3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
20 November 2009
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has been selected by VMS MobiFone as partner vendor for the Vietnamese mobile operator’s 3G WCDMA network rollout. NSN will upgrade MobiFone’s radio access infrastructure to 3G using its energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station and will expand the operator’s packet-switched core network with its power-efficient Flexi Intelligent Service Node. The vendor will also implement an IP backbone overhaul ahead of the expected boom in mobile data and other mobile broadband services.
Nokia has unveiled a new mobile TV handset, the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, which supports Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) technology. The HSDPA-enabled device combines mobile TV with other entertainment capabilities, such as social networking, music and gaming. It features QVGA 2.4-inch screen, Nokia's electronic programme guide (NPG), 3.2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and battery life of up to six hours of DVB-H usage. Commercial launches of mobile TV services based on DVB-H and OMA BCAST standards have been carried out Austria, Finland, Ghana, Kenya, India, Italy, Namibia, Nigeria, Netherland, Philippines and Switzerland.
Belgian wireless solutions provider Option has unveiled plans for its HSPA-enabled GTM501 mobile broadband module to be embedded in Plastic Logic's eReader device. Measuring 25mm x 30mm x 2.3mm, the GTM501 is the world’s smallest and thinnest module and is an ideal 3G connectivity solution for small connected devices, such as e-readers, small mobile computing devices and connected cameras. The GTM501 module enables download speeds of up to 10.2 Mbps.
Motorola has added the Wireless Broadband Radio (WBR) 500 series to its LTE portfolio. The new frame-based eNodeB solution delivers exceptional coverage and capacity performance, and gives operators deployment flexibility and significant total cost of ownership benefits. It is an LTE standards-based solution built using Motorola's fully programmable FLeX Modem technology and can be deployed in both new and existing GSM, UMTS, HSPA, CDMA, or TD-SCDMA cell sites. It supports Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) or Time Division Duplex (TDD) in a range of frequencies from 700 MHz to 2.6 GHz with bandwidths from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz.
Telenor Denmark has contracted Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to upgrade its existing 2G and 3G radio networks for EDGE and HSPA+ services based on NSN’s LTE-capable Flexi Multiradio base station. Under the six-year deal, NSN will also implement a new IP backbone network for the operator. NSN will be responsible for providing project management, network implementation, planning and optimization as well as software, hardware and competence development services.
A recent study of the broadband markets in Europe published by the European Commission has highlighted mobile broadband as a viable alternative to fixed broadband networks. Mobile broadband has been gaining momentum in Europe, with a 54% year-on-year increase since the beginning of this year. The current mobile broadband penetration in the European Union stands at 4.2%, a 54% increase since January 2009. Mobile broadband access had particularly taken off in Austria (where mobile broadband penetration has reached 13.8% of citizens), Sweden (12.6%), Portugal (10.8%) and Ireland (8.3%).
Orange UK has gained top spot in the recent YouGov’s Dongle Tracker survey for the second time this year. The operator’s mobile broadband service has been rated as number one in terms of quality and value for money. In addition, customers have ranked Orange top in nine out of 15 categories, including best overall network coverage, ease of use and staying connected. Orange is committed to both investing in its mobile broadband network and providing high quality user experience.
Asia’s multi-market operator Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) will coordinate a regional LTE trial in partnership with six network vendors: Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Siemens Networks and ZTE. SingTel has also joined forces with its regional subsidiaries, Optus, Globe Telecom and Telkomsel, to carry out the field tests in Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as on its home turf in Singapore. The trials are scheduled to start in the first half of 2010 and will take place over between six to nine months.
The US-based mobile broadband solutions provider Starent Networks has been selected by Telenor Denmark for a complete GSM/WCDMA/LTE mobile core network deployment. Starent Networks, which has been acquired by Cisco Systems, will provide Telenor Denmark with the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) for the GSM and WCDMA networks, as well as Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) for the next-generation LTE network. Earlier this month, Telenor Norway has contracted Starent Networks, to replace its mobile core network.
O2 UK has announced plans to expand its mobile broadband network across the country in a response to rising consumer demand for mobile data services. The network expansion is expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds, which compares with GBP500 million that O2 UK has invested over the last two years. The project will involve an upgrade of the current radio network, as well as the construction of new sites. The operator will deliver 200 new sites in London alone over the next 12 months, 40 of which will be ready before the end of 2009.
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