Siemens Intros MBS

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Siemens Communications Inc. today announced the release of its SiemensR Multi-standard Base Station (MBS) solution. This high-performance system provides Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular operators with a cost-effective way, within a single modular platform, to support the radio elements for second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) mobile networks, without the need to purchase individual systems for each technology.

Additionally, the Siemens MBS solution is designed to allow operators to expand - within a single rack -existing GSM base stations to support Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-based 3G services, without sacrificing capacity. Siemens currently provides the only available solution that is designed to enable 2G base stations to become 3G capable.

"Whether operators are deploying 3G services now or in the future, the Siemens Multi-standard Base Station system helps provide investment protection," said Harald Braun, president, Networks Division, Siemens Communications Inc. "The Siemens MBS system provides a variety of benefits, including fast and flexible deployments, lower site acquisition costs, and reduced power consumption."

Using the Siemens MBS solution, operators can upgrade 2G base transceiver stations (BTSs) by adding a small slide-in Radio Server Unit (RSU) into the existing rack. The units easily fit into standard 19-inch GSM BTSs from numerous vendors, enabling any BTS to quickly become capable of supporting multiple standards. Optionally, the RSU can be used in combination with the Remote Radio Head (RRH), which can be mounted on a roof or tower.

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI; Frankfurt: SIE)