Aeroflex Submits HSDPA Case

BURNHAM, U.K. -- Aeroflex, a global provider of high technology solutions to the aerospace, defense, cellular and broadband communications markets, today announced that it has become the first company to submit a working HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) conformance test case for approval to the 3GPP RAN5 Working Group. Responsible for the development of RF and RRM conformance tests, UTRA and NAS protocol test, InterRAT procedural tests and the formal description of protocol test cases, the 3GPP RAN5 Working Group is primarily concerned with UTRA UE conformance testing.

Aeroflex's HSDPA conformance test case will provide the benchmark for the 3GPP verification and approval process. Its introduction marks the formal commencement of the verification procedure for HSDPA test cases, an industry-wide and open review process designed to highlight any problems prior to formal certification. The first Aeroflex HSDPA conformance test case is expected to receive formal certification in early July 2005 when its use will become mandatory.

The submission of the first HSDPA test case by Aeroflex further demonstrates the company's leadership in the development of an HSDPA test capability for the mobile communications industry. The requirement to test HSDPA in earnest is also a clear indication of the growing maturity of the technology as the mobile industry readies itself for the commencement of commercial HSDPA services later this year.

HSDPA is a 3GPP UMTS Release 5 feature designed to better facilitate mobile web access and video streaming applications through the provision of broadband data rates. The new Aeroflex conformance test case checks the ability of a WCDMA handset to support this Release 5 HSPDA functionality. Critically, it also tests inter-system handover to GPRS (2.5G) networks, a particularly important requirement as commercial HSPDA services will be progressively introduced alongside existing GPRS networks.

Prior to submission, Aeroflex verified the new HSDPA conformance test case using a dual-mode chipset and protocol stack from one of the world's leading providers of 3G wireless products and services. The new HSDPA conformance test runs on the existing Aeroflex 6401 AIME/CT ISHO test system, which is already used by a number of major mobile handset manufacturers and test labs.

Commenting on the introduction of the first HSDPA conformance test case, Phil Medd, the product manager at Aeroflex responsible for UMTS conformance test cases said, "With such an open verification process for conformance test cases mandated by 3GPP, the first submission is always the most important as it sets the benchmark for evaluation on which the industry as a whole is asked to comment. This new conformance test case is the first of many that Aeroflex expects to submit in relation to HSDPA within the next few months."

Aeroflex Inc.