TMCnet News

How an LTE-Advanced (Rel 12) Network With 256 QAM Performs - Research and Markets
[May 12, 2016]

How an LTE-Advanced (Rel 12) Network With 256 QAM Performs - Research and Markets


Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Signals Ahead: How Fast is that Kangaroo in the Window? The One With the 256 QAM" report to their offering.

In this Signals Ahead report we provide the results of the industry's first truly independent benchmark study of how an LTE (News - Alert)-Advanced (Rel 12) network with 256 QAM performs. This study was conducted using Telstra's 600 Mbps LTE network in Melbourne, Australia.

Highlights of the Study include the following:

Our Thanks

This study was done in collaboration with Accuver Americas who provided us with its suite of drive test products, including XCAL-M to collect the data and XCAP for the post processing and analysis of the data.

The Device

We used a NETGEAR 810S mobile hotspot (Category 11 device) with the Qualcomm (News - Alert) Snapdragon X12 LTE modem.

The Comparison, I

Surprisingly, the availability of the 256 QAM modulation scheme in the macro etwork was on par with the availability of 64 QAM in an HSPA+ network, based on a comparison of these most recent results with earlier tests that we did in the operator's network in 2009.



The Comparison, II

In some lengthy drive tests we observed 256 QAM more frequently than we observed QPSK.


The Forward-Looking View

Our analysis of Ericsson (News - Alert) Lean Carrier (ELC) - Telstra enabled and disabled the feature at our request - suggests that even higher availability of 256 QAM is likely.

The Implications

Despite the original focus of 256 QAM for small cells only, we foresee tremendous advantages associated with deploying 256 QAM throughput an operator's macro network.

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary

2.0 Key Observations

3.0 256 QAM Macro Network Analysis

3.1 HSPA+ and 64 QAM - A Trip Down Memory Lane

3.2 Melbourne CBD - Early Morning Drive Test

3.3 Melbourne CBD - Noontime Pedestrian Stroll

3.4 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Toorak Drive Test

3.5 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Figure Eight Drive Test

4.0 Ericsson Lean Carrier Evaluation

4.1 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Lakeside "Grand Prix" Drive Test

4.2 Middle Park, Victoria - Early Morning Lakeside "Grand Prix" Drive Test, II

4.3 Stationary Test Results

5.0 Test Methodology

6.0 Final Thoughts

7.0 Appendix

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v653td/signals_ahead


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]