MobilenniuM Express
3G Industry news from the UMTS Forum
02 March 2009

ZTE to roll-out 3G Networks in French Caribbean and Indian Ocean
India’s second state-owned operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam) has launched WCDMA/HSPA-based 3G services across 11 major cities in Northern and Eastern parts of India. BSNL plans to cover 700 cities in total at the first stage of the rollout, with Sweden’s Ericsson contracted as technology partner across 400 of these cities. The planned rollout will bring 3G access with download speeds of up to 2 Mbps to more than 15 million people. The leading state-owned telecoms group Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) launched India’s first 3G services in December 2008 in selected areas of New Delhi and plans to expand its WCDMA/HSPA network to Mumbai in early April.

SmarTone-Vodafone Announces Partnership with HTC and Unveils the New Generation Touch Cruise
SmarTone-Vodafone, a mobile operator in Hong Kong and Macau, has partnered with Taiwan-based smartphone manufacturer HTC Corporation to launch the new generation Touch Cruise in Hong Kong. The HSPA-enabled Windows Mobile device supports peak download broadband speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, while its unique customization will boost internet and multimedia experiences for SmarTone-Vodafone’s Internet on Mobile service customers.

Motorola Reinforces Commitment to TD-LTE
Motorola has announced its plans to collaborate with mobile operators on TD-LTE (Time Division Duplex Long-Term Evolution) trials to be conducted during 2009. The vendor expects that its LTE ecosystem, which includes both TD-LTE and FDD-LTE (Frequency Division Duplex LTE), will support the needs of TDD-spectrum operators in China and worldwide, with the early deployments planned from the fourth quarter of 2009 to mid-2010.

Nokia Siemens Networks Wins Big in China
China Mobile and China Unicom have signed contracts with Nokia Siemens Networks valued at CNY7.6 billion (US$1.1 billion). The two Chinese operators will purchase 2G and 3G mobile network equipment and services from the Finnish vendor during 2009. Nokia Siemens Networks will supply China Mobile with TD-SCDMA and GSM networks. It will also roll out WCDMA networks for China Unicom in 11 provinces across China.

Vodafone to Offer Microsoft Online Services With Voice and Data
Vodafone has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bundle Microsoft Online Services with its fixed and mobile voice and data services for small- and medium-sized businesses. The package, including Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Communications Online and Microsoft Office Live Meeting, will be hosted by Microsoft in its data centres. The service, which is already available in the US, will be available on a subscription basis from Vodafone in other countries across its footprint, starting with Germany and Spain, in the first half of 2009.

Telefónica O2 Extends Benefits of Nokia Siemens Networks Mobile Technology to Customers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Spanish telecoms group Telefónica O2 has signed a three-year contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to expand its mobile networks in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in an effort to offer customers faster mobile broadband data speeds and advanced multimedia services. Nokia Siemens Networks will be the sole supplier of the 2G (GSM/EDGE) and optionally 3G (WCDMA/HSPA) networks covering Slovakia and 2G and 3G in the Czech Republic’s two major cities, Prague and Brno. Nokia Siemens Networks will also provide network implementation and maintenance services.

Ericsson and BSNL in India’s Biggest Roll-out of 3G to Boost Mobile Broadband
India’s second state-owned operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam) has launched WCDMA/HSPA-based 3G services across 11 major cities in Northern and Eastern parts of India. BSNL plans to cover 700 cities in total at the first stage of the rollout, with Sweden’s Ericsson contracted as technology partner across 400 of these cities. The planned rollout will bring 3G access with download speeds of up to 2 Mbps to more than 15 million people. The leading state-owned telecoms group Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) launched India’s first 3G services in December 2008 in selected areas of New Delhi and plans to expand its WCDMA/HSPA network to Mumbai in early April.