3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
13 November 2009
Following tests of mobile broadband networks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, European telecoms magazine connect has ranked mobilkom austria number one in the region in terms of network coverage and quality. The operator achieved the highest score in each of the six categories of mobile data transfer, including in rural areas. The average download rate stands at 3 Mbps in both urban and rural areas. mobilkom austria launched its HSPA+ network in March 2009.
Hong Kong mobile operator SmarTone-Vodafone has launched its HSPA+ network, which enables peak downlink rates of up to 21.6 Mbps. Customers have a choice of three new mobile broadband price plans (2-3 Mbps, 2-6 Mbps and 2-14 Mbps), depending on the downlink speeds they require. The new broadband price plans come with free USB HSPA+ modems. SmarTone-Vodafone plans to upgrade its network speeds to 28 Mbps and 42 Mbps during 2010, paving the way for 80 Mbps and LTE technology in the future.
Ericsson has deployed an HSPA network for Zain in the Bonsaaso Millennium Village Cluster in Ghana. The new HSPA-based mobile broadband services will enable the 30,000-strong community in the six-village cluster to use applications enabling access to health, education, information on weather and agriculture. The project has been implemented with the support of the Millennium Villages Project, collaboration between The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
U.S. mobile operator AT&T has added the HSPA-enabled USBConnect Lightning. The device from Sierra Wireless will be available nationwide on 22 November. It will enable peak downlink rates of up to 7.2 Mbps. AT&T plans to strengthen its portfolio of HSPA 7.2 Mbps devices as it rolls out its HSPA network. The company will complete the HSPA rollout in six major U.S. cities (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami) by the end of 2009, covering 25 of the country’s 30 largest markets by the end of 2010. HSPA coverage will reach 90% of its existing 3G network footprint by the end of 2011.
China’s ZTE confirms that it has been shortlisted by Telefónica O2 for the operator’s LTE (Long Term Evolution) field project. The six-month trials will take place in six countries across Europe and Latin America. The partnership will give ZTE the opportunity to demonstrate its innovative LTE portfolio. In addition to ZTE, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Nokia Siemens Networks and NEC have also been shortlisted.
O2 UK has unveiled a Total Connectivity Bolt On service for iPhone customers. As part of the promotion, O2 offers its standard Home Broadband package free of charge to iPhone customers who buy the 3GB Internet Tethering Bolt-on for GBP9.79 per month. The promotion is available until 31 December.
Zain Kuwait has awarded a new contract to Motorola to expand and upgrade the operator’s network to HSPA+ technology. The network expansion and implementation of new HSPA+ software will enhance mobile broadband peak downlink rates to up to 21.6 Mbps and boost indoor coverage. Motorola deployed Zain Kuwait’s 3G network in 2007 and subsequently carried out an HSPA upgrade to enable increased data speeds of 14.4 Mbps in mid-2008.
Motorola has announced plans to launch its new Android-powered Motorola Milestone in Canada exclusively on Telus’ network in early 2010. The HSPA-enabled device – branded the Motorola Droid in the U.S. – features the latest version of Google’s Android 2.0 OS. The smartphone combines a full QWERTY keyboard with touch-screen capabilities. The Motorola Milestone will run on Telus’ newly launched HSPA network.
Canadian operator Bell Mobility has selected mobile personalised applications provider Bridgewater Systems to support the rollout of its HSPA network. Bell Mobility will deploy Bridgewater Service Controller and Subscriber Data Broker in an effort to meet growing demand for mobile data services from consumers and enterprise customers. Bridgewater’s solutions will enable Bell Mobility to scale mobile broadband services, manage subscriber data in real time and deliver personalised services.
The Swiss Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) plans to auction existing and new mobile radio frequencies, with the invitation to tender expected in the course of 2010. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) has been instructed to prepare the tender documentation. ComCom will allocate the current GSM and UMTS licences which expire on 31 December 2013 and 2016 respectively, plus frequencies in the 790-862 MHz band which will be released as part of the digital dividend by 2015.
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