Comba’s Remote Radio Head solution speeds up 3G network build outs, doubles reception quality and provides 30 percent cost savings


Hong Kong, 10 November 2005 – Comba Telecom (HKSE: 2342), the leading provider of wireless solutions for the 2G and 3G mobile telecoms market, today announced the launch of its remote radio head (RRH) solution. With Chinese telecom operators aiming to have 3G networks operational for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, Comba’s RRH solution helps operators build out faster, more reliable 3G networks and at 30 percent cheaper cost than traditional base station solutions.

As telecom equipment vendors face heated competition for the multi-billion US dollar China 3G market, vendors are looking to outsource base station development to subsystem vendors as differentiation requirements become more challenging. A typical base station setup for 3G networks occupy on average ten square meters each and are spaced at least three meters apart from the antenna to avoid signal interference. Such limitations make network build outs extremely costly and time consuming in addition to the challenging task of finding suitable real estate to house the base stations. However RRH technology, small enough to fit on a lamppost, reduces the number of base stations required along a network by separating the radio function onto a mast mount unit, thus, reducing interference and vastly reducing costs.

“Comba’s RRH technology is an ideal solution for 3G network build outs over traditional base stations as it allows for faster deployment, up to 30 percent cost savings and doubles reception quality with no wasted radio frequency power from antenna interference,” said Tony T.L. Fok, chairman and managing director of Comba. “With equipment vendors vying for the China market, Comba is strongly positioned as a solid international OEM partner with our extensive network of 30 offices throughout China, local technical expertise from over 300 Guangzhou-based R&D engineers and over 8 years of customizing 2G and 3G solutions for the Mainland.”

Comba’s RRH solution can form wireless networks in both a “star” formation, ideal for city-wide coverage, and “daisy-chain” formation, ideal for long roads such as highways. With just one base station followed by four subsequent RRH mast mounts, a wireless signal can run 15 kilometers down a strip of highway with consistent signal clarity. Alternatively in a star formation, one base station at the center with offshoots of four RRH extensions can cover an area of 15 square kilometers.

Available in analog and digital, Comba’s digital RRH solutions and are compliant with Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI) and Common Protocol Radio Interface (CPRI) industry standards, as well as being customizable to proprietary standards.

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