Orange Spain (OSP) is the Spanish branch of the Orange Group, the world's leading network operator and digital service provider. OSP is the second-largest operator with integrated offerings of fixed, mobile and TV services in Spain, and also the largest subsidiary of the French Group abroad.
OSP has widely distributed wireless spectrum resources and a total of seven frequency bands from 700 MHz to 3.5 GHz, resulting in a complex networking structure. Before the 5G era, the wireless equipment deployed in OSP's network was mainly single-band products. And there was also a certain amount of RSU equipment reused from the 2G/3G era. The wireless network equipment had low integration level and high power consumption, and did not have the 5G evolution capability. With the maturity of 5G technologies and accelerated 5G commercial use, it is imperative to modernize and transform the existing wireless network in order to further strengthen OSP's overall market competitiveness and optimize the TCO of the entire network. In Q3 2019, after making the overall evaluation of ZTE UniSite+ solution and the excellent performance of 5G SA pilot in Valencia, Spain, OSP decided to award ZTE the project of FDD modernization and 5G deployment in several cities of Spain.

A High-Standard Network with Optimized Site Energy Efficiency
After being awarded the project, ZTE together with OSP formulated the implementation plan of its 5G-oriented solution UniSite+, which leverages 2G/3G/4G/5G multi-mode BBU V9200 and ultra broadband RF units (UBRs) covering all of the available spectrum to enable site simplification. This solution successfully passed OSP's software and hardware validation tests with great results, providing a solid foundation for future field commercial deployment. On January 28, 2020, the first modernized site was officially commissioned in OSP's existing network.
ZTE UniSite+ solution greatly reduces the complexity of OSP's site architecture. At the BBU side, only one 2U-height multi-band/multi-mode BBU V9200 is implemented per site to swap multiple BBUs deployed before, greatly reducing the occupied space in cabinets. At the radio unit side, by introducing tri-band 2T4R UBR R9222 M728090, FDD low bands 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz can share a single RRU; and by introducing dual-band 4T4R UBR R8894E M1821, FDD 1.8 GHz and 2.1 GHz can share a single RRU. Meanwhile, the deployment of 2.6 GHz 4T4R R8854H S2600 with an embedded combiner in hotspot areas could further reduce the usage of external combiners and simplifies the site solution. When pre- and post-swap frequency bands are consistent, the total number of RRUs deployed in a single site could be reduced by up to 50%, further reducing the tower rental fees.
After the UniSite+ solution is implemented in OSP's network, the overall energy efficiency of the site is greatly improved. Take the typical LB + HB site in the ZTE area as example. There are a total of four frequency bands including 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz (700 MHz not yet on air due to auction issue). If the 1.8 GHz/2.1 GHz RRU maintains the pre-swap 2T2R configuration and pre- and post-swap RRU output power is aligned, the overall power consumption per site can be 18% lower than that before modernization based on the evaluation of average site power consumption. If the 1.8 GHz/2.1 GHz RRU uses 4T4R configuration—the standard capability of UBR R8894E M1821, the overall power consumption per site can still be 3%–5% lower than that before modernization with the FDD performance improved from 2T2R to 4T4R and the total output power doubled.
After site modernization, all of OSP's frequency bands could support smooth evolution to 5G. At present, OSP has already re-farmed existing 2.1 GHz to evolve its network from legacy 3G/4G to 3G/4G/5G dynamic spectrum sharing solution ZTE's SuperDSS. This solution ensures that 5G FDD NR can be activated while 3G/4G technologies are still kept in the same FDD band, achieving fast 5G coverage without deploying additional hardware. Network modernization with UniSite+ fully releases the potential of existing FDD spectrum and improves the spectrum utilization efficiency.
For N78 or the 3.5 GHz TDD band, considering the N78 spectrum re-allocation in Spain by the end of 2021 and the need to protect N78 m-MIMO equipment investment, in the year 2020, ZTE commercially launched the industry's first IBW 400 MHz/OBW 200 MHz 64T64R Massive MIMO product A9631W S36 in OSP's network. This product with an operating bandwidth from 3400 MHz to 3800 MHz fully meets the requirements of N78 spectrum reshuffling without the need for any hardware change. Until now, OSP has already commercially deployed 64T64R A9631W S36 in all six northern cities of the ZTE area, providing users with high-quality 5G experience. 

Energy-Saving Features to Further Improve Energy Efficiency 
Besides the energy-saving benefits obtained by modernizing legacy equipment, the UniSite+ solution can also bring additional energy-saving benefits by enabling energy-saving features. From 2020 to 2021, organized by Orange Group Skill Center, ZTE has verified several features like UMTS carrier shutdown, LTE carrier/symbol/channel shutdown, 5G AAU enhanced symbol shutdown and deep sleep in OSP's network. The field tests prove that by activating these energy-saving features, the power consumption of UMTS can be reduced by about 6%, that of LTE by about 8%–22%, and that of 5G AAU can be greatly optimized based on live traffic load. All of the above-mentioned energy-saving features have obtained the certification from Orange Group Skill Center. OSP and other Orange branches can select the necessary energy-saving features and commercially deploy them in their existing networks on demand. 
To further build the low-carbon network, ZTE's innovative energy saving solution—PowerPilot can be introduced. Based on the energy-saving gains obtained in site modernization and energy-saving features, PowerPilot can further release the energy-saving potential of the base station. With AI-based in-depth learning, the strategy for enabling and disabling the energy-saving features can be automatically formulated through historical traffic analysis, and wireless users can be navigated to the most proper technology or band according to their traffic demand. Inter-cell energy-saving policy coordination can also be realized via AI, improving the energy-saving gains efficiently. OSP's technical team has stated that, after the commercial deployment of the basic energy-saving features, the feasibility study and analysis of PowerPilot will be the next step for building a green network. ZTE will cooperate with OSP to further improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, building a greener network.

ZTE is committed to providing operators with more options, simplifying network operation and maintenance, helping operators improve user experience and brand competitiveness, and maximizing spectrum value and operational benefits of existing equipment. Looking to the future, ZTE will continue to explore the application of new wireless technologies and features in commercial networks, and help OSP further improve network quality, reduce network energy consumption and achieve high-quality development.