Press Release

ASTRI Showcases Distributed Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Solutions with Keysight Technologies at Mobile World Congress 2017 In Barcelona

  • Home > Press Release

    • [28 February 2017, Hong Kong] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) showcases its latest developments in distributed MIMO technology based on Sunnada’s distributed antenna small cell platform with the Keysight Infiniium High-Performance Oscilloscope at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.

    Driving technological breakthroughs in 4.5G and 5G technologies, ASTRI’s distributed MIMO solutions can significantly improve the coverage, capacity and spectral efficiency of indoor and outdoor telecommunications infrastructure.

    The demonstration involves LTE MIMO beamforming using Sunnada’s LTE small-cell with four coherent distributed antenna units. It delivers beamformed live downlink video streams to commercial LTE user equipment. The distributed antenna units can be calibrated by ASTRI’s baseband synchronisation algorithms to maintain timing and phase coherence. The system can support up to 64 distributed antenna units to provide even higher beamforming gain. The synchronisation and beamforming quality of the demonstration system are measured by a DSAX96204Q Infiniium High-Performance Oscilloscope with 89601B VSA Software.

    While the demonstration reveals a practical system capable of coherent joint transmission across distributed transmission points, ASTRI’s studies also reveal the feasibility of Over-the-Air (OTA) cross transmission points synchronisation in distributed MIMO. ASTRI’s R&D in massive MIMO technology holds vast potential for advanced 5G networks, particularly for 5G indoor ultra-dense networks(UDNs).

    ASTRI has been active in LTE R&D since 2008 and already plays a leading role in market-ready LTE and LTE-Advanced small cell and terminal technologies. A pioneer in 5G technologies, the institute is devoted to developing next generation communication systems. Apart from the MIMO algorithm, ASTRI is actively involved in developing and commercialising different 4.5/5G technologies including UDNs, Machine Type Communications (MTC), Device-to-device (D2D), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), and C-RAN systems.

    The demonstration took place place at the Sunnada booth (Hall 5, Stand 5G70). MWC 2017 is being held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 27 February to 2 March.

    About ASTRI

    Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.  ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org.

    About Keysight Technologies

    Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) helps customers bring breakthrough electronic products and systems to market faster and at a lower cost. Keysight’s solutions go where the electronic signal goes, from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in the network. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, internet infrastructure, aerospace & defense, automotive, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $2.9B in fiscal year 2016. More information is available at www.keysight.com.

     

    ASTRI Media enquiries:

    Ms Cherry Au              Tel: (852) 3406 2993              Email: [email protected]

     

    Member of the Swedish Parliament visits ASTRI

  • Home > Press Release

    • Mr Thomas Strand (1st from left in the picture on the left), member of the Swedish Parliament, visited ASTRI on Tuesday, 7 March 2017. Mr Strand met Dr Frank Tong (2nd from left in the picture on the left) – CEO and Dr MeiKei Ieong (1st from right in the picture on the right) – CTO of ASTRI and discussed issues related to applied research in science and technology. They exchanged views and experiences from Sweden and Greater China respectively and talked about the potential of technological advancements to improve lives, communities and businesses.

    Mr Strand has been a senior member of Swedish Parliament since 2006. On getting elected to the legislature, he became deputy head of the parliament’s Education Committee and later served the Committee as its senior member. In January 2007, Mr Strand also became a member of the parliament’s Culture Committee.

     

    Tertiary institute students from Hong Kong and Macau to face off in Inter-Tertiary-Institute Capture the Flag (CTF) contest 2017

  • Home > Press Release

    • [Hong Kong, Mar 7, 2017] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today announces the partnership with iChunQiu.com to launch Hong Kong’s first-of-its-kind ‘Inter-tertiary-institution Capture the Flag Contest (CTF) 2017’. Tertiary institute students in Hong Kong and Macau are invited to register online via ctf.astri.org from now on till 22 March 2017.

    Registered students will receive intensive on-line training from March to June and online practice support. The contest will follow an ‘ethical hackathon’ format, requiring participants to compete in a 36-hour, non-stop on-line challenge in a range of topics including web-security, cryptography, secure coding and computer forensics etc. The contestants will progress through a qualifying round in early April followed by the final contest in mid-June in which three best teams will be awarded HK$50,000, 30,000 and 10,000 respectively.

    CTF is a globally recognised popular platform modelled as a series of simulated cyber-attacks that emulate what happens in the real-life digital space. This exciting, competitive platform will gauge the students’ skills in managing information security and deterring cyber-attacks. It aims to boost the knowledge and expertise of the local talent pool and promote awareness of information security among the young generation in Hong Kong and Macau. A wide of range of cybersecurity skills are required to succeed in CTF, including operating system, secure programming, reverse engineering, computer forensics, system security administration and network analysis.

