Aeroflex Launches 3G HSUPA Development Test Capability

Europe : Aeroflex has today launched a High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) test capability. The new HSUPA test capability will initially be targeted at engineers with a development test requirement for the new feature. It will be followed later by a conformance test capability that will enable the formal certification of HSUPA devices.

The launch of the new HSUPA development test capability closely follows the recent announcement that Aeroflex’s HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) conformance test cases are providing the benchmark for the 3GPP’s formal HSDPA verification and approval process.

HSUPA (also referred to as Enhanced Uplink) is a 3GPP Release 6 feature that provides higher uplink data rates and is expected to be offered in parallel with HSDPA. This combination of HSUPA and HSDPA will offer the user bi-directional high-speed, low latency data links that are well suited for services such as VoIP. HSUPA, as with HSDPA, can be offered at a range of data rates to suit the capability of the mobile device as well as the prevailing radio conditions. HSUPA devices are grouped in the 3GPP standards in six categories, providing uplink data rates from 729.6Kbps to 5.76Mbps. Having a range of data rates provides network operators the opportunity to offer their customers different subscriptions, as with wired broadband services.

The new HSUPA development test suite runs on Aeroflex’s existing 3G mobile protocol test system - the 6401 AIME test system - which is already well established in the market and used by most of the world's top test labs and major mobile handset manufacturers. Due to the powerful system design of the 6401 AIME, existing users can upgrade their development test systems to include the new HSUPA capability without the need for additional hardware.

Commenting on the launch of the new HSUPA development test capability, Phil Medd, the Product Manager at Aeroflex responsible for UMTS test systems said: “The launch of our HSUPA development test capability not only confirms Aeroflex’s leadership in the mobile communications test industry but also further demonstrates our ability to respond quickly to the need for advanced test tools for rapidly emerging UMTS feature requirements.”

Availability of the new Aeroflex HSUPA development test capability is scheduled for Q4 2005.