Nokia has retooled its 3G base station line, announcing today the release of a modular Wideband CDMA Node B architecture designed to integrate more easily with existing radio access network.

Called the Flexi WCDMA Base Station, the unit is a compact and low-power system designed for both indoor and outdoor deployments and also supports a distributed base station architecture. Nokia has optimized the base station for multi-radio networks--It’s modules can be fitted inside Nokia’s existing EDGE cabinets, supports the upgrade to high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and allows for the modular stacking of other radio technologies including WiMAX.

Since many global GSM operators are launching their UMTS networks over separate 3G frequencies, usually 2.1 GHz, they require different footprints to accommodate the spectrum’s different propagation characteristics. But whenever possible carriers are using the same GSM cell site infrastructure, where cabinet space and resources are already limited. In regions like the U.S. where the 3G spectrum and 2G spectrum are the same, carriers like Cingular are overlaying UMTS on top of the existing footprint exactly.

Nokia said its new base station is designed specifically for those types of deployments and can realize carriers cost savings of up to 70% through less site construction work, quicker base station installations, easier capacity upgrades and lower power consumption. Designing the WCDMA base station to integrate into the EDGE network will also be a benefit to Nokia’s customers, the vendor said. According to the General mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), 55 global operators are deploying both EDGE and WCDMA, to which half of those networks Nokia is a supplier.

Carriers will have to wait for the product line though. Nokia said the new base station will be available in the latter half of 2006.