    A rigorous on-line training for the contestants will be followed by a practice game meant to help identify skill-gaps and better prepare for the qualifying round. In the final contest, an exciting attack-defence model will be adopted – testing how teams work together and deploy their collective skills and knowledge to solve the challenges.

    Dr. Duncan Wong, Vice President, Financial Technologies of ASTRI commented that “this exciting contest will be just as much fun as it will be professionally useful.” He added that “Cybersecurity is becoming a very challenging yet promising career choices for young professionals. Through practical exposure such as this CTF contest, our young generation can taste a feel of the real world of cybersecurity management.”

    “iChunQiu.com has extensive experience in hosting CTF in the mainland of China and has a strong sense in training citizens especially young generation to safeguard cybersecurity. This is a very exciting cybersecurity competition with meaningful cause. Participating teams need to demonstrate high skills in attacking the vulnerable part of other contestants’ servers and at the same time defend against others’ attack. Team work and strategies are also critically important if the contestants want to win in the game,” said Cai Jingjing, the founder of iChunQiu.com which is the most popular on-site cybersecurity institution in the mainland of China.

    This ‘Inter-tertiary-institution Capture the Flag Contest (CTF) 2017’ has been backed by invaluable support from ‘GovCERT.HK’ of The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), HKSAR Government.  The OGCIO is committed to supporting – among many of its initiatives – general users, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and schools to conduct health check on computers, mobile devices and websites as well as tips and techniques to guard against cyber-attacks.

    The Contest is sponsored by HKT – Hong Kong’s premier telecommunications service provider and leading operator in fixed-line, broadband and mobile communication services, and Hong Kong Information Security Academy (HKISA) – a leading provider of cyber and information security insights and training, as well as Cyberworld (Asia) Ltd and FireEye.

    About ASTRI

    Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.  ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, IC Design (Analog), IC Design (Digital), Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technology, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org

     

    Media enquiries:

    Ms. Cherry Au        Tel: (852) 3406 2993         Email: [email protected]

     

     

    ASTRI co-organises Inter-University Algo Trading Contest 2016-17

  • Home > Press Release

    • ASTRI, CASH Algo Finance Group, and Hong Kong Science Park jointly organised the ‘Inter-University Algo Trading Contest’ seeking to identify and nurture young talents who can shine in algorithm-based trading a.k.a. algo trading. The contest served as a platform for participants to experience real life trading, and provided top performers with potential career opportunities or start-up support. At the event finale on 19 February 2017, Dr Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI was one of the officiating guests and presented awards to the winners.

    Algo trading allows users to unleash the power or their computers – to evaluate the stock market as per pre-designed rules, and automatically issue trading orders, all done with the help of digital intelligence. Statistics show that over 60% of the US stock market transactions are made by algo trading. Algo trading is becoming a popular trend in the age of Financial Technologies (FinTech). Developing algo trading platform and technologies will help Hong Kong in its endeavour to become a global FinTech hub. ASTRI actively pursues R&D on algo trading platforms and collaborates with financial institutions to promote related applications and solutions.

    Over 100 teams from 13 renowned universities in Hong Kong and the Mainland participated in the contest. Professor KC Chan, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the SAR Government; Mr Bankee P Kwan, JP, Chairman of the Organising Committee; Dr Frank Tong, CEO of ASTRI; Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Professor Tony F Chan, President of HKUST; and Professor Wong Yuk-Shan, President of the Open University of Hong Kong officiated the contest finale and presented awards to the winners. The overall champion’s Gold Award went to team ‘WeQuant’ from Tsinghua University while the Silver and Bronze Awards were won by teams ‘For Dream’ from Fudan University and ‘Alpha Quant’ from Hong Kong University respectively. The finale was a hard-contested, exciting event where future leaders of the industry had a taste of an advanced, digital future.

    Officiating guests at the contest finale. On 5th from right, Professor KC Chan, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, HKSAR

    Dr Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI (2nd from right) presents awards to the winners.

    ASTRI’s innovative R&D showcases at the ‘First@Science Park’ Exhibition

  • Home > Press Release

    • ASTRI’s innovative R&D project, Magi Guide, was showcased at the ‘First@Science Park’ Exhibition from 23 to 24 February 2017.

    An ASTRI innovation, Magi Guide is an integrated seamless indoor and outdoor navigation system behind which is a scalable cloud platform. Also developed by ASTRI, the platform involves various types of technologies including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The app covers navigation of outdoor areas like pedestrian’s pathways, alleys, bridges, as well as indoor premises such as shopping malls. It addresses the limitations of Google maps which currently does not support indoor navigation. In addition, the system can also provide other services to the users such as enquiry on nearby information and broadcast real time special notice.

