Presentation on BWA Workshop

Packet in China and The World
By Dr. Wang Yan, PHS Product Manager Dept, R&D Center, ZTE Corporation


Doctor Wang Yan from one of Chinese biggest telecom equipment makers and PHS system suppliers, ZTE Corporation introduced the solution method for PHS packet network by making use of the company’s core netowrk platform. He also introduced the result of its field trial in China domestically.
  1. ZTE Packet Solution
    1. ZTE PHS System Structure
      The system structure of PHS network by ZTE is different from what was made in Japan and by other companies. The Core Network uses a standard structure for mobile network. This is because PHS specification is defined as Radio Interface only. But the part from access layer to cell station for a PHS system is made different from a mobile system because the amount of cell stations is big and the management of these wireless resources is necessary.

    2. Upgrade to Packet Network
      The way to upgrade ZTE’s PHS network to enable its correspondence to packet communication is as simple as to add SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) to the core network.


    SGSN and GGSN are the same to those used in 3G and GPRS system. The only difference lies with software.

    IGW (Interconnection Gateway) and CSC (Call Station Controller) are also to be upgraded although a comparatively minor amount of modifications will be conducted.

    SGSN and GGSN are both standard devices for mobile network. Since interface specification is also standard, connection can be easily realized even when new device is added to the network in future.

  2. Promotion in China
    1. Overview
      ZTE’s packet promotion activities on Chinese market are started from last year. It is now carrying out field trial of packet network.
      A simple composition of 20 cell stations is upgraded for packet use in Shoude City of Fujian Province for the purpose of technical appraisal.
      Trial system in Nanjing City and Changzhou City of Jiangsu Province is a formal system covering a bigger scale.
      System test was also conducted by the research institution of China Telecom in Guangzhou.
      Besides, China Netcom is pushing forward the preparation work of trial test in Beijing.
      It hasn’t come to the stage for China Telecom and China Netcom to commercialize packet service yet. But both of them are gradually accepting the fact that PHS is an advanced technology.
      The reason for not commercializing the service is not on technical side, but on tight budget.

    2. Trial Network Coverage in Nanjing
      The trial system in Nanjing covers the whole downtown area.
      300 cell stations in 6 basic areas are upgraded for packet use.

    3. Condition and Conclusion of Test
      Using the existent cell stations doesn’t bring side effect regardless of the division to the frequency for existent voice service.
      The result is positive. Successful connection rate is beyond 95% and average speed for data download reaches 80 to 110kbps.

  3. Common Convergence Core Network
    1. Common Core Network
      The core part to ZTE’s packet system is a comprehensive core network platform made up of certain software and hardware, called V3 platform.
      The system corresponds to various mobile systems including PHS, GSM, GPRS, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and WLAN. Hardware can be shared and software can be downloaded for different systems. This advantage made the platform a preferential choice for China Telecom and China Netcom who are keeping their focus on gaining 3G license now.
      It is also cost-wise advantageous as only 17 type of boards are used to construct the platform.

    2. Convergence Core Network
      ZTE’s method to construct a packet system consists of two steps described below:
      The first step is to exchange the existent IGW with V3 platform.
      The second step is to upgrade IGW( Interconnection Gateway, a device that enables PHS’ connection with other network) on V3 platform to ZXPCS( ZXPCS is regarded as a product by ZTE) MGW and to enable the share of MGW-allotted MSC (Mobile Services switching Centre, a device to control multiple MGWs) server for PHS and 3G.

  4. Marketing & Sales Successes

    ZTE’s core network takes 40% of China Unicom’s GPRS network, and 50% of China Mobile’s TD network.
    Besides, the core network is also adopted by over thirty 2.5G or 3G telecom operators in West Asia, Middle East, Africa and other areas in the world.