MobilenniuM Express
3G Industry news from the UMTS Forum
03 April 2009

Arqiva Named as Principal Cell-Site Partner for Pioneering 3G Network Integration Project
Infrastructure specialist Arqiva has been selected to provide UK cell sites to Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL), the 50/50 network sharing joint venture of Hutchison Whampoa’s 3UK and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile UK. Under the terms of the 10-year deal, Arqiva will provide 5,100 sites in order to accelerate the integration of 3G networks of 3UK and T-Mobile UK.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) publishes the tender for Licensing the Use of Radio Spectrum Frequencies for Mobile Communications (Third Generation)
The Jordanian telecoms regulator has published a tender documentation for its 3G licensing process. In the first phase, one 3G licence will be offered in an auction open to all incumbent operators and a potential new entrant. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has put a cap on a minimum bid at JOD25 million (US$35.3 million) for a paired block of 5 MHz in the 2.1 GHz band.

Alcatel-Lucent Innovations Help Wireless Service Providers Integrate CDMA and LTE Services on the Same Network
Alcatel-Lucent has released Converged RAN, enabling CDMA operators to upgrade smoothly to LTE and deploy both technologies in a common base station platform while reducing power consumption and carbon footprint. The multi-technology, multi-frequency solution will enable CDMA operators – such as Verizon Wireless which has selected Alcatel-Lucent as the primary vendor for its initial LTE deployment using the 700 MHz spectrum band - to migrate from CDMA to LTE.

Ericsson Pushes HSPA World Record to 56 Mbps
Ericsson plans to demonstrate HSPA+ data speeds of 56 Mbps at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas, USA. Enhanced downlink data rates have been achieved using HSPA multi-carrier MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) technology together with 16QAM modulation, which will be commercially released in 2010 following its standardisation in 3GPP Release 9. The generation of HSPA+ networks that are currently being deployed by operators support peak data rates of up to 21 Mbps, upgradable to 42 Mbps using 64QAM modulation.

PTC Customers to Surf at Speed with Mobile Broadband
Polish mobile operator PTC has selected Nokia Siemens Networks for a major 2G and 3G network upgrade and expansion contract to enable high-speed multimedia services and high-quality voice calls. Under the terms of the deal, Nokia Siemens Networks will deliver equipment, including its Flexi Base Station, as well as providing PTC with NetAct network management and service management.

ZTE, CSL Announce Availability of the World's First SDR-Based HSPA+ Commercial Network
Chinese equipment manufacturer ZTE has completed the upgrade to SDR (Software Defined Radio) based HSPA+ All IP technology for Hong Kong’s leading mobile operator CSL Ltd. The fully integrated 2G/3G all-IP SDR-based HSPA+ network, which has been branded ‘Next G’ by CSL’s parent company Telstra, supports peak mobile broadband download speeds of up to 21 Mbps. 

Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Center To Drive 4G Next Generation Wireless Product Development
Verizon Wireless has unveiled details of its LTE Innovation Center which will help the company build LTE ecosystem with focus on consumer electronics, M2M products and telematics. The Verizon Wireless LTE Innovation Centre will be an incubator for wireless consumer and business product and service development, supporting especially the early stages of product development. Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, who are the operator’s primary vendors for its LTE network deployment, are also founding partners of the LTE Innovation Center.