OREANDA-NEWS. Huawei and SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in verification testing, technological evaluation, and R&D of TDD+, a 4.5G mobile communications technology based on LTE TDD, which was proposed by Huawei, by making use of SoftBank networks.

Keiichi Makizono from SoftBank (right) and David Wang from Huawei Sign the MoU on TDD+ Cooperation

With the popularity of smartphones and tablets, the increased traffic volume is becoming more demanding on mobile networks. With the ambition to provide the best user experience for its customers, SoftBank took the lead in deploying TDD-capable Advanced eXtended Global Platform (AXGP) networks in Japan using its TDD spectrums.

The TDD+ research cooperation with Huawei, whose TDD technology currently leads the global TDD market, enables SoftBank to increase the frequency resource efficiency on the AXGP networks by about 5 times, substantially improves the user experience.

Keiichi Makizono, Senior Vice President of SoftBank, remarked: "The technology involved in this cooperation will become the next-generation network development trend. Now, SoftBank is planning to construct the next-generation mobile network. Therefore, our cooperation with Huawei on 4.5G technology is quite meaningful."

Since its first global commercial use in 2011, LTE TDD has seen the number of subscribers reach 200 million. The deployment of TDD+ enables telecommunications carriers to explore new revenue opportunities and increase the revenue of mobile broadband services, before 5G becomes available. Moreover, multiple carriers from China and Europe are also planning to introduce TDD+ on their networks.

"TDD+ helps increase the spectral efficiency and decrease the total cost of ownership (TCO). It also creates new services and provides a communications environment able to adapt to user demands," said David Wang, President of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line.

"Huawei will continue working on innovative technologies and strive to build a more interconnected world in cooperation with SoftBank,” said Wang.