CDMA Is Not Dead Yet, says ABI Research
August 19, 2008
Although the overall dynamics of CDMA markets are overshadowed by the hype around UMTS/HSPA and the migration to LTE, CDMA operators continue to upgrade their networks to provide capacity for higher numbers of bandwidth-intensive data services, as well as escalating traffic load.
“Worldwide EVDO Rev A subscriber numbers ramped up more than eightfold between Q2 2007 and Q2 2008,” says ABI Research analyst Khor Hwai Lin. “The US and South Korean markets shows the highest growth rate for EVDO Rev A. The increased support for LTE from incumbent CDMA operators does not imply the imminent death of EVDO Rev A and B, because LTE is addressing different market needs compared to 3G.”
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Ericsson in Bangladesh HSPA pilot
August 12, 2008
Ericsson is launching a pilot in Bangladesh to demonstrate how to improve productivity and quality of life in the country with the use of high-speed internet services through 3G/HSPA technology.
The project, called Alokito Bangladesh (Enlightened Bangladesh), will demonstrate high-speed internet access and a range of advanced services - including mobile health and mobile learning - in the region of the capital, Dhaka, from early August to the end of October this year. Ericsson is seeking to showcase how the technology can be a major catalyst for social and economic empowerment by bridging the digital divide in this developing market.
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Sony Ericsson unveils T700 HSDPA thin-phone in England
August 11, 2008
Sony Ericsson unveiled its 10mm-thick luxury handset ‘T700′ in England. Adopting a 3.2M built-in camera and 2-inch LCD screen, the T700 supports HSDPA, Bluetooth connectivity, high-quality stereo speaker and 512MB memory. Measuring 48×104x10mm and weighing in at 78g, it is expected to be available in Q4′2008.
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Top Global launches TD-HSPA Mobile Router at the 2008 Olympics Games
August 7, 2008
by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News
Top Global announced its Time Division High Speed Packet Access (TD-HSPA) Router was launched during the 2008 Olympics Games opening day. Top Global’s Mobile Routers were used to provide network connectivity to numerous bank ATMs, information and payment Kiosks in an effort to help to increase the efficiency, safety and convenience of the visiting dignitaries, volunteers and spectators during the Beijing Olympic Games.
Top Global developed and patented its MobileBridge platform, which serves as a gateway/router linking Third Generation (3G) Cellular network and Wi-Fi/LAN networks. Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) is a 3G mobile telecommunication standards being pursued in China. The national commercial trials of the TD-SCDMA network launched on April 1, 2008 and is expected to reach 60,000 users by the end of the year. TD-HSPA is the high speed data evolution of the TD-SCDMA, and can reach 2.8 Mbps peak speed. Multiple products from Top Global can support TD-HSPA including the MB8000, MB6800 and MB5000. Enterprises in China can get wireless Internet connectivity anywhere, at anytime within the coverage of a TD-HSPA network.
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Multi-Tech targets M2M applications with HSDPA embedded modem
August 5, 2008
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. is now shipping a new embedded HSDPA modem for use by developers to add cellular wireless communications to products. The new SocketModem HSDPA offers standards-based tri-band UMTS/HSDPA cellular communications and is available in USB or serial interface versions that can match the requirements for adding cellular capability to new or legacy designs. The new SocketModem HSDPA is part of the company’s Universal Socket Connectivity family that shares a common design footprint and pin assignments.
“OEMs partner with Multi-Tech because we provide the M2M communication technologies needed for their designs allowing full concentration on their application expertise,” states Bill Chesney, Vice President of Sales for Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. “Our SocketModem HSDPA models are complete and approved modems so they can be implemented in designs to reduce a product’s time-to-market. The SocketModem HSDPA is yet another member of our family of embedded solutions that create communication-ready devices by integrating connectivity into a single universal socket design.”
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Bloomberg: NEC Says Sales to Carriers Will Rise 43% on Faster Gear Demand
July 30, 2008
By Pavel Alpeyev and Mikako Nakajima
NEC Corp., Japan’s largest personal-computer maker, forecast sales of equipment and software services to carriers will increase 43 percent in three years as telecommunications companies upgrade their networks.
Revenue in the business will rise to 1 trillion yen ($9.3 billion) in the year ending March 2011, from 700 billion last fiscal year, Nobuhiro Endo, NEC’s associate senior vice president in charge of the mobile-network operations unit, said in a Bloomberg Television interview broadcast today. The operations accounted for 15 percent of the company’s sales last fiscal year.
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2.1 billion mobile broadband customers by 2015, says Analysys Mason
July 30, 2008
Wireless broadband services will create significant opportunities for revenue growth, and cellular technologies will take the largest share, according to a report from Analysys Mason.
Globally, 2.1 billion wireless broadband customers will generate USD784 billion in service revenue by 2015. This revenue increase of about 2400% will be underpinned by continued developments in wireless technologies, improvements in devices and more flexible pricing options.
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Samsung’s Q1 Ultra UMPCs Now Available with HSDPA and Vista Business
July 28, 2008
Samsung Electronics America announced today the availability of two new ultra mobile personal computers (UMPC). The Q1U-CMXP, a Q1 ultra mobile model with integrated HSDPA 3G cellular modem and the Q1UP-V, a Q1 Ultra Premium featuring Vista Business, join Samsung’s current line of UMPC’s. The new models are available nationwide at a suggested list price of $1,499 for the Q1U-CMXP and $1,449 for the Q1UP-V.
