Zain Successfully Trials HSPA+ in a Live 3G Network

Zain Saudi Arabia has concluded trials of a Nokia Siemens Networks supplied Internet-HSPA (I-HSPA) software upgrade within Zain's existing radio access network. The trial introduced a simple, flat architecture demonstrating how traffic can bypass the Radio Network Controller (RNC) and the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), to deliver improved data transmission speeds. Because of the re-routing, there is no need to build in additional capacity, in effect reducing the OPEX and CAPEX.

I-HSPA solution also shortens the network latency rates to 45ms enabling quicker response times and enhances the overall user experience availability of data services

"We want to be the first to unleash the true potential of the Internet on users' handsets," said Eng.Ismail Fekri,COO, Zain Saudi Arabia. "However, we realized early that if we went head long into it, we could run into problems of heavy data usage and insufficient network resources. That is why we decided to test the solution first – in a live network environment and not a lab set-up. We now have full faith in the efficacy of the Internet-HSPA solution presented by Nokia Siemens Networks and are looking forward to a quick commercial deployment."

Posted to the site on 19th May 2009