Spain's Telefonica says completes 1st UMTS tests

date: 19th February 2001, source by: Reuters

The mobile arm of Spain's dominant telecoms group Telefonica said on Monday it had completed its first tests using third-generation UMTS technology.

Telefonica Moviles said in a statement the successful tests were a step towards rolling out a network of UMTS base stations.

Telefonica last year picked up licences in Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland, but has pulled out of tenders in Poland, France and Belgium after it and other operators were punished on the stock market for the huge cost of expanding into UMTS services.

The new system -- which promises high-speed Internet connections and video services -- is expected to be launched for commercial use next year.

Moviles said the tests were carried out under laboratory conditions and handset simulators were also used to see how the technology performed in movement.

Equipment manufacturers Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia took part in the tests, Moviles said in a statement.

The tests covered voice calls, video-conferencing systems and Internet access, the statement said.

UMTS technology is seen as key to the future of the global telecommunications industry but so far its effectiveness remains largely unproven. That has contributed to the slump in telecoms stock valuations in recent months.

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