Gaining Competitive Advantages with CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev.B

Before deploying the LTE network, CDMA operators face the competitive pressure from the HSPA networks over their EV-DO networks. At present, their EV-DO networks that have been deployed have two versions: EV-DO Rev.0 and EV-DO Rev.A, and their data rates lag behind that of the HSPA networks.

Considering the users’ growing demands, the immaturity of LTE deployment, and the challenge from HSPA, it is a better choice for CDMA operators to deploy the high-speed EV-DO Rev.B.

Advantages of EV-DO Rev.B over EV-DO Rev.A
EV-DO Rev.B has many advantages over EV-DO Rev.A in terms of peak data rate, spectral efficiency, broadband utilization and battery performance.

Higher peak data rate: EV-DO Rev.B offers a bandwidth of 4.9Mbps in a single 1.25MHz carrier; its peak data rate increases linearly with the number of carriers.

Higher spectral efficiency: EV-DO Rev.B supports 27 packet sizes, while EV-DO Rev.A supports 14 packet sizes; it supports HARQ, with each size of packet being transferred in 1 slot, or 2 slots or 4 slots; it supports multi-carrier operation, enabling the optimized real-time data transfer over multiple carriers and the adjustment of service transfer according to the traffic load of multiple carriers.

Flexible bandwidth utilization: EV-DO Rev.B uses the multi-carrier operation to handle the outburst of high-speed data when the system is in light load state; it enables effective dynamic load balancing among multiple carriers; it offers higher performance and supports more concurrent applications.

Enhanced battery performance: EV-DO Rev.B allows the Access Terminal (AT) to disable power amplifier and the transmit/receive gain function when there is no data being transferred or received.

Upgrade from EV-DO Rev.A to EV-DO Rev.B
Upgrading EV-DO Rev.A to EV-DO Rev.B involves two phases: at the first phase, only BSS software is upgraded to support EV-DO Rev.B Phase 1, and the EV-DO multi-carrier terminals are introduced; at the second phase, BSS software is upgraded, new 6850 channel boards are added to the BTS, and the EV-DO multi-carrier terminals are introduced. Table 1 lists the performance difference in the two phases of EV-DO Rev.B.

Through the Phase 1 upgrade, the network can smoothly and rapidly evolve into EV-DO Rev.B, which can deliver better services to users, help the operator rapidly expand its subscriber base, build its brand image and gain more revenue at lower cost. Besides, the operator can evaluate its business revenue models on the existing Phase 1 hardware, and makes better preparation for the deployment of EV-DO Rev.B Phase 2.

Upgrading CDMA2000 to EV-DO Rev.A and then to EV-DO Rev.B is much more cost-effective than the evolution from GSM to WCDMA and then to HSDPA. The CDMA2000 system can be upgraded to the EV-DO Rev.A system by adding the related EV-DO Rev.A channel boards, and then upgraded to the EV-DO Rev.B system through software upgrade. However, for the evolution from GSM to WCDMA, the radio part needs to be basically reconstructed except for the core network that can be reused. 

Comparison of Data Rate between EV-DO Rev.B and HSPA
At the first phase, the peak data rate of EV-DO Rev.B is higher than that of HSPA R5 and R6, but lower than 28.8Mbps of HSPA R7, as shown in Figure 1. Under the same bandwidth, the average data rate and total data throughput of EV-DO Rev.B are almost the same as those of HSPA.

 EV-DO Rev.B Deployment Policy
The EV-DO Rev.B technology that supports high carriers is deployed in the densely inhabited urban areas; the EV-DO Rev.B technology that supports low carriers is deployed in the sparsely-populated urban areas; the EV-DO Rev.A technology is deployed in suburbs. In this way, the smooth evolution of the EV-DO Rev.B technology can be achieved.

The deployment of EV-DO Rev.B through software upgrade helps operators maintain high Return on Investment (ROI). The seamless handoff between the EV-DO Rev.A area and the EV-DO Rev.B area guarantees network performance in the intersection area.

Benefits to Operators in Deploying EV-DO Rev.B
EV-DO Rev.B bundles multiple Rev.A carriers together via a software upgrade to offer higher capacity and spectrum efficiency. Its flexible bandwidth utilization allows the operators to deliver diversified services; its higher data rates boost the user experience and enhance the network’s brand image; its smooth upgrade enables the operators to deploy varieties of services at a faster pace and lower cost.

The large-scale deployment of LTE is expected to take place after 2011. Before the widespread commercial use of LTE, EV-DO Rev.B can meet the requirements of CDMA operators for a long time, because it improves network performance, enhances network brand image, and increases subscribe base. Moreover, EV-DO Rev.B is compatible with EV-DO Rev.A. The migration from EV-DO Rev.A to EV-DO Rev.B to LTE will be a smooth, orderly and cost-effective evolution route for the CDMA operators, satisfying their current and future development needs.

ZTE Takes the Lead in EV-DO Rev.B
ZTE put through the world’s first EV-DO Rev.B VoIP call on its CDMA2000 system on February 24, 2009, marking the first time in the industry that a CDMA vendor achieves an impressive 9.3Mbps download rate and 5.4Mbps upload rate. It is estimated that ZTE will roll out the commercial EV-DO Rev.B system in the third quarter of 2009.

Currently, ZTE is running the trial of the world’s first EV-DO Rev.B network in Morocco, and gets well prepared for commercial use of the network. Moreover, ZTE can provide the SDR-based EV-DO Rev.B series of base stations that support a smooth evolution to LTE and will greatly reduce the difficulty and cost of building LTE networks for operators in the future.

Being a pioneer of the CDMA industry, ZTE has always been devoted to technological innovation and leadership. The company is now well poised for the operators’ network upgrade, helping them gain competitive advantages in the market.