207 HSDPA networks in 89 countries, says GSA

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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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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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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012 Smile.Communications Reports That its Experimental License to Conduct Fixed & Mobile WiMAX Technology Trials Has Been Extended

012 Smile.Communications announced that its experimental license to conduct WiMAX technology trials in Sderot and a high tech business center in the Tel Aviv area has been extended by Israel’s Ministry of Communications. With respect to the Sderot area - the license was extended until April 7, 2009 and with respect to the Tel Aviv area - the license was extended until September 18, 2009.

In March 2007, 012 Smile.Communications was awarded the first technology experimental license to conduct fixed WiMAX trials in several locations in Israel, including the largest high-tech business center in the Tel Aviv area. The license was later amended to also include mobile WiMAX trials in Sderot area.
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Nortel and LG Electronics Demo LTE at CTIA and with High Vehicle Speeds

Nortel and LG Electronics claim two “world firsts” that demonstrate the mobile broadband power of 4G LTE. LTE wireless broadband technology can put wireless Internet and popular mobile multimedia applications like mobile entertainment and productivity applications, HD streaming video, video collaboration and unified communications into the hands of consumers who want to access them while on the go.

World’s First Demonstration of LTE over Advanced Wireless Services Spectrum
At CTIA Wireless 2008 Nortel and LG Electronics presented a demonstration of LTE over the advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum - special bands (1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz) in the airwaves that can be used to run 4G wireless networks. Visitors to both the Nortel and LG Electronics booths at CTIA Wireless 2008 will be able to witness the enhanced wireless user experience delivered by LTE with a variety of bandwidth hungry and real-time services, like high-definition (HD) streaming video, transmitted live over the AWS spectrum. The demonstration shows standards-based interoperability between Nortel’s LTE Solution and the handset platform developed by LG Electronics. Nortel will also be offering LTE solutions - as well as CDMA EV-DO solutions - for the recently auctioned 700 MHz spectrum.
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Nokia Siemens Networks Readies for LTE in North America

Nokia Siemens Networks’ LTE solution for radio and core networks will enable operators to deploy WCDMA/HSPA and LTE in all major frequency bands, including the 700 MHz and 1.7/2.1 GHz bands that are of particular importance in North America. The solution is comprised of the new Flexi Multimode Base Station, Mobility Management Entity (MME) and System Architecture Evolution (SAE) Gateway. The Flexi Multimode Base Station is the newest member of the small, modular and energy-efficient Flexi Base Station family, making full use of the software defined radio concept, which simplifies the path to LTE.

As demand for mobile data increases exponentially, the rationale for evolution toward flat, all-IP network architectures will become more evident if operators are to sustain profitability. Nokia Siemens Networks is the innovation leader in flat mobile network architecture, and is the only supplier currently providing the standardized pre-LTE solution, Internet-HSPA, which is commercially available now. I-HSPA can be an initial step in implementing a flat, cost effective all-IP network that is compatible with all legacy HSPA devices and provides an evolution to LTE with just a software upgrade.
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Open Range Receives Financing to Provide Mobile Satellite and Wireless Broadband Service Using Globalstar ATC Spectrum Authority

Globalstar, Inc. announced that Open Range Communications, Inc. has secured approval for a $267 million broadband loan from the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Program.

In late 2007 Globalstar signed an agreement with Open Range permitting Open Range to deploy wireless broadband service in rural America using Globalstar’s Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) authority. The agreement contemplates using the Globalstar spectrum to offer dual mode mobile satellite based and terrestrial wireless WiMAX services to over 500 rural American communities that currently do not have adequate access to terrestrial-based broadband voice and data services. Customers outside of the WiMAX coverage area will be able to use Globalstar service over the satellites. The agreement is contingent on various conditions, including Globalstar’s receipt of authority from the FCC to use an expanded portion of its licensed spectrum for ATC services.
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700 MHz Spectrum Auction Results: Incumbents Prevail, But Some Change is on the Horizon, Says ABI Research

The FCC’s spectrum auction 73 is over, and as winners of the various blocks have been announced, its implications become clearer.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T were the major winners across the board, together accounting for more than 80% of the auction’s $19.1 billion in bids. Verizon won seven of the 12 Regional Economic Area Groups (REAGs) in block C which provides nationwide coverage in the continental United States and Hawaii, and which also carries an “open network” requirement for the license holder. According to ABI Research senior analyst Nadine Manjaro, “These licenses will enable Verizon to extend coverage into rural areas and potentially pose a significant threat to rural operators. In addition, since Verizon has announced plans to deploy LTE, it is highly likely that LTE will be deployed in this frequency band.”
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China’s MII starts handing out TD-SCDMA HSDPA network licenses

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

China’s MII has started issuing TD-SCDMA network licenses, according to a report from ChinaTechNews. Equipment providers ZTE and Potevio are among the first to obtain their licenses.

