MediaTek and Nokia to Demonstrate Extended Coverage Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EC-EGPRS) at Mobile World Congress

Feb 18, 2016 - 1:00 PM

TAIWAN, Hsinchu – February 18, 2016 – Preparing for a world where billions of devices and sensors will constantly transmit data, Nokia and MediaTek will demonstrate technology in Barcelona designed to improve power consumption and enhance network coverage. Extended Coverage Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EC-EGPRS) encompasses new innovative features such as Power Efficient Operation (PEO) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX), paving the way for battery life that can be measured in years and a wider reach than achieved by conventional GSM/GPRS networks today.

The demonstration, shown at the MediaTek booth (Hall 6, E21), makes use of an EC-EGPRS capable Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 base station and a mobile station, which is based on MediaTek's modem technology and protocol software.

“Everywhere connected objects that send, share and collect information require innovative chipset technology and advanced networks,” said JC Hsu, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the IoT Business Unit at MediaTek. “MediaTek continues to be at the center of the Internet of Things, collaborating with Nokia and supporting technology for low power, low throughput, and low cost devices that will drive growth and innovation in the IoT marketplace.”

Coming IoT applications will produce small amounts of data, be in remote locations and need to operate on for years on battery power. By focusing on advanced power savings modes and efficient networks, this joint effort meets the needs for future IoT sensor devices.

Niko Lalu, head of Single RAN, at Nokia, said: “We are very satisfied with the collaboration with MediaTek in implementing this prototype and demonstration system. We are showing that we are on a good path in making EC-EGPRS technology commercially available in networks and devices, meaning our customers can further leverage their investment in GSM network technology.”

EC-EGPRS technology is aligned with ongoing standardization within 3GPP GERAN (3rd Generation Partnership Project GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network). The specification will be finalized and available later in the first half of 2016. Samples of EC-EGPRS capable products are expected to be available by the end of 2016.

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About MediaTek

Since 1997, MediaTek has been a pioneering fabless semiconductor company and a market leader in cutting-edge systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile devices, wireless networking, HDTV, DVD and Blu-ray. Our tightly-integrated, innovative chip designs help manufacturers optimize supply chains, reduce the development time of new products, and extend a competitive edge in crowded markets. Through MediaTek Labs, the company is also building a developer hub that will support device creation, application development, and services for the Internet of Things era. By building technologies that help connect individuals to the world around them, MediaTek is enabling people to expand their horizons and more easily achieve their goals. We believe anyone can achieve something amazing. And we believe they can do it every single day. We call this idea Everyday Genius and it drives everything we do. Visit mediatek.com for more information.

About Nokia

Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasing at the heart of our connected lives. With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. http://www.nokia.com

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