ZTE TD-LTE Evolution Solution

More and more mobile operators are converging on one technology, which they believe will offer themselves and customers the most benefits nowadays. It is Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE enables higher data rate, lower system latency, bigger system capacity, better coverage and more cost-effective operations.

There are two types LTE, which are TD-LTE and LTE FDD. Differrent working frequency is the main difference between the two kinds of LTE. As FDD frequency bands running out, TD-LTE solutions are concerned by almost all the main stream operators.

The three generations of wireless communicaitons technologies, 2G, 3G and LTE will coexist for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is a need to efficiently handle two or three technologies simultaneouly to protect the investment. The TD-LTE oriented evolutions are also concened in this article.

In order to handle multi-technology networks at the same time, ZTE proposes the Uni-RAN solution. The Uni-RAN solution is based on the SDR technology, which not only supports the coexistence of 3G (TD-SCDMA/UMTS/WiMAX) and LTE but also supports the coexistence of 2G (GSM/CDMA) and LTE.

SDR-based Uni-RAN solution implements unified 2G/3G/LTE hardware, network management and networking, converges several networks into a “single network”, saving investment and reducing O&M workload. ZTE Uni-RAN solution simplifies the network evolution and convergence.

SDR-based NodeB adopts the distributed BBU+RRU structure. BBU is the baseband unit, and RRU is the remote radio unit.

BBU adopts unified MicroTCA platform to achieve high integrity and processing capacity. BBU has a natural advantage to evolute to LTE, which fully protecting operators’ investment. Only baseband processing board software needs to be upgraded for the transform among different technologies.

BBU can connect with FDD mode RRU and TDD mode RRU. In case the multy-system network adopts the same duplex technology, the RRU may share same hardware as well. Otherwise, both FDD RRU and TDD RRU can conntect to the same BBU simultaneously

When TD-LTE is introduced to the existing TDD technology network such as PHS, TD-SCDMA, and WiMAX, they can co-exist without interference through the consistent uplink and downlink timeslot configuration.

TD-LTE is suggested to provide high-speed data service and voice service (which is weakly supported by WiMAX) for the hot spots firstly. Later on, TD-LTE network can expand step by step until the unified LTE network.

Compared with redundant investment of multisystem in terms of infrastructure, site engineering and OPEX, the evolvable UNI-RAN solution simplifies the network and bring operatros the benefits of flexible networking stragegy and lower TCO consequentely.

The evolution from the traditional FDD network to TD-LTE can be accomplished by adding a traditional RRU aimed to realize MIMO and the TD-LTE baseband software upgrade.

ZTE's Uni-RAN TD-LTE solution is future-proof as it can help operators achieve smooth evolution while reducing TCO. It is flexible enough to be applied in different scenarios.