Huawei's Latest AAU Products Enable Amazing MBB Networks
[Shenzhen, China, November 29, 2016] At the 2016 Global MBB Forum, Huawei released its latest active antenna unit (AAU) products to proactively help operators satisfy MBB network requirements in diverse application scenarios. These AAU products include the large-capacity Massive MIMO AAU, Easy Macro2.0 for agile site deployment, and highly-integrated multiband AAU, which supports up to seven frequency bands and four radio access technologies (RATs).
Huawei AAUs integrate radio units and antenna devices through an upward movement of radio functions from distributed base stations to antenna devices. This is Huawei's new-generation base station solution, after the release of its distributed base stations. Since the launch of the first commercial AAU in 2013, Huawei AAUs have been deployed on over 120 commercial networks across the world to help operators build MBB networks while significantly reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO).
However, operators are still facing new challenges in MBB network construction as the AAU solution has gained increasing popularity. Dedicated to satisfying operators' requirements, Huawei has released the latest AAU products to assist them in addressing the challenges from the perspectives of user experience, agile site deployment, and site convergence. The reasons behind this are:
Driving Force 1: Improved User Experience
The rapid growth of data services, such as HD video and virtual reality (VR), is raising increasingly high requirements for the capacity of mobile networks. How to provide an excellent user experience has become operators' top concern. Huawei's Massive MIMO AAU can achieve a fivefold increase in network capacity, significantly reduce the cost per bit, and improve user experience. Currently, several global leading operators have deployed Massive MIMO AAUs for trial and commercial uses.
In addition, the Massive MIMO AAU hardware can support a smooth evolution to 5G. Only an upgrade of baseband processing units is required to support 5G while keeping AAU devices unchanged on existing frequency bands.
Driving Force 2: More Agile Site Deployment
Compared with first-generation products, Easy Macro2.0 supports higher output power (up to 50%), more radio frequency channels (from 2TX to 4TX), and more RATs (from UL dual-mode to GUL multimode). Huawei's Easy Macro solution can help operators fully utilize existing pole resources, shorten the time of new site acquisition by 60%, and reduce site construction costs by 40%. Currently, this solution has been deployed on 50 commercial networks around the globe, placing it at the cutting edge of the new wave of agile site deployment.
Driving Force 3: Site Simplification and Convergence for Multiband Network
Radio spectrum is operators' most valuable resources. Various spectrum resources lead to increasing challenges for site deployment. A single new AAU can support seven bands and integrate dual-mode radio units, which reduce the required device quantity by 30% and the site rental by 40%. The highly-integrated AAU can facilitate site deployment, shorten the network construction period, and reduce construction costs. The AAU also allows a smooth upgrade to support more frequency bands and channels, which effectively protects operators' investments.
Mr. Zhou Yuefeng, CMO of Huawei Wireless Network, said, "Huawei's AAU solution is the result of constant innovation against operators' network requirements in diverse application scenarios. This solution will continue to be improved for a smooth network evolution. We sincerely hope that AAU is able to help operators address challenges in network deployment and provide a better service experience.”
The Seventh Annual Mobile Broadband (MBB) Forum was held in Tokyo, Japan on November 23 to 25, 2016. The world's top operators along with key industry decision-makers, policymakers and influencers attended to discuss the hottest trends in the MBB ecosystem, and explore the future of mobile broadband.
