Wavesat samples Mobile WiMAX, Wi-Fi, XG-PHS multi-mode chipset

Wavesat today introduced its new family of 4G Broadband Wireless chipset named Odyssey, with a multi-mode 4G architecture enabling WiMAX Wave2, Wi-Fi, XG-PHS and seamless migration to future 4G technologies such as LTE.

The first product in the Odyssey family, the Odyssey 8500, is powered by a multi-core architecture incorporating multiple ultra low power DSPs, offering flexibility, high performance and low power consumption, without any trade off. The SOC manufactured using advanced Embedded DRAM technology requires no external memory, thus saving customers valuable real estate, cost and power consumption for very small form-factor portable and mobile applications such as wireless USB dongle, mobile handsets and other consumer electronic devices.
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Mobile backhaul equipment market set to skyrocket due to exploding mobile data/video use

Mobile operators and backhaul transport providers spent $3.7 billion worldwide on mobile backhaul equipment in 2007, and are expected to increase their spending in the high double-digit percents from 2009 to at least 2011, according to Infonetics Research’s latest Mobile Backhaul Equipment, Installed Base, and Services report.

“All market indicators support continued growth of the mobile backhaul market. Manufacturers and service providers have had residential broadband and corporate services as the main thrust of their businesses for a long time, and now mobile backhaul makes up a third area that nearly all of them are focusing on. We expect to see the Ethernet mobile backhaul revolution really kick off in 2009,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst of Infonetics Research and lead analyst on the report.
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3G Spectrum Refarming Needed to Manage the Costs of Customer Expectations, says ABI Research

In recent years WCDMA subscriptions have grown apace: from 18 million at the end of 2004 to 170 million at the end of 2007. ABI Research forecasts that figure to rise to 740 million by the end of 2013.

“WCDMA is on its way towards proven success,” says Jake Saunders, ABI Research vice president, “but there are still challenges and hurdles to overcome. In particular, operators find that expanding WCDMA coverage in the 2100 MHz band into low-density urban and rural areas is very costly in the current competitive environment.”
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RIM Makes its HSDPA Move with BlackBerry Bold Smartphone Introduction

Research In Motion (RIM) introduced the BlackBerry Bold smartphone. The BlackBerry Bold is designed to give business professionals and power users functionality and performance in an intuitive BlackBerry smartphone. It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone’s support for tri-band HSDPA and enterprise-grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) networks and its next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor make short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering web pages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that is conveniently accessible from a side door. It comes with productivity applications, including phone, email, messaging, organizer and browser, and works with thousands of mobile business and lifestyle applications. Users can even talk on the phone while sending and receiving email or accessing the web, and download Word, Excel or PowerPoint files and edit them directly on the handset using the preloaded DataViz Documents to Go suite.
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Mio Group Plans Launch of Mobile Voice and Wireless Broadband Internet Services in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao

Mio, a provider of broadband mobile communication services in the Caribbean Islands, announced that it will soon be launching mobile voice, broadband Internet access and WiMAX services in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Mio will be the first in the Caribbean to offer affordable unlimited wireless broadband Internet access and voice plans that include voicemail and unlimited texting. In addition, Mio will also offer the fastest wireless Internet connectivity available through its wireless broadband service. WiMAX, Mio’s business offering, primarily targets the growing needs of the business and corporate community through powerful broadband Internet connectivity in the office. Mio differentiates itself from competitors with its unique global assets, solutions, and rigorous dedication to customer satisfaction. Mio aims to help customers around the world to benefit from IP services that are global in scale, linking the world’s wireless consumers, enterprises, governments and carriers with customers, employees and partners worldwide in a secure environment that is ideally suited for secure wireless IP-based applications. The company also offers a full range of data, voice and broadband products thus creating a complete communications solution for consumers and businesses alike.

The “iNET” brand, Mio’s EV-DO high speed Internet, provides mobile users with always-on access to email and the Internet anywhere in the Caribbean Islands where Mio has coverage. EV-DO also enables faster data transfer rates. This allows the user to be connected wherever they are — providing not only for the use of email but for downloading large files, music, photos, spreadsheets, etc. Users can also work on a large variety of applications including Microsoft Office Suite. In addition, this technology allows rich web browsing and application usage.
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mobilcom austria makes first I-HSPA data call

mobilkom austria has demonstrated the world’s fastest data call with a mobile device using the pioneering Internet High Speed Packet Access (I-HSPA) solution from Nokia Siemens Networks. During the trial, the data transmission downlink speed reached up to 10.1 Mbps.

The I-HSPA trial with mobilkom austria marks a milestone for Nokia Siemens Networks. The I-HSPA functionality is designed for heavy data and rich multimedia usage over the wireless network. Thanks to its simplified flat architecture, the network is ready to offer the end user a full mobility of data services, improved multimedia, gaming, web browsing and email service experience. In near future, I-HSPA will be capable for data transmission rates over 10.1 Mbps.
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Tele2 secures 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden

Tele2 is one of the winners when the auction for next-generation mobile network in Sweden concluded this last week. With the frequencies for 4G that Tele2 in Sweden now has been awarded, Tele2 will be able to build the next generation mobile network offering access speeds of more than 10 times faster than today’s network.

“With the four frequencies we secure the next generations mobile broadband and will be able to offer our customers a significant higher access speed, which we are pleased about,” says Niclas Palmstierna CEO Tele2 Sweden.
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Telenor acquires license for 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden

The Swedish Post and Telecommunications Authority today concluded the auction of spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band, regarded as key to the next generation of mobile technology. Telenor Sweden was awarded a license for 2x 20 MHz in the auction, granting Telenor substantial opportunities to provide 4G services and high-quality mobile broadband.