    Organised by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the ‘First@SciencePark’ offers a test-bed for companies based in Science Park to pilot new and innovative technologies and applications. Companies can get instant feedback and suggestions that help them to enhance their products and strengthen their market competitiveness.

    Magi Guide, an innovative R&D project developed by ASTRI, is showcased at the First@Science Park Exhibition

    Comba Telecom and ASTRI demonstrate Mobile Edge Computing System (MEC) with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) system prototype at Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona

  • Home > Press Release

    • [1 March 2017, Hong Kong] Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited (“Comba Telecom”, Hong Kong stock code: 2342), and Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) jointly showcase a live demonstration of V2X system prototype and MEC platform at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 being held in Barcelona, Spain.

    The demonstration features a V2X system prototype, building on top of virtualised MEC platform to enable low latency vehicle monitoring near network edge. Together with advanced technologies in V2X, LTE, 5G, MEC and next generation networks, road safety and intelligent transportation system for smart city development can be realised.

    The MEC platform being showcased can allow application developers to manage applications, define network characteristic (e.g. traffic rules, DNS) and mass deploy mobile edge applications. With powerful Software-defined Networking (SDN) capability, the MEC platform can support different mobile edge applications with unique network and service topology without impacts to the underlying physical network. The mobile edge orchestrator can also help mobile operators to intuitively deploy and manage mobile edge platform and applications.

    The V2X system prototype demonstrates the use case at road intersection with limited vision which requires communications via the Road Side Unit (RSU), using Comba Telecom’s LTE small cell to correlate vehicle and pedestrian information to avoid collision.  With the real-time vehicle status monitoring, location tracking and analytic algorithm processed at the MEC platform, low latency warnings can be sent to alert road users early to avoid collision.

    Comba Telecom and ASTRI established the ASTRI-Comba Joint Research and Development Laboratory in 2016, focusing on smart city and smart home technologies. The collaboration facilitates an integrated, strategic cooperation to boost research-and-development efforts in the smart city and smart home arenas.

    The demonstration took place at Comba booth (Hall 5, Stand 5A31) in MWC Barcelona, 2017, being held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 27 February to 2 March 2017.

    About ASTRI

    Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.  ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org

    About Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited

    As one of the leading wireless solution providers in the world, Comba Telecom is primarily engaged in the R&D and manufacturing of wireless products including RRU, antennas and base station subsystems and wireless transmission and access systems. The Group also provides complete turnkey solutions and services to its global customers. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Comba Telecom’s global operations include manufacturing bases in China, R&D centers in China and the USA and more than 40 offices worldwide. Comba Telecom has been included into several indexes including the MSCI China Small Cap Index, Hang Seng Composite Index (Information Technology Industry Index, MidCap & SmallCap Index and SmallCap Index), Hang Seng Global Composite Index, Hang Seng Internet & Information Technology Index, as well as Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index. For further information, please visit: www.comba-telecom.com.

    ASTRI Media enquiries:

    Ms Cherry Au            Tel: (852) 3406 2993              Email: [email protected]

    In Partnership with Rohde & Schwarz, ASTRI Demonstrates Centralised Radio Access Network (C-RAN) Virtual Cell Solutions for Ultra-Dense Networks (UDNs) at Mobile World Congress 2017 In Barcelona

  • Home > Press Release

    • [28 February 2017, Hong Kong] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) showcased its C-RAN virtual cell solutions at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The solutions enhance the system capacity in UDNs with LTE signal analysers from Rohde & Schwarz (R&S).

    The demonstration revealed ASTRI’s latest TD-LTE C-RAN-based virtual cell solutions consisting of an LTE x86-based virtual cell Baseband Unit (BBU) and two Transmit-Receive Points (TRPs). TD-LTE standard compliant signals from each coordinated TRPs are monitored by R&S RTO digital oscilloscopes with R&S FS-K104 EUTRA/LTE Downlink Software and R&S FS-K105 EUTRA/LTE Uplink Software. The result shows that the coordinated data traffic from both TRPs are jointly scheduled and transmitted using the same time frequency resources. This enhances system capacity through spatial re-use. As Joint Transmission (JT) is supported, the cell edge signal quality is enhanced and inter-cell interference — which is prevalent in conventional mobile networks — is eliminated. Since all the cells within a virtual cell cluster share the same cell ID, no handover is required across virtual cells. The virtual cell technologies are further extendable to support beam-based virtual networks in 5G UDNs.

    ASTRI’s C-RAN virtual cell baseband unit is based on the Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) approach. Running on commercial x86 servers, the solution is scalable to support up to 96 LTE cells. The demonstration utilises Sunnada’s small cells as the Radio Remote Units (RRUs). This provides cost efficiency and flexible deployment. The system can also support other RRU types according to system requirements.