The Q1U-CMXP connects with integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 10/100 BaseTX, and an integrated HSDPA 3G cellular modem supporting the AT&T Broadband Connect network. In addition, the model boasts the same specifications as the industry standard Q1 Ultra XP model launched in May of 2007.
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Nokia and Qualcomm agree to settle all litigation and form new agreement
July 23, 2008
Nokia and Qualcomm today announced that they have entered into a new agreement covering various standards including GSM, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, OFDM, WiMAX, LTE and other technologies. The agreement will result in settlement of all litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia of its complaint to the European Commission.
Under the terms of the new 15-year agreement, Nokia has been granted a license under all Qualcomm’s patents for use in Nokia mobile devices and Nokia Siemens Networks infrastructure equipment. Further, Nokia has agreed not to use any of its patents directly against Qualcomm, enabling Qualcomm to integrate Nokia’s technology into Qualcomm’s chipsets. The financial structure of the settlement includes an up-front payment and on-going royalties payable to Qualcomm. Nokia has agreed to assign ownership of a number of patents to Qualcomm, including patents declared as essential to WCDMA, GSM and OFDMA. The specific terms are confidential.
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Aircell Selects LTE as Next-Gen Protocol for Inflight Connectivity
July 20, 2008
Aircell announced its intention to base its next-generation mobile broadband network on Long Term Evolution (LTE). Having pioneered the first commercial Inflight Internet service in North America, Aircell plans to deploy LTE to enable the next generation ultra-high bandwidth mobile services such as high-definition and interactive TV and multi-player immersive gaming that passengers will come to expect. As Aircell migrates toward full LTE deployment, planned network and technology developments will enable Aircell to serve North American airlines with state-of-the-art mobile broadband technology.
Aircell’s LTE announcement expands on the company’s vision and leadership in the airborne communications market. With a 16-year history in airborne communications, Aircell’s continuing innovation and leadership were confirmed recently by the company’s demonstration of the first and only air-to-ground mobile broadband Inflight Internet solution for commercial airlines, Gogo. Gogo turns a commercial airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot, providing full Internet access - including Web, personal IM and email accounts and VPN access to corporate email and systems - to passengers with Wi-Fi enabled personal devices such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs.
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Ericsson expands Softbank Japan’s HSPA network
July 20, 2008
Ericsson has signed a frame agreement with Japanese operator, Softbank Mobile, to expand and upgrade its HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network to increase capacity and enable even faster mobile broadband. With this contract, Ericsson will expand its business with Softbank by providing enhanced HSPA on new and existing base stations in the high traffic areas of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.
The deal also includes an extension of the Ericsson circuit and packet switched networks, a field maintenance service and a full turnkey service for the rollout of new base stations.
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HTC presents HSDPA TyTN II smart phone
July 16, 2008
Featuring global high-speed HSDPA connectivity, built-in GPS for personal navigation and an innovative adjustable screen angle, the HTC TyTN II packs all the power of Windows Mobile 6 into a unique new form factor.
The 2.8-inch color screen slides back to reveal a full qwerty keyboard, then tilts up to position the screen perfectly for reading and creating emails, using applications, or even just playing videos and games.
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Samsung launches the Multi Touch II with EV-DO rev.A in Korea
July 16, 2008
Samsung Electronics has launched a premium EV-DO smart phone called the ‘Multi Touch II’ (model: SPH-M4655) in South Korea.
The SPH-M4655 is a 14mm-thick PDA phone featuring a 2.8-inch LCD display, supporting e-mail, DMB and EV-DO Rev A connectivity. Powered by a 624MHz processor, 128MB of RAM and 256MB of ROM, it features Windows Mobile 6.1 OS, a 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and a microSD card slot. Supporting LG Telecom’s OZ 3G services, the phone is available for around 500,000 won.
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207 HSDPA networks in 89 countries, says GSA
July 16, 2008
More than 200 HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) systems worldwide have launched commercial mobile broadband services, according to the latest research published today by GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association.
The GSA survey: “HSPA Operator Commitments” confirms 207 HSDPA networks have launched in 89 countries. This compares with 126 commercial HSDPA networks in 63 countries reported by GSA 12 months previously.
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Mobile Network Energy OPEX to Rise Dramatically to $22 Billion in 2013
July 5, 2008
Over the next few years the growing cost of bulk diesel fuel, coupled with wholesale electricity price increases, are likely to offset significant gains in cellular base station power efficiency. This will result in a collective network OPEX of $22 billion in 2013, according to a new study from ABI Research. Starting in 2012, however, the benefits of power consumption and efficiency advancements should start to rein in the spiraling operating expenditures.
Infrastructure vendors are focusing intently on reducing power consumption in their products through hardware integration, the use of remote radio heads, and software-based solutions that provide dynamic network dimensioning. These measures seem likely to reduce the average base station power consumption level by 43% between 2007 and 2013, a development that is eagerly awaited by the carrier community.
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