A company’s equipment must undergo indoor and in-field tests to obtain a license. The equipment specifically must support the TD-SCDMA HSDPA protocol.
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CDMA Global Subscribership Reaches More Than 431 Million

The CDMA Development Group (CDG) announced that CDMA subscribership continued its strong growth through the end of Q4 2007. Total subscribers grew to more than 431 million, and CDMA2000 grew to more than 417 million. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region added the most net subscribers, and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) grew the fastest by percentage. CDMA’s overall growth rate demonstrates that its performance and suitability across deployment scenarios — especially emerging markets — are compelling to operators who want to offer lucrative services over the most advanced and affordable technology.

“CDMA’s attributes, including voice quality, speed and lower total cost of ownership, continue to drive its proliferation across the globe,” said James Person, chief operating officer for the CDG. “Operators who want to meet subscriber demand with compelling and affordable services have recognized the technology’s long list of benefits. Especially in Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, where the markets vary from sparsely populated rural villages to densely populated urban centers, CDMA’s performance and flexibility meet most operators’ network demands.”
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WiMAX Forum Announces Mobile WiMAX Certification Product Progress and Updates

The WiMAX Forum announced that 28 Mobile WiMAX products in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz frequency bands have been submitted for WiMAX Forum certification since WiMAX Forum labs began accepting applications from vendors in December 2007. The organization further announced its official decision in support of significant market demand to expand the WiMAX Forum product development roadmap for Mobile WiMAX certification in the 700 MHz frequency band.

“With more than 260 commercial WiMAX deployments rolled-out on a global basis, WiMAX technology is the only commercially available OFDMA-based wireless technology today to support the rapid expansion of mobile broadband Internet access and the broad proliferation of the open Internet concept that so many mobile service providers are talking about here this week,” said Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. “We expect this momentum to be evident at Mobile World Congress and at the upcoming WiMAX Forum Congress event series.”
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Nokia Siemens Networks Delivers I-HSPA Network to Rural US Upstart Stelera Wireless

Stelera Wireless today announced that it has launched the first two markets of its rural broadband networks build in the United States. Nokia Siemens Networks has supplied an end-to-end network solution and turnkey services for this initial deployment and will continue to do so as the network expands.

Nokia Siemens Networks is supplying its industry-leading flat, all-IP Internet High Speed Packet Access (I-HSPA) architecture solution, which includes the company’s flagship Flexi Base Station optimized for the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum band. The end-to-end offering consists of network and service core, backhaul and wireless broadband access in addition to turnkey services like network planning, spectrum clearing, site acquisition and construction, installation, integration, optimization, as well as maintenance, and interoperability testing with end user devices.
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Even the FCC Underestimated the Demand 700 MHz, says ABI Research

Originally expected to raise between $10 billion and $15 billion, total current bids exceed $18.9 billion. Bidding on the sought-after C block also surpasses the FCC requirements ($4.6 billion) and now has a PWB (Provisional Winning Bid) of $4.7 billion. ABI Research notes that demand for 700 MHz is so great, not even the pending recession impacts the bidding process.

This auction may be the last opportunity for new participants to gain ground in the wireless realm, which is dominated by incumbent carriers. New participants include Google, Vulcan Spectrum LLC, Towerstream, and Cox, while traditional participants include Verizon and AT&T.
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WiMAX Subscribers to Exceed 100 Million by 2014, Says Maravedis Report

Telecommunications market research and analysis firm Maravedis today announced the publication of the fifth edition of its yearly report “WiMAX, LTE and Broadband Wireless Worldwide Market Trends 2008-2014.” This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of broadband wireless trends including applications, deployments, technology, regulation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Maravedis forecasts WiMAX subscribers to exceed 100 million by 2014. “WiMAX chipsets will start to be embedded in laptops in the second half of 2008, into handheld devices in 2009, and into consumer electronics by early 2010,” said Adlane Fellah, President and CEO of Maravedis and co-author of the report.
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