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
|
|
US Homes in on 3G
October 14, 2003 - source: by Sean Buckley, ITU Telecom World 2003
While expensive spectrum auctions and unrealistic high-speed claims fueled
the 3G wireless hype machines, it looks like US-based network operators
are finally making good on their 3G wireless data promises.
Although the notion of 3G wireless data is still, as some describe it,
a war of words between the TDMA/GSM (AT&T Wireless, Cingular) and CDMA
(Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS and US Cellular) camps, it is moving forward,
albeit slowly.
Sprint, which operates one of the largest 1XRTT CDMA 2000 networks, has
bypassed EVDO, going straight to 1XEVDV (Evolution for Data and Voice)
via a recent deal with Lucent Technologies. On the other hand, AT&T, which
is set to have a nationwide EDGE network, will via an agreement with NTT
DoCoMo launch UMTS services via Nortel Networks and Ericsson in four markets
by the end of next year. AT&T Wireless, which envisions a joint EDGE/WCDMA-capable
handset, has plotted a disciplined approach for the rollout. Meanwhile,
Cingular is moving on its respective EDGE buildout.
But with the recent launch of its 1xEVDO (Evolution for Data Only) service
dubbed BroadbandAccess, which provides 2.4Mbps burst speed, Verizon Wireless
may have the early lead for wireless data.
Initially led by pioneering Asian operators such as Korea Telecom and
South American-based Vesper, 1XEVDO service has been launched by Verizon
in San Diego, Calif., and Washington, D.C. Because Verizon has its nationwide
National Access 1XRTT network in place, BroadbandAccess customers that
roam outside of the EVDO range can be picked up on the 1XRTT network.
In addition, Verizon is offering a Wi-Fi (802.11b) service via a partnership
with Wayport, giving customers a connection in various hot spot locations
that complements existing EVDO and 1XRTT networks.
Working with Verizon to facilitate this rollout were Lucent Technologies
(in Washington, D.C.) and Nortel Networks (in San Diego) via a partnership
with Airvana. Nortel will provide its Univity CDMA Metro Cell base stations
wired for 1XEVDO, Univity Radio Network Controller and EMS in addition
to other related infrastructure. Lucent, in turn, will upgrade additional
Flexent CDMA base stations and provide Flexent Modular Cell 4.0 base stations
to expand the network's footprint. Even still, the operator will base
further rollouts as the market demand dictates.
But even though Verizon Wireless may have an initial lead, it does face
a challenge in terms of market reach as well as threats from its competitors.
“For wireless data to take hold in the enterprise space, data speeds
need to be fast enough to allow mission-critical data to be transferred
quickly and this network elevates Verizon’s data rates to provide the
requisite robustness and should help the company penetrate the enterprise,
at least in these two markets,” says Jeffrey Rickard, senior analyst for
wireless Services at Current Analysis. “The one weakness that Verizon
has is that its 1xEVDO network is limited in coverage. Granted, the carrier’s
1xRTT-based National Access is more than a reasonable backup and provides
transitional roaming outside of these two areas, but without public plans
to expand, customers may be wary of signing on just yet.”
|
3G Motorola A920
