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Huawei Technologies
2005.10
8
Winners
AIS
keeps Thailand smiling
AIS can set the BTSs to GSM mode, ensuring communication quality. When the demand for mobile broadband
services increases, AIS can add UMTS carriers to offer GSM and HSPA services simultaneously.
By Xu Yan Editor: Xue Hua [email protected]
25
Win-Win / FEB 2009
A
s the largest and leading mobile
operator of Thailand–the “Land of
Smiles”, Advanced Info Service (AIS)
has realized a ubiquitous and rich
information network through its brands such as
GSM ADVANCE, ONE-2-CALL!, GSM1800,
and MPAY STATION, which cater for the 26
million local subscribers and tourists.
The dominant influence of AIS has ensured
critical involvement in the development of
Thailand’s domestic telecom industry which, in
turn, has profoundly and positively impacted the
Thai economy and its 64 million inhabitants.
Elevating 2G services
Thailand has been noted for its outstanding
scenery and remarkably friendly locals. As one
of the world’s most popular tourist destinations,
Thailand boasts an internationally famous cuisine
and a wealth of attractions. In the first half of 2008,
Thailand hosted around 5.62 million tourists;
approximately 70% of the country’s industries are
related to tourism, and over 7% of its GDP directly
results from its visitors.
Fulfilling the communication requirements of
this significant tourist economy is vital for AIS to
realize full value potential. However, prior to 2008,
this objective was hampered by networks in tourist
heavy-traffic areas such as Bangkok. At that time,
the AIS network for Thailand’s capital city was based
on European-sourced equipment. Each cabinet
occupied around 1m2, weighed up to 600kg, and
only supported the S4/4/4 configuration.
Toward the end of 2007, AIS was confronted
with untenable circumstances and apparently
impossible problems. Service capacity expansion
would require heavy investment in additional
equipment rooms and related engineering. The
resulting CAPEX coupled with a slow market
response would have been disastrous for the
company’s development and revenue streams. This
situation was exacerbated by the network’s low
power output and reception sensitivity, both of
which restricted uplink and downlink coverage and
greatly degraded service quality. Additional BTSs
were clearly indicated to remedy this situation, but
again this would increase the company’s CAPEX
and OPEX beyond acceptable limits.
Back in 2007, the lag problems in Bangkok were
not the only ones confronting AIS. The original
GSM equipment covering the northeast and south
of Thailand had been in use for over five years; the
original manufacturer was unable to provide further
technical support; the network framework could not
support EDGE services, and future evolution based
on the old equipment was out of the question. AIS
could not accommodate the apparent upgrade costs
but, in the midst of a boom in Thailand’s tourism, if
they did not upgrade they would lose vital end user
revenue to the advantages offered by the improved
quality of competing vendors networks. AIS had no
choice but to refine its original network, particularly
in peak traffic areas, and extend coverage to boost
user QoE. The question was, how to do this costeffectively and time-efficiently while hopefully
gaining long-term advantages at the same time?
As 2007 drew to a close, AIS embarked on a
cooperative venture with Huawei. The two companies
carefully analyzed Thailand’s key GSM markets
with the goal of invigorating the AIS network and
accommodating immediate and future expansion.
In early 2008, AIS embarked on Huawei’s solution
for GSM equipment replacement in Bangkok, and
across the major tourist areas of north, northeast,
and south Thailand. In three short months, and in
good time to realize benefit from the heavy local
traffic increase and tourist surge occurring around
April’s Thai Water Festival, a remarkable total of over
10,000 carriers were replaced.
In key areas such as Bangkok, AIS opted for
Huawei’s highly integrated indoor and outdoor
macro base transceiver stations (BTSs). Occupying
less than 0.5m2, the Huawei BTS supports up to 18
or 36 carriers, and simplifies constructing S8/8/8
sites and those of a higher configuration. During
seasonal traffic peaks, using software to upgrade RF
modules in phases from one carrier to six carriers,
AIS can now configure the Huawei BTSs to meet
demand. The Huawei solution eliminates the need
for on-site engineering and antenna adjustments,
significantly reducing AIS’s O&M costs and
accelerating their ability to more quickly respond
to market requirements.
