WCDMA / HSPA / HSPA+

WCDMA / HSPA / HSPA+ Technology Overview

Universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) networks based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) have been deployed worldwide as 3rd generation mobile communications systems. UMTS provides a clear evolutionary path to high-speed packet access (HSPA). HSPA refers to the combination of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA). HSDPA allows data rates up to 14.4 Mbit/s in the downlink. HSUPA makes uplink data rates of 5.76 Mbit/s possible. HSPA also boosts capacity in UMTS networks and provides significant latency reductions.

In order to exploit the full potential of WCDMA 5 MHz operation, the performance of HSPA-based radio networks has been further enhanced in terms of spectrum efficiency, peak data rate and latency. HSPA+ as specified in 3GPP Release 7 includes downlink MIMO operation, higher-order modulation (downlink 64QAM, uplink 16QAM) and protocol improvements that specifically allow a high number of “always on” users to be supported in the network. Peak data rates reach 28 Mbit/s in the downlink and 11.5 Mbit/s in the uplink with round-trip times below 50 ms.

3GPP Release 8 specifies further improvements for HSPA+ such as downlink dual carrier operation and the combination of MIMO and 64QAM modulation. Both features enable a maximum data rate of 42.2 Mbit/s in the downlink. Furthermore, circuit-switched voice over HSPA provides optimized support of voice services in an HSPA packet-switched radio access network. In addition, latency is further improved by allocating common E-DCH resources in the CELL_FACH state and applying Layer 2 enhancements in the uplink.

3GPP Release 9 continues to improve primarily data rate capabilities. The dual cell HSUPA feature supports two carrier frequencies in the uplink direction leading to uplink data rates of 23 Mbit/s. Additionally, in downlink direction dual carrier operation can be combined with the MIMO feature reaching data rates up to 84.4 Mbit/s. Spectrum flexibility has also been increased because the dual band dual cell HSDPA feature makes it possible to allocate resources on two carrier frequencies in different frequency bands. The latest 3GPP Release 10 specification includes four carrier HSDPA, which enables to pool four carrier frequencies for a single end user device and thus span 20 MHz bandwidth.

Deployment Scenario

The advantage of HSPA and HSPA+ is their excellent integration into the UMTS architecture. HSPA and HSPA+ also operate on the existing UMTS frequency bands. More than 97% of UMTS networks worldwide support HSDPA. HSPA and HSPA+ will benefit all applications in which large volumes of data are transmitted in both link directions. Moreover, UMTS provides highly efficient support for CS voice services.

Rohde & Schwarz Test Solutions

Rohde & Schwarz provides a complete product portfolio for WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+: digital standards on general-purpose equipment such as the R&S®SMU200A vector signal generator and the R&S®FSQ signal analyzer; dedicated communications testers, i.e. R&S®CMU200/300 and the R&S®CMW500 wideband radio communication tester; and complete conformance test systems, i.e. the R&S®TS8950W and the R&S®TS8980. The powerful R&S®TSMW network scanner in combination with the R&S®ROMES4 drive test software completes the Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement portfolio for WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+. Future implementations will reflect the most recent 3GPP enhancements.

 

Key Parameters

  WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+
Frequency range Show / Hide
UTRA/FDD bands
1)
UL: 1920 MHz - 1980 MHz
DL: 2110 MHz - 2170 MHz
2)
UL: 1850 MHz - 1910 MHz
DL: 1930 MHz - 1990 MHz
3)
UL: 1710 MHz - 1785 MHz
DL: 1805 MHz - 1880 MHz
4)
UL: 1710 MHz - 1755 MHz
DL: 2110 MHz - 2155 MHz
5)
UL: 824 MHz - 849 MHz
DL: 869 MHz - 894 MHz
6)
UL: 830 MHz - 840 MHz
DL: 875 MHz - 885 MHz
7)
UL: 2500 MHz - 2570 MHz
DL: 2620 MHz - 2690 MHz
8)
UL: 880 MHz - 915 MHz
DL: 925 MHz - 960 MHz
9)
UL: 1749.9 MHz - 1784.9 MHz
DL: 1844.9 MHz - 1879.9 MHz
10)
UL: 1710 MHz - 1770 MHz
DL: 2110 MHz - 2170 MHz
11)
UL: 1427.9 MHz - 1447.9 MHz
DL: 1475.9 MHz - 1495.9 MHz
12)
UL: 699 MHz - 716 MHz
DL: 729 MHz - 746 MHz
13)
UL: 777 MHz - 787 MHz
DL: 746 MHz - 756 MHz
14)
UL: 788 MHz - 798 MHz
DL: 758 MHz - 768 MHz
15)
UL: 1900 MHz - 1920 MHz
DL: 2600 MHz - 2620 MHz *)
16)
UL: 2010 MHz - 2025 MHz
DL: 2585 MHz - 2600 MHz *)
19)
UL: 830 MHz - 845 MHz
DL: 875 MHz - 890 MHz
20)
UL: 832 MHz - 862 MHz
DL: 791 MHz - 821 MHz
21)
UL: 1447.9 MHz - 1462.9 MHz
DL: 1495.9 MHz - 1510.9 MHz
25)
UL: 1850 MHz - 1915 MHz
DL: 1930 MHz - 1995 MHz

*) Europe only (ETSI EN 301 908-2)

 Show / Hide
TX-RX frequency separation

190 MHz  
 

80 MHz  
 

95 MHz  
 

400 MHz  
 

45 MHz  
 

45 MHz  
 

120 MHz  
 

45 MHz  
 

95 MHz  
 

400 MHz  
 

48 MHz  
 

30 MHz  
 

31 MHz  
 

30 MHz  
 

700 MHz  
 

575 MHz  
 

45 MHz  
 

41 MHz  
 

48 MHz  
 

80 MHz  
 

 
Multiple access CDMA
Duplex FDD
Channel bandwidth 5 MHz
  3GPP Release 6 (WCDMA/HSPA) 3GPP Rel. 7/8/9/10 (HSPA+)
Modulation DL: QPSK, 16QAM
UL: Dual BPSK		 DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM
UL: Dual BPSK, 16QAM
MIMO mode - DL: 2x2
UL: 1x2
Peak data rate WCDMA (DL, UL): 384 kbit/s
HSDPA (DL): 14.4 Mbit/s
HSUPA (UL): 5.76 Mbit/s		 DL: 28 Mbit/s (MIMO, 16QAM)
DL: 42.2 Mbit/s (MIMO, 64QAM)
DL: 42.2 Mbit/s (64QAM, dual carrier)
DL: 84.4 Mbit/s (MIMO, 64QAM, dual carrier)
UL: 11.5 Mbit/s (16QAM)
UL: 23 Mbit/s (16QAM, dual carrier)

Standardization

UMTS WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ is being specified in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 3GPP Release 99 contains the first WCDMA specifications. HSDPA and HSUPA were introduced in 3GPP Release 5 and 3GPP Release 6, respectively. HSPA+ forms part of 3GPP Releases 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The following link provides access to 3GPP specifications: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/