GSM Gains Significant Network Capacity

US : GSM continues to evolve as one of the most advanced mobile technologies in the world incorporating sophisticated technical enhancements such as Single Antenna Interference Cancellation (SAIC), an exciting new capability for improved mobile station performance of GSM networks. 3G Americas today published a white paper titled SAIC and Synchronized Networks for Increased GSM Capacity that shows SAIC simulation and field trial results providing capacity gains of 40-70% in synchronous networks. Additionally, the results showed that even asynchronous systems can achieve substantial capacity gains using SAIC technology.

With customers increasingly relying on their mobile devices for both voice and data services and no new spectrum auctions in the immediate future, radio spectrum continues to be a most valuable and scarce resource for operators throughout the Americas. SAIC, now being studied within the Third Generation Partnership Project's (3GPP) Technical Standards Group for GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), is showcased in the white paper through an extensive detailed analysis of its capabilities and performance characteristics.

Chris Pearson, Executive Vice President of 3G Americas explained, "Simulations and field trials have proven that SAIC is a truly revolutionary technology for GSM and will likely have a significant impact in terms of spectral efficiency." Pearson continued, "Based on the positive results of SAIC, both operators and vendors have shown interest in the technology. 3G Americas formed a technical working group to highlight SAIC simulation and field trial results and prepared this report under the editorial guidance of Dr. Mark Austin of Cingular Wireless to share the valuable results of this research."

Findings from the 3G Americas SAIC white paper include:

Two classes of SAIC algorithms in synchronous networks were shown to yield 40-70% network capacity gain
The tremendous gains reported in SAIC simulations were supported in field trials with prototype SAIC handsets in both synchronous and asynchronous networks
Immediate capacity benefit to the system resulted when SAIC terminals were deployed, as they reduced bit-error-rate and thus required less power from the base stations
SAIC technology provided improvements in network capacity for both voice and data
Pearson added, "The technical development of SAIC for the GSM technology demonstrates once again that the GSM family of technologies continues to evolve as one of the most spectrally efficient technologies in the world for voice and data."

GSM is the most extensively used digital mobile network technology in the world reporting 880 million customers in 179 countries on more than 665 GSM mobile networks as of June 2003. GSM has the only truly global footprint for international roaming and portability of services.