In remote scenic spots and along the highways
linking Thailand’s tourist cities, AIS adopted
Huawei’s small, six-carrier GSM BTSs. These BTSs
meet requirements for capacity and coverage without
the need for deploying additional equipment and
equipment rooms, but can still be located outside
and withstand the humid and rainy local climate.
Along the highway to Chiang Mai, for example, AIS
was able to discretely mount the compact Huawei
FEB 2009 / Win-Win
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Winners
GSM BTSs in an environmentally friendly ways that
occupied no ground space, yet still allowed for easy,
low-cost maintenance. Once again, AIS was able to
expand coverage and quality while avoiding much of
the previously anticipated high costs.
AIS realized optimal industry standards of
GSM carrier output power and receive sensitivity.
Subsequent road test statistics revealed that voice
service KPI had been dramatically improved,
benefiting both local and tourist economies
through appreciation of the elevated QoS.
Solving Thailand’s 3G puzzle
Both voice services and mobile broadband
services now thrive in Thailand. “Laying new fixed
line connections is expensive and inefficient so
high-speed mobile networks are Thailand’s best bet
to realize the many social and economic benefits
that arise from widespread access to broadband
services,” said Ricardo Tavares, Senior Vice
President for Public Policy of the GSMA.
Constructing a UMTS network over the
operator’s mature GSM900 network would make it
possible for AIS to quickly introduce 3G services to
their existing market. AIS also required the solution
to minimize network construction costs and OPEX
in new coverage areas. With a 3G license, AIS
regarded this solution as essential for successful
launch of its 3G marketing strategy.
Prior to AIS selecting the 900MHz band for its
UMTS solution, Huawei had already assisted Optus
construct a 900MHz HSPA network in Australia with
4.2MHz valid bandwidth. This achievement realized
the world’s first large-scale commercial UMTS900
network. This notable accomplishment reinforced
AIS’ final decision to partner with Huawei to develop
the operator’s 900MHz-based HSPA network.
In May 2008, as a prelude to expanding
service throughout Bangkok, AIS commenced
operation of a 900MHz 3G network in Chiang
Mai. By applying Huawei’s portable UMTS900
distributed BTSs, AIS was able to quickly
construct a commercial network without the
costs of cumbersome hoisting equipment and
complicated engineering. The resulting AIS
network provides end users with HSDPA services
at rates of up to 7.2Mbps. These accelerated speeds
are complemented by Huawei’s stylish USB HSPA
modems, which have emerged as a popular tool for
many of Thailand’s laptop users.
In the near future, AIS believes the demand for
mobile broadband services will increase and their
UMTS900 network will be extended. In order
to construct a UMTS network over the existing
GSM network and realize unified access while
maximizing site and antennae sharing, AIS is
employing Huawei’s 4th generation BTS solution
to replace earlier vendors’ BTSs and support both
GSM and UMTS requirements.
With Huawei’s new equipment, AIS can set the
BTSs to GSM mode, ensuring communication
quality and wide coverage at a 60% lower power
consumption rate than conventionally encountered.
When the demand for mobile broadband services
increases, AIS will be able to reduce the number
of GSM carriers. Meanwhile, AIS can add UMTS
carriers to simultaneously offer GSM and HSPA
services, until all functional modules are set to the
UMTS mode.
Huawei’s solution neatly sidesteps the difficulties
AIS previously faced in terms of strategizing its
3G network and optimizing its 2G network. As a
result, AIS will be firmly ahead of the game as the
undisputed leader of the country’s 3G market.
The solution neatly sidesteps AIS’s difficulties in strategizing
its 3G network and optimizing its 2G network. As a result,
AIS will be firmly ahead of the game as the undisputed
leader of the country’s 3G market.
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Win-Win / FEB 2009