influenced the GSM network deployment,
operators are still looking forward to a
next-generation distributed BTS solution
tailored for GSM networks, rather than
equipment that enables simple separation
in physical architecture. The nextgeneration GSM distributed BTS can
truly help operators build high efficiency,
high quality and quickly operable GSM
networks that provide competitive services
and products.

FEB 2008 . ISSUE 38

22