US : Andrew Corporation has introduced high-speed packet access (HSPA) capabilities to its OneBase Micro Node B ( above ) and Pico Node B ( below )products for wireless network coverage and capacity enhancement, enabling a more than 20-fold increase in data transfer rates.

The addition of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), available now, and high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), expected later this year, to these products enables wireless network operators and original equipment manufacturers to expand the capacity of networks to accommodate heavier data traffic by traditional users and those applying new bandwidth-hungry interactive services.

“The expansion of the mobile workforce, as well as new interactive services and mobile video applications, threaten to strain wireless networks worldwide,” said Mickey Miller, group president, Wireless Network Solutions Segment, Andrew Corporation. “These enhanced 3G capabilities to our products helps our customers better manage this rising tide of traffic, while enabling network service levels to improve.”

The addition of HSPA capabilities coincides with the volume shipping and deployment of Andrew’s Micro and Pico Node products into wireless networks around the world. These coverage and capacity enhancement products are in increasing demand as operators and their OEM suppliers address their mobile users’ requirements for ubiquitous and high bandwidth wireless voice and data services.

“As deployments supporting HSDPA and HSUPA take hold, we expect continued growth in use of our Pico Node and Micro Node products to support data hotspots where more and more bandwidth is required,” said Miller. “These enhancements will help our customers avoid capacity issues on the macro network, while addressing the ever-increasing requirements for wireless services that support content-rich applications.”

HSDPA speeds data communications from the Node B product to the user to as much as 14.4 megabits per second from 384 kilobits per second. The Micro and Pico Nodes that will utilize the HSDPA/HSUPA software are specialized wireless network base stations for coverage and capacity solutions using the UMTS 3G air interface. The Nodes are deployed in high usage areas and permit wireless carriers to maintain high levels of service with less cost than adding a traditional base station. They provide carriers a solid return on investment, while helping to avoid traffic bottlenecks on the larger network.

Andrew Micro Node B is a higher capacity multi-carrier product that can be deployed to fill gaps or add capacity in outdoor coverage, as well as provide indoor coverage from positions outside of buildings or through in-building distribution systems. Micro Nodes have the capability to provide coverage for several floors of a building simultaneously and can support approximately 1300 users (75 mErlang/user).

Andrew Pico Node B, the only UMTS 3G pico cell product available today, is regularly deployed as an in-building solution where a number of higher volume voice and data users may congregate. Examples include offices, coffee shops and airport waiting lounges. Pico Nodes, which typically support approximately 20-200 users, have the flexibility to provide coverage solutions by themselves, or as drivers for larger distributed antenna systems.