Tokyo, Japan, Oct 1, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation
announced the successful development of a new Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
(WiMAX) radio propagation simulator, RADIOSCAPE-WiMAX. The new simulator is expected to realize
the analysis and display of the service area and transmission performance of WiMAX[1] systems
after their adoption in Japan next year.WiMAX has been attracting attention as the next
generation broadband wireless-access technology expected to enable low-cost communication
services, such as high capacity mobile data communication by mobile phones and PC cards, and
wide-area fixed wireless access to resolve the digital divide. By introducing new
space/frequency utilization concepts, such as Multiple-Input Multiple Output (MIMO[2]) and
sub-channelization, WiMAX systems are expected to realize the transmission of large volumes of
data in limited-frequency bands and frequency reuse between base stations. However, existing
area-planning tools cannot estimate quantitatively or precisely the effects of these kinds of
new technologies, resulting in inefficient area planning. NEC has developed RADIOSCAPE-WiMAX to
realize efficient area planning after the future adoption of WiMAX systems. New functions were
added to RADIOSCAPE(R)[3], a radio propagation simulator developed by NEC for wireless LAN and
3rd generation mobile phone systems, to allow application to future WiMAX systems. The features
of the newly developed radio propagation simulator RADIOSCAPE-WIMAX include the following:1)
Accelerated calculation by hierarchized MIMO characteristic simulation technology:A large
amount of complex calculation needs to be processed for WiMAX area planning that incorporates
MIMO, hindering efficient area planning. To improve this process, NEC has developed the world's
first hierarchized MIMO characteristic simulation technology, realizing high speed and high
precision simulation of increased transmission capacity by MIMO technology. For example,
calculation processing for base stations located at 1km intervals in all 23 wards of Tokyo
would require 52 days to be processed, but NEC's newly developed technology can cut this time
to 1.3 days, ensuring efficient WiMAX area planning.2) Highly precise frequency planning by
inter-sub-channel interference simulation technology:WiMAX employs sub-channelization, which
achieves an increase in the number of frequency channels. However, interference between
sub-channels differs to that of inter-channel interference in conventional radio communication,
making it difficult to estimate any transmission performance degradation. NEC has incorporated
an interference characteristic model into the new simulator to enable frequency planning based
on highly precise interference simulations and effective utilization of limited-frequency
bands. NEC has confirmed the precision of RADIOSCAPE-WiMAX through indoor/outdoor radio
propagation tests, which show that the new simulator not only maintains a high level of
estimation precision similar to that of RADIOSCAPE(R) but also achieves simulation that is 40
times faster than conventional ray-launching methods.Utilization of this simulator will enable
quantitative evaluation of system capability of specific environments and equipment during the
phase of WiMAX equipment planning and system implementation. Consequently, phased equipment
planning appropriate to the number of users and the volume of traffic can be achieved.NEC
expects this technology to provide comprehensive support to network operators when WiMAX
service commences on a nationwide scale, and to facilitate adjustment of the frequency
distribution of high-speed wireless communication services offered to residents in local
communities.NEC is currently planning to introduce the new simulator into its total WiMAX
solutions offering next year.[1] Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX): is a
radio specification which has been standardized by the IEEE 802.16 committee as a broadband
wireless access system to connect the last mile. WiMAX is a name used in the WiMAX Forum, an
industry organization. There are two types of WiMAX: fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004) that
targets fixed communication in areas where there is difficulty using optical and DSL lines, and
mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005) that targets high-speed mobile communication. MIMO is planned
to be adopted in mobile WiMAX. [2] Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO):is a communication
technology, in which multiple antennas are allocated to the transmitting and receiving devices,
and transmission capacity is increased by spatial multiplexing. Ideally, multiple transmission
paths can be created virtually; the number of created transmission paths is the same as the
number of antennas allocated in the transmitting device or the receiving device, whichever is
less. As a result, the transmission capacity is multiplied by the number of created paths. In
reality, the increase in transmission capacity differs depending on the radio propagation
performance at each point; therefore, simulation of the MIMO characteristics is very important. [3] RADIOSCAPE(R):is NEC's original 3-dimensional radio propagation analysis tool, which
supports the area planning of networks such as the mobile phone and wireless LAN networks. By
inputting 3-dimensional map data and floor layout, radio propagation performance that takes
into consideration the mutual effect of indoor and outdoor conditions can be estimated
seamlessly. * RADIOSCAPE is a registered trademark in Japan of NEC. For further details on
RADIOSCAPE-WiMAX, please visit http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0710/0101-01.htmlAbout NEC
CorporationNEC Corporation (TSE: 6701; NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world's leading providers
of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the
specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions
in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical
strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC
Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people worldwide. For
additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com Source: NEC
CorporationContact:Diane Foley (Japan)
NEC Corporation
+81-3-3798-6511
Japan Corporate News Network. All rights reserved.
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