“This is the most important spectrum auction since the 3G frequencies were distributed, and I’m very pleased that Telenor Sweden now holds this opportunity to build high-quality 4G networks and provide our customers with the many possibilities provided by next generation mobile services and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. With this spectrum, we will be able to provide high-quality mobile broadband with speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, a major leap forward in the mobile race,” said Johan Lindgren, CEO of Telenor Sweden.
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Telenor plans HSDPA expansion to cover 86 percent of Norway’s population

Telenor strengthens its mobile broadband offering in Norway through Mobilt Bredbånd. This year, the Turbo 3G network is being expanded to cover all communities with more than 200 inhabitants, equivalent to 86 per cent of the Norwegian population.

“This is a big step for rural Norway, and Turbo 3G from Telenor shall be experienced as having Norway’s best coverage, quality and capacity,” says Ragnar KÃ¥rhus, head of Telenor in Norway.
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Ericsson deploys IMS solution and signs WCDMA/HSPA contract with Brasil Telecom

Ericsson has signed a contract with operator Brasil Telecom for a WCDMA/HSPA network and the deployment and systems integration of their IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The move is set to boost network capacity and manage increased traffic growth, paving the way for the introduction of advanced broadband and multimedia services.

Under the contract, Ericsson will be the main supplier for the WCDMA/HSPA radio access network in five Brazilian states and the sole supplier of Brasil Telecom’s 2G/3G common core network. As part of the core network, Ericsson’s Mobile Packet Backbone Network (Mobile-PBN) solution - from Ericsson’s Redback portfolio - will provide telecom-quality IP transport and allow the operator to introduce high-quality multimedia services quickly and reliably. Ericsson will also be responsible for network deployment, systems integration, training and support services.
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Strategy Analytics: ARM Will Beat Intel in $17 Billion Mobile Internet Device Market

Sales of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) will exceed $17 Billion annually by 2014, but Intel-based products will take a minority share, according to “Mobile Internet Devices: Heavyweights Do Battle For $17 Billion Prize,” just released by the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service. MIDs represent the latest attempt by computing, mobile and consumer electronics companies to create a market for handheld gadgets that support the complete range of Internet applications familiar to PC users. This report predicts that global sales in 2008 will reach 1 million units, and will continue to grow at an average annual rate of 102% to reach 69 million units by 2014.

“Intel’s Moorestown system-on-a-chip will be critical to the company’s MID strategy,” says Peter King, Director, Connected Home Devices. “But until this arrives in 2009 or 2010, ARM-based vendors will use this window of opportunity to establish market leadership positions.” The report concludes that the proven advantages of the ARM ecosystem in mobile devices will eventually outweigh those of the Intel platform and that ARM devices will comprise the majority of MID sales thru 2014.
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Mobile WiMAX to Level the Asia-Pacific Playing Field

While most Asia-Pacific countries are still processing spectrum bidding, manufacturers and application vendors are aggressively entering mobile WiMAX markets. As the market for mobile WiMAX expands, manufacturers are targeting new customer segments, and there will be a correspondingly huge opportunity in APAC regions.

“Because mobile WiMAX is aimed at untapped markets, almost all vendors including start-ups could be on equal footing with the larger, more established players,” says ABI Research senior analyst Andy Bae. “They will find significant opportunities in APAC.”
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100,000 Femtocells Will Ship in 2008, But 2010 Will Be the Year of Real Ramp-Up says ABI Research

Although the femtocell holds much promise for carriers of all kinds, 2008 is forecast to remain a fairly low-key year for femtocell vendors, according to new data from ABI Research. Only about 100,000 units are expected to ship in 2008. 2009 will show the fruits of the more than 20 trials currently underway, but 2010 will be the year when the market moves to double-digit millions in volume.

According to ABI Research vice president and research director Stuart Carlaw, “By 2010, femtocell silicon solutions will have been optimized to the degree that $100 price points for femtocell access points will be within reach, and OEMs’ order books will have the volume to sustain critical wholesale price reductions.”
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Nortel Publishes LTE Patent Royalty Rates

To help accelerate the global adoption of the 4G technology for high-speed, high-bandwidth mobile communications, Nortel has published a competitive handset royalty rate of about one percent subject to terms for its portfolio of LTE standards-essential patents. Nortel’s competitive handset royalty rate for patent value is one of the first to be voluntarily published. Nortel is providing this information in order to help service providers and their handset vendors develop business plans for launching LTE, a wireless technology that can support hotly demanded mobile applications like social networking, multi-player gaming, and streaming video.

With initial LTE deployments expected to occur as early as next year, operators are exploring the business case for investment in the 4G wireless technology to meet demand for higher-bandwidth mobile services. Nortel is taking this exceptional step of publishing its competitive patent royalty rates in order to provide increased transparency and predictability of IPR costs that could help prevent uncertainties in handset costs from inhibiting the growth of the 4G market. Removing an unknown of LTE IPR handset licensing costs is expected to help foster LTE business cases and reduce the risks of early deployment. Nortel will make licenses available and is providing royalty information to help simplify the current guesswork while ensuring that its innovation is rewarded.
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Sprint and Clearwire form joint venture to deploy WiMAX in United States

Clearwire Corporation and Sprint Nextel Corporation today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their next-generation wireless broadband businesses to form a new wireless communications company.

The new company, which will be named Clearwire, will be focused on expediting the deployment of the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network to provide a true mobile broadband experience for consumers, small businesses, medium and large enterprises, public safety organizations and educational institutions. The new Clearwire expects to dramatically enhance the speed and manner in which customers access all that the Internet has to offer at home, in the office and on the road.
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