Qualcomm and Teleepoch
Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October
6, 2007
MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband
Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6,
2007
Brazilian government to
publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007
KTF 3G service suffers
from technical problems, October 6, 2007
Argentina’s Personal
lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007
Russia has it's first 3G
network, October 6, 2007
AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent
as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007
Enea Extends License Agreement
with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007
LG to unveil premium handsets
in Brazil, October 2, 2007
KTF 3G subscribers doubled
in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007
3G policy in India will
be non-uniform, October 2, 2007
- previous news
|
|
Skepticism grow on WCDMA technology
June 18, 2003
Analysts from Deutsche Bank are casting further doubt on the timing of
3G, predicting that there will be no further "meaningful" launches of
the high-speed mobile-phone networks this year.
The US based analysts said telecom equipment makers are still struggling
to master the WCDMA technology while operators remain dissatisfied with
the 3G phones that are on the market.
Nokia, in particular, seems to have struggled with the network technology,
said the analysts, who attended a conference on 3G last week in Amsterdam
that featured representatives of the major manufacturers and operators.
The analysts said they had at the meeting "confirmed from multiple sources
across the wireless food chain" that Nokia has been having problems with
its 3G base stations, which it said have been crashing frequently due
to a software problem. The problem extended across at least five networks
from the Nordic region to southern Europe, the analysts said.
The analysts said Nokia's radio network controllers have been dropping
voice calls at high rates.
Two weeks ago that a telephone operator Hutchison 3G HK forced Nokia
to remove 3G base stations in Hong Kong after it experienced problems.
Siemens and NEC are supplying replacement equipment.
At a company meeting with analysts last week, Sari Baldauf, the head
of Nokia's networks unit, acknowledged that the Finnish company had experienced
problems with some network equipment.
The Deutsche Bank analysts said the network issues, as well as a shortage
of acceptable 3G handsets, are likely to delay further significant commercial
network launches until some time in the first half of 2004. Among other
things, the analysts said operators are still having trouble handing-over
calls between their current networks and the new 3G networks without disconnecting
them.
"'Commercial' launches, if they do take place this year, will stretch
the definition of the word 'commercial' and most likely consist of limited
launches in a few cities with friendly users and pre-existing subscribers
that are provided free phones and/or free service as part of a pre-market
trial," the analysts wrote.
The Deutsche Bank analysts said unresolved issues over royalty payments
for 3G technology could slow its spread. Nokia, Ericsson and Siemens are
pushing to cap WCMDA royalties at 5%, but the analysts said Qualcomm is
unlikely to agree to a limit. The uncertainty could limit how aggressively
suppliers discount their equipment, the analysts say.
|
3G Motorola A920
