Nokia Solutions and Networks has announced six enhancements for its Single RAN (radio access network) Advanced portfolio to help operators simplify their radio access networks and management functions. According to NSN, fewer boxes, less cabling, faster installation, simpler operations and more efficient use of spectrum mean operators can achieve considerable cost savings.

Single RAN releases will support GSM, WCDMA and LTE deployments. The New Single RAN Advanced will align availability of three separate software releases, making it easy to build, operate and maintain NSN Single RAN Advanced networks. Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station 6 x 60W radio frequency module enables a compact three-sector site with LTE MIMO 2x2 using just one radio frequency (RF) hardware unit instead of two 3-pipe modules. With this, operators can now deploy 1800 MHz LTE/GSM refarming and RF sharing using half the number of modules.

NSN has added expansion sub-module for increasing RF connectivity of the Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station. This new sub-module supports three times more RF ports compared to earlier models, enabling operators to meet their refarming and RF sharing needs with less hardware. Smart Dual Beam (SDB) application software for Liquid Radio GSM Software Suite brings a new way to build three-sector GSM sites. This enables operators to either benefit from 50% more GSM capacity in their existing spectrum and base station sites, or provide 20% more spectrum for HSPA/LTE deployments.

Common Base Station Operations, Administration and Maintenance entity, supported by NSN’s NetAct 8, for sites with GSM, WCDMA and LTE base stations. It replaces three separate entities with one, making it simpler to build, operate and maintain base station sites. 

In addition, NSN has improved common IP backhaul solution with a new single transport function to support single site deployments. On the transport layer, GSM, WCDMA and LTE base station sites can now appear as one IP host, which improves flexibility in IP addressing, QoS and IP security, and simplifies the IP transport backhaul implementation and maintenance process.