Signals Research Leverages Spirent Test System to Reveal Important Performance Differences between HSPA+ Chipsets and Devices

Spirent 8100 System Used to Provide the Industry's Most Comprehensive Look at HSPA+ Chipset and Device Performance

OAKLAND, Calif. and SUNNYVALE, Calif. – February 11, 2010 – Signals Research Group, LLC (SRG) and Spirent Communications plc, today announced the industry’s first independent data throughput performance benchmark of HSPA+ chipsets, as well as HSPA chipsets and devices capable of data rates higher than 7.2 Mbps. The Spirent 8100 Mobile Device Test System was used to identify the top performing chipsets and to quantify performance differences between higher-category devices under real-world network conditions - differences which affect subscriber quality of experience (QoE) and network operator costs.

Participants in this test included all leading wireless IC suppliers, several of whom submitted solutions for multiple categories. The range of solutions tested reflects the growing diversity of the HSPA/HSPA+ device ecosystem, which now includes support for Categories 14 (up to 21.1 Mbps on the downlink), 10 (14.4 Mbps), 9 (10.1 Mbps), as well as Category 8 (7.2 Mbps).

“Analysis of the data revealed significant differences in the data performance of HSPA+ and higher-category HSPA chipsets” said Michael Thelander, CEO, SRG. “The results clearly illustrate the value in testing chipset and device performance beyond minimum certification requirements, particularly at these higher data rates.”

SRG’s test plan used the Spirent 8100 to subject all chipsets and devices to identical sets of network conditions, automatically repeating each test multiple times to generate statistically-significant, objective results for downlink data throughput performance. The test scenarios, based on test specifications from the 3GPP, include various static conditions as well as industry-standard pedestrian fading and vehicular fading conditions.

This represents the fourth collaboration between SRG and Spirent on what has become the industry benchmark for independent 3G chipset performance testing. Planning is underway for a future report that will again use the Spirent 8100 to conduct data performance testing of LTE chipsets, as well as chipsets with advanced receiver designs, such as Type 3i.

The complete HSPA/HSPA+ chipset and device performance benchmark report will be available in early March in an issue of the SRG newsletter. To learn more visit www.signalsresearch.com.

Spirent is demonstrating its 8100 UMTS test system in stand 1C14 at Mobile World Congress, February 15-18 in Barcelona, Spain. To learn more about the 8100 and other Spirent solutions for UMTS and LTE device testing visit http://www.spirent.com/Wireless/UMTS_devices/8100.aspx.

About Signals Research Group, LLC

Signals Research Group, LLC is a US-based research consultancy that is focused on technology and operator business case analyses for the wireless industry. In addition to providing consulting services for its clients, SRG publishes a research product called Signals Ahead with a distribution list that spans five continents and the entire wireless ecosystem, including the largest mobile operators, the major infrastructure suppliers, leading handset manufacturers and semiconductor IC suppliers, mobile content providers, as well as financial institutions. SRG recently published an exhaustive 1,000 page next-generation network economics study which analyzed the network economic implications of several next-generation network technologies (EV-DO Rev B, HSPA/HSPA+, Mobile WiMAX, LTE) across sixty-five countries and under a wide-range of deployment scenarios, including full mobility, nomadic, semi-fixed and fixed. More information about SRG, including contact information, can be found at its website: www.signalsresearch.com.