ZTE Works on the First SDR-Based HSPA+ Network in the World

China's ZTE and Hong Kong's CSL New World Mobility (CSLNWM) announced plans to work together for the deployment of the first SDR (Software Defined Radio)-based HSPA+ network in Hong-Kong. This would be the world's first large-scale all-IP network that would feature such technology.

According to the two companies, ZTE will work on the upgrading of the operators' existing infrastructure with a 2G/3G all-IP SDR-based network. At the same time, ZTE and CSLNWM also announced that they managed to successfully complete the testing of the HSPA+ network capability in Hong-Kong. On the 15th of February 2009, the two managed to deliver HSPA+ (64QAM) services and also succeeded to provide download speeds of up to 21Mbps.

According to CSLNWM CEO Tarek Robbiati, Hong Kong is considered one of the most difficult locations for the roll-out of a network. “Many skyscrapers and the dense population create a complicated wireless environment. So the reconstruction of a converged all-IP 2G/3G network is a challenging task.”

At the same time, Mr. Robbiati also congratulated ZTE for the impressive performance of the system in QAM64 testing. He also stated that CSLNWM believed that the partnership between the two companies would allow the operator to make a big step forward into delivering superior services to all of its subscribers, while also allowing it to stay ahead of the competition.

ZTE CEO Mr. Yin Yimin also stated that the CSL network reconstruction project was a complicated one. More than 300 engineers and technical experts from ZTE formed a special team that worked with CSL. “We are very proud that together we are enabling the world's first SDR-based HSPA+ network,” he added.

CSLNWM, the largest mobile phone carrier in Hong Kong, is a subsidiary of Telstra. The company has a GSM/UMTS network deployed in the area and accounts for more than 2.5 million subscribers.