Isle of Man to deploy super fast 3G network

December 14, 2004

The Isle of Man announced that mmO2 will deploy Europe's first super fast, 3G mobile data network on the Isle of Man. The network will incorporate HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) technology and IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia services) and positions the Isle of Man and mmO2 at the forefront of providing advanced mobile data services to customers within Europe. The 3G mobile data network will be available next summer through mmO2's subsidiary, Manx Telecom.

"The fixed, mobile and Internet services and resilient off-Island connectivity provided by Manx Telecom has attracted international technology companies to locate on the Island," said Tim Craine, director of the E-business division for the Isle of Man.

Consumers and businesses will be able to experience for the first time next-generation services on the move at speeds equivalent to those enjoyed by fixed broadband networks. They will be able to quickly and easily download DVD-quality film clips, audio and video, interactive multiplayer games, multimedia music tracks, 'push-to-watch' services as well as access large email attachments - three times faster than today's commercial 3G networks.

"We have market-leading experience in the deployment of mobile data services and 3G technology," Dave Williams, group chief technology officer of mmO2. "We established the first fully-operational 3G European network on the Isle of Man at the end of 2001, we are the first network to launch GPRS and have more SMS usage on our network than anyone else.

Based on advanced technology from Lucent Technologies, the futuristic network builds on mmO2's previous successful live trials of early 3G on the Isle of Man. It also complements existing work in this area mmO2 has conducted with its two principal networking partners - Nortel Networks and Nokia Corporation.