    ASTRI has been active in LTE R&D since 2008 and already plays a leading role in market-ready LTE and LTE-Advanced small cell and terminal technologies. As a pioneer in 5G technologies, the institute is devoted to developing next generation communication systems. Apart from C-RAN systems, ASTRI is actively involved in developing and commercialising different 4.5/5G technologies including Massive MIMO, Machine Type Communications (MTC), Device-to-device (D2D) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X).

    ASTRI’s demonstration at MWC utilised Sunnada’s small cells as the RRUs. The demonstration took place at the Sunnada booth (Hall 5, Stand 5G70). MWC 2017 is being held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 27 February to 2 March.

    About ASTRI

    Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org.

    About Rohde & Schwarz

    The Rohde & Schwarz electronics group offers innovative solutions in all fields of wireless communications as well as in IT security. Founded more than 80 years ago, the independent company has an extensive sales and service network with subsidiaries and representatives in more than 70 countries. On June 30, 2016, Rohde & Schwarz had approximately 10,000 employees. The group achieved a net revenue of approximately EUR 1.92 billion in the 2015/2016 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and also has strong regional hubs in Asia and the USA.

    R&S ® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.

     

    ASTRI Media enquiries:

    Ms Cherry Au            Tel: (852) 3406 2993              Email: [email protected]

     

     

    ASTRI Showcases Distributed Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Solutions with Keysight Technologies at Mobile World Congress 2017 In Barcelona

  • Home > Press Release

    • [28 February 2017, Hong Kong] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) showcases its latest developments in distributed MIMO technology based on Sunnada’s distributed antenna small cell platform with the Keysight Infiniium High-Performance Oscilloscope at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.

    Driving technological breakthroughs in 4.5G and 5G technologies, ASTRI’s distributed MIMO solutions can significantly improve the coverage, capacity and spectral efficiency of indoor and outdoor telecommunications infrastructure.

    The demonstration involves LTE MIMO beamforming using Sunnada’s LTE small-cell with four coherent distributed antenna units. It delivers beamformed live downlink video streams to commercial LTE user equipment. The distributed antenna units can be calibrated by ASTRI’s baseband synchronisation algorithms to maintain timing and phase coherence. The system can support up to 64 distributed antenna units to provide even higher beamforming gain. The synchronisation and beamforming quality of the demonstration system are measured by a DSAX96204Q Infiniium High-Performance Oscilloscope with 89601B VSA Software.

    While the demonstration reveals a practical system capable of coherent joint transmission across distributed transmission points, ASTRI’s studies also reveal the feasibility of Over-the-Air (OTA) cross transmission points synchronisation in distributed MIMO. ASTRI’s R&D in massive MIMO technology holds vast potential for advanced 5G networks, particularly for 5G indoor ultra-dense networks(UDNs).

    ASTRI has been active in LTE R&D since 2008 and already plays a leading role in market-ready LTE and LTE-Advanced small cell and terminal technologies. A pioneer in 5G technologies, the institute is devoted to developing next generation communication systems. Apart from the MIMO algorithm, ASTRI is actively involved in developing and commercialising different 4.5/5G technologies including UDNs, Machine Type Communications (MTC), Device-to-device (D2D), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), and C-RAN systems.

    The demonstration took place place at the Sunnada booth (Hall 5, Stand 5G70). MWC 2017 is being held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 27 February to 2 March.

    About ASTRI

    Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research.  ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org.

    About Keysight Technologies

    Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) helps customers bring breakthrough electronic products and systems to market faster and at a lower cost. Keysight’s solutions go where the electronic signal goes, from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in the network. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, internet infrastructure, aerospace & defense, automotive, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $2.9B in fiscal year 2016. More information is available at www.keysight.com.

     

    ASTRI Media enquiries:

    Ms Cherry Au              Tel: (852) 3406 2993              Email: [email protected]

     

    Delegates from International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory at Lund University visit ASTRI

  • Home > Press Release

    • Dr Lars Montelius (2nd from right), Director General of International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) at Lund University in Portugal, visited ASTRI on Monday, 27 February 2017. Accompanied by Mr Bjorn Segerblom (2nd from left), Senior Advisor at INL, Dr Montelius met Dr MeiKei Ieong (1st from right), and Dennis Lee (1st from left), ASTRI’s Chief Technology Officer and Technical Marketing Director – CTO Office respectively.

    FinTech Advisor of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission visits ASTRI

  • Home > Press Release

    • Mr Jeffrey Bandman (right), FinTech Advisor of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission visits ASTRI on 27 February to exchange on ASTRI’s latest Financial Technologies (FinTech) initiatives and discuss FinTech development trend around the world.