Japanese operator NTT Docomo has selected vendors Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Panasonic to develop its next generation LTE-A network architecture. In one of the earliest roll out of the technology, the two vendors will provide the operator with base stations that are optimised for LTE Advanced.

According to NSN, the base stations will ensure capacity of 300Mbps in the network and facilitate a cloud-based architecture and services. Remote Radio Heads (RRH) will be used in a roll out of small cells to enhance the coverage and capacity of the LTE-A network.

The base station hardware and software will be based on NSN’s Liquid Radio architecture. NSN and Panasonic began collaborating in 2007 to deliver LTE network infrastructure to Docomo. The two were contracted by the operator to launch LTE commercial services in 2010.