Now I’m no network engineer, but if Nokia Siemens Networks is to believed then once an operator enables “continuous packet connectivity” (CPC) on their HSPA+ network, the battery life of the mobile phone in your pocket can be increased by 100% if you’re transferring data, and by 50% for voice calls.

There are many unanswered questions here. How does this work, why doesn’t it work on vanilla HSPA and UMTS, will the same type of improvements be obtainable with LTE? Read the press release below, and if you’re a wireless engineer then feel free to email me and break this down in plain English: stefan @[shouldn’t be too hard to guess].com

Nokia Siemens Networks works to improve device battery life

New network feature extends battery life for mobile broadband and voice service subscribers

Nokia Siemens Networks has successfully conducted the world’s first call using a network technology known as “continuous packet connectivity” (CPC). Once incorporated into an operator’s HSPA+ radio access network, CPC will enable 3G users to enjoy significantly longer device battery life, a crucial issue as the use of smartphones for broadband services skyrockets. CPC can mean up to 100 percent longer battery life when devices are used for data applications, and up to 50 percent during voice calls. The CPC data call was made using network equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks and a device supplied by Qualcomm using the QSC6295™ chipset.

“Nokia Siemens Networks is focused on innovations that benefit both operators and end-users,” said Tommi Uitto, head of Network Systems product management at Nokia Siemens Networks. “With CPC, subscribers will enjoy an improved mobile data experience, while operators will benefit from enhanced network capacity — even with heavy smartphone use — due to less interference in the radio connection, not to mention higher revenues due to increased usage of the service.”

Michael Thelander, chief executive officer of the analysis firm Signals Research Group, LLC, explains, “While a lot of attention gets paid to the higher data rates associated with HSPA+, 3G operators are actually placing equal or even greater emphasis on other key HSPA+ features, such as discontinuous data reception and transmission, which can dramatically extend the battery life and improve overall network efficiency.”

During extended HSPA data sessions, there are typically long periods of idle time between transmissions of data packets, during which a device continues to use its battery. The CPC feature of 3GPP Release 7 uses the “discontinuous transmission and reception” method to shut down the device’s transmitter and receiver during the idle phases to reduce power consumption. It has no effect on the actual data rates experienced by the end-user.

“At Qualcomm, we are committed to driving the evolution of technology features that provide the maximum benefit to end-users,” said Alex Katouzian, vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “The CPC feature further enhances the HSPA+ mobile broadband experience for end-users by allowing them to enjoy these services without worrying about device battery life.”

Nokia Siemens Networks’ Flexi Base Station and radio network controller can support the CPC feature with a simple software upgrade. The company is the leader in driving Evolved HSPA, also known as HSPA+. In May 2009, Nokia Siemens Networks and Elisa Finland made the world’s first circuit-switched call over HSPA, which allows operators to simplify and cost-effectively increase voice capacity of their 3G networks.