South Australia introduces 3G Mobile Network
October 18, 2002
South Australia has become one of the first locations in the world
to offer a third-generation (3G) mobile network capable of providing
the high-speed transmission of video and other media-rich services
to the next generation of mobile phones.
South Australian based m.Net Corporation has linked two South Australian
cities to its new 3G network. The introduction of this network establishes
South Australia as one of the leaders in the development of the
emerging mobile broadband industry. Companies involved in the m.Net
Corp. consortium include Motorola, Cisco Systems Australia and Alcatel
Australia.
"The development of mobile services is not about translating the
World Wide Web onto the tiny screen of a video phone," said m.Net
CEO Andrew Ekiert.
"This is about building relevant business models for a future of
human communication that has not yet been imagined."
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and Whyalla are the first
cities in Australia, and among only a handful in the world, with
the network infrastructure to support 3G mobile phones.
Using hand-held computers linked to the 3G network, doctors involved
in the trial will have "anywhere, anytime" access to patients' medical
records.
South Australia, the fastest growing State in one of the world's
most robust economies, has attracted the attention of some of the
largest US tech firms such as EDS, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard
as an affordable, high-quality and hi-tech, site for expansion into
the Asian markets, according to David Brook, Invest South Australia
VP North America.
Brook said a new forum called Gallery 4 had also been established
in Adelaide to provide access to world-class wireless research,
technical development tools and expertise.
"Known as the University City, Adelaide's graduate programs and
Government sponsored centers of excellence have attracted some of
the leading technology minds from around the country and overseas,"
he said.
South Australia, like the rest of Australia, is known for its early
adoption of new technology, boasting the highest per capita ownership
of cell phones in the world.
No larger than most conventional mobile phones, 3G phones provide
mobile access to the Internet and are equipped with larger screens
and small video cameras.
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3G Motorola A920
