Smartphones and a 3G Network:
Executive Summary
In May 2010, Signals Research Group released a paper called,
“Smartphones and a 3G Network,” which examined the differences in
smartphone-generated signaling traffic and handset battery life between a 3G
network in which the Cell_PCH feature was enabled and one in which it was not. The network in which the Cell_PCH feature was enabled was a commercial network from Nokia Siemens Networks.
• 3G network congestion is due largely
to the high amount of smartphonegenerated signaling traffic which
overwhelms the resources of central
network elements, thus preventing
them from coping with further data
or even voice traffic.
• Some of the most popular smartphone
applications are also some of the
greatest generators of signaling
traffic, including instant messaging,
web browsing, and map use.
• Frequent “keep alive” messages
can have a material impact on the
expected life of the battery. An
application that sends one “keep
alive” message every minute uses
the same battery power in only eight
hours as keeping the handset’s
backlight on for a full hour.
• An operator that has implemented
Cell_PCH and selected appropriate
network inactivity timer settings is able
to significantly reduce the amount of
signaling traffic in its network while
increasing the expected lifetime of
the battery.
• The wireless industry, including
operators, infrastructure suppliers,
To learn more about Cell_PCH and
timer settings and to understand how
their use can significantly improve how
networks handle smartphone signaling
traffic and battery life, please see the
full report.
handset manufacturers, and
application developers, needs to
work together to address these
challenges.
• Overall, the Nokia Siemens Networkprovided network with Cell_PCH
enabled generated an average of
40% fewer signals from high-signaling
applications than the other supplier’s
network, with a simultaneous battery
life increase of 30%.
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.
com/portfolio/products/mobilebroadband/smart-networks-for-smartdevices
Comparison of identical tasks on two networks using a Nokia N97 handset
600
Number of signaling messages
Key findings from
the report include:
Source: Signals Research Group, May 2010
546
500
200
50%
less
216
414
20%
less
288
223
24%
less 140
106
178
100
0
24%
less
434
400
300
Nokia Siemens Networks
Other network supplier
Yahoo IM
Large file
download
Web browsing
Email
43%
less
165
Nokia maps
9%
less
137
150
Skype
video call
Figure 1: Live smartphone network testing in North America: Independent analysis confirms that
Nokia Siemens Networks network handles signaling up to 50% more efficiently than competition
On behalf of Nokia Siemens Networks,
Signals Research Group LLC conducted
concurrent network tests in two 3G
networks in order to quantify the impact
of intelligent network optimization
through the use of Cell_PCH and
appropriate network timer settings.
As the sole authors of the paper
Smartphones and a 3G Network,
Signals Research Group stands fully
behind the highly objective results
which they independently collected
and analyzed.
Yahoo Instant Messaging with Nokia Siemens Networks vs Other Network Supplier
– Terminal Power Consumption
600
Nokia Siemens Networks network´s battery
consumption is decreased by returning more
quickly to a low-power state than the other
network
Source: Signals Research Group, May 2010
500
(mA)
400
300
200
100
Nokia Siemens Networks
Other network supplier
Nokia Siemens Networks network average current requirement = 172mA
Other supplier´s network average current requirement = 221mA
18:51.3
18:51.1
18:51.0
18:50.5
18:50.4
18:50.3
18:50.2
18:50.1
18:49.5
18:49.4
18:49.3
18:49.2
18:49.1
18:48.6
18:48.5
18:48.3
18:48.2
18:48.1
18:47.6
18:47.5
18:47.4
18:47.2
18:47.1
18:47.0
18:46.5
18:46.4
18:46.3
18:46.1
18:46.0
18:45.5
18:45.4
18:45.3
18:45.2
18:45.0
18:44.5
18:44.4
0
The Nokia Siemens Networks network
consistently generates less signaling across
all application types – simultaneously
improving handset battery life
Figure 2: Live smartphone network testing in North America: Independent analysis confirms that handsets
on Nokia Siemens Networks networks have 30% longer battery life than competition
Product code: C401-00629-B-201006-1-EN
Copyright © 2010 Nokia Siemens Networks. All rights reserved.
Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation,
Siemens is a registered trademark of Siemens AG.
The wave logo is a trademark of Nokia Siemens Networks Oy.
Other company and product names mentioned in this document
may be trademarks of their respective owners,
and they are mentioned for identification purposes only.
This publication is issued to provide information only and is not to form part of any order or contract.
The products and services described herein are subject to availability and change without notice.
Every effort is made to ensure that our
communications materials have as little
impact on the environment as possible
www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com