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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 26 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. 27 Win-Win / FEB 2009