[Nortel Networks announced the completion of a trial with Sprint PCS using Nortel's smart antenna CDMA technology. The trial, conducted over a live-air IS-95 network, demonstrated a two-fold increase in voice capacity.]

Ottawa -- Sprint and Nortel Networks have completed trials using Nortel Networks CDMA smart antenna technology. The technology is designed to provide double the voice capacity of Sprint's current antenna technology using existing radio spectrum. The trials were conducted using Nortel Networks Metro Cell product platform over a live-air CDMA wireless network at Nortel Networks wireless facilities in Ottawa, Ontario.

Nortel Networks smart antenna, based on Adaptive Antenna Beam Selection (AABS) technology, is designed to deliver a more spectrally efficient solution, allowing more voice and data traffic within existing spectrum. It is applicable to IS-95, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA 1xEV-DO and CDMA 1xEV-DV air interfaces. The multi cell technology trial demonstrated a two-fold increase in the IS-95 voice capacity. In addition, the cost effectiveness of AABS is increased by the fact that no standards or mobile terminal changes are required to achieve the capacity increase benefits. Nortel Networks AABS smart antenna solution conforms to CDMA Development Group (CDG) Service Operator Requirements for Smart Antenna Technology.

"Smart antennas provide a cost-effective way to attract more customers to an operator's network without needing to deploy a large number of new base stations," said Ayse Ozgur Aytar, analyst, Mobile Wireless Research, The Strategis Group. "Smart antennas reduce interference and improve the network coverage, thus allowing operators to increase the number of subscribers they can support and drive down costs."

"Sprint is on the leading edge of wireless voice and data evolution, utilizing next generation technology that leverages our existing investments to meet and exceed customer demands," said Oliver Valente, chief technology officer, Sprint's wireless division. "Smart antenna technology offers improvements in capacity and spectral efficiency, positioning us to continue to provide robust voice and data services to our customers using our existing spectrum."

Continued growth in mobile subscribers, coupled with growing demand for next generation data services, presents today's wireless operators with tremendous spectral efficiency challenges. Operators are searching for cost-effective ways to optimize use of wireless spectrum and prepare existing networks to deliver services customers demand.

"We understand the challenges faced by today's operators, and we're working diligently to help them expand and evolve their networks cost effectively," said Steve Searles, vice president, marketing, CDMA/TDMA, Nortel Networks. "This trial is a significant part of Nortel Networks strategy to provide cost-effective, fully packetized, end-to-end network solutions for wireless operators, and reinforces our commitment to CDMA technology and its evolution."

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