NSN is demonstrating a new coordinated multi-cell scheduling approach, a coordinated scheduling feature for FDD-LTE and TD-LTE networks to reduce interference between adjacent base stations, at MWC. According to NSN, this evolution of Smart Scheduler provides up to 30 percent faster downlink speeds at the cell edge, an advantage during periods of peak congestion. Coordinated scheduling is implemented as software within the base stations, avoiding the need for any additional hardware.

In addition, Nokia Solutions and Networks is evolving its Carrier Aggregation software enabling higher data rates in mobile operator networks. At Mobile World Congress 2014, NSN will demonstrate the next step in its Carrier Aggregation evolution using its commercially available Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Stations: individual users’ downlink data rates of up to 450 Mbps, achieved by aggregating spectrum resources on 3 carriers for operators having a total bandwidth of up to 60 MHz. NSN is is implementing dynamic, load-balancing enhanced Inter Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) for efficient, capacity-focused LTE small cell deployments. The new solutions are software upgrades to NSN’s Flexi Multiradio 10 and Flexi Zone Micro/Pico base stations. 

NSN further adds that with its Smart Scheduler, individual base station radio resources can be highly optimized, resulting in more than 100 percent increase in cell edge data rates and more than 20 percent improvement in cell capacity today when compared to other baseline industry LTE schedulers. NSN is now introducing a software upgrade that adds coordinated scheduling to the Smart Scheduler. With this function, neighboring base stations will allocate their radio resources in collaboration to reduce inter-cell interference. This leads to higher downlink speeds for subscribers, especially at the cell edge where the reduction in interference between cells produces a 30 percent improvement.

NSN is also evolving LTE-Advanced towards higher network capacity by enabling more efficient integration of small cells with the macro network. NSN’s dynamic eICIC solution manages interference while balancing the subscriber load across the small cell and macro layers. NSN’s solution works with upcoming LTE-Advanced devices as well as with the LTE devices available today.