3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
03 July 2009
Turkey poised for 3G success
As Turkey readies for the launch of 3G services on 31 July, delegates at this week's UMTS Forum 3G/Mobile Broadband Eurasia Leadership Seminar were presented a positive picture of 3G success globally and growing momentum behind LTE (Long Term Evolution).
Sonera Introduces 3G Services in the 900 MHz Frequency in Finland
Sonera has begun a 3G expansion programme, under which the company will roll out mobile broadband services in the 900 MHz frequency band in Finland. The operator has confirmed Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei as its network vendors. With more than 1,000 new base stations to be deployed, the WCDMA/HSPA 900 MHz rollout will enable Sonera to launch its HSPA turbo 3G network in more than 100 new towns and localities this year, bringing the total number to 350 localities. The expansion will continue in 2010 and 2011 depending on market growth and service demand.
Huawei has launched an LTE lab in Tokyo that will serve as an incubator for LTE technologies and a training facility for the implementation and commercialization of the next-generation wireless technology. The centre will allow the Chinese vendor to offer Japanese mobile operators state-of-the-art testing, product innovation and training facilities for next-generation solutions.
Vodafone Rolls out Mobile Broadband with Speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps in Portugal
Vodafone Portugal has launched commercial HSPA+ mobile broadband service based on HSPA+ 64QAM technology. The HSPA+ coverage is currently available in Lisbon, the capital, while the operator plans to gradually roll out the HSPA+ network across Portugal. The service, which costs EUR49.90 per month with 6 GB of traffic included, offers peak download speeds of 21.6 Mbps and maximum upload speeds of up to 5.7 Mbps. The Vodafone Pen Connect K4505 is available at EUR 129.90.
OTE-backed mobile group Cosmote has acquired Romanian 3G mobile network operator Telemobil (Zapp) for EUR207 million (EUR61 million in equity and EUR146 million in debt) from Saudi Oger. The deal will enable Cosmote's Romanian unit, which is the country's third largest mobile network, to gain Zapp's 3G assets. Cosmote Romania does not have a 3G licence, while Zapp owns CDMA 450 MHz and UMTS 2100 MHz licences. Zapp's 3G network currently covers 23 Romanian cities.
Alcatel-Lucent Selected as LTE Backhaul Network Supplier for NTT DOCOMO
Alcatel-Lucent has signed a contract with Japan's leading mobile group NTT DoCoMo to deploy the mobile backhaul network using its Ethernet transmission solution for the operator's planned LTE service. Alcatel-Lucent's packet optical Ethernet transport solution will enable NTT DoCoMo to build a new mobile backhaul network combining packet and optical technologies to meet increased service penetration and faster mobile broadband speeds.
SK Telecom and RIM Launch BlackBerry Internet Service in South Korea
SK Telecom has launched the BlackBerry platform and the HSDPA-enabled BlackBerry Bold smartphone, which is now available to business users and professionals in South Korea. The monthly subscription to the BlackBerry Internet Service costs KRW 24,000 (US$18.80) and includes 30 MB of data traffic.
Vodafone customers in the Czech Republichave downloaded twice as much data as they did six months ago, thanks to two new data roaming tariffs which were launched in November 2008. Customers using the Connect for Good from Abroad and Connect for a Day from Abroad data tariffs accounted for one quarter of the total volume of data downloaded outside the country.
Orange UK has unveiled the HTC Touch Pro2 smartphone. The high-end Windows Mobile-powered PDA is aimed at business customers. The HTC Touch Pro2 is a quad-band HSDPA-enabled phone which features a 3.6-inch high-resolution touch screen, slide out QWERTY keyboard and 8GB MicroSD card. A number of innovative business-oriented applications include StraightTalk and an appointment reminder tool.
Huawei has unveiled an end-user Femtocell device, dubbed Femtocell 2.0, which enhances the delivery of mobile voice and data services by strengthening in-door 3G network coverage for handsets. The Femtocell 2.0, which received Germany's prestigious iF Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award in 2009, allows operators to address both household and enterprise markets simultaneously. Huawei claims that its Femtocell solution and devices are now ready to support mass market adoption.
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