3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
27 November 2009
The European Parliament has approved the last part of the Telecoms reform package, aimed at bringing more competition, improving consumer choice, boosting broadband internet coverage and protecting users’ privacy rights with regards to telecoms operators. The EU telecoms reform, which paves the way for the establishment of the new pan-European telecoms authority (BEREC), will enter into force on 18 December 2009. EU member States will have until June 2011 to transpose the telecoms reform package into national legislation.
Telecom Italia has launched pre-commercial trials of its LTE mobile network in Turin in cooperation with China’s Huawei as its vendor partner. The trial is based on 14 new LTE base stations located in the centre of Turin, which are integrated with the operator’s existing mobile infrastructure. The LTE trial network ensures bandwidth of more than 140 Mbps per cell, with the possibility of handling three voice/data connections simultaneously.
The Finish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) has awarded three 20-year licences for FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) spectrum in the 2500-2690 MHz band to the country’s three mobile operators: Elisa, TeliaSonera Finland and DNA. Elisa bid EUR834,700 for the 50 MHz block, TeliaSonera Finland bid EUR819,200 for 50 MHz (five blocks of 2x5 MHz) and DNA won 40 MHz for EUR675,700. Additional 50 MHz in the TDD (Time Division Duplex) spectrum went to Pirkanmaan Verkko Oy for EUR1.5 million. The 2.6 GHz auction, which raised €3.8 million in total, will enable mobile operators to launch LTE networks.
Alcatel-Lucent has successfully completed the world’s first LTE data call using the 800 MHz spectrum band, which is currently being released as part of the Digital Dividend in Europe. The call was made at the vendor’s LTE centre in Stuttgart, Germany. The development shows Alcatel-Lucent’s readiness to provide European mobile operators with LTE solutions once digital dividend spectrum becomes available.
AT&T and Hewlett-Packard (HP) have unveiled a new 3G HSDPA smartphone, branded the HP iPAQ Glisten, which is aimed at mobile professionals. Powered by the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, the iPAQ Glisten features full QWERTY keyboard and five-way directional pad, AMOLED touchscreen, advanced mobile e-mail capabilities, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS functionality, plus rich multimedia features and applications with access to Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Nokia has announced two new mid-range 3G slider phones, the Nokia 6700 slide and Nokia 7230. Featuring a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash and Carl Zeiss optics, as well as 2.2-inch QVGA display, the Nokia 6700 slide supports the HSPA technology with peak download speeds of up to 10 Mbps. The Nokia 7230 is a 3G WCDMA phone with a 2.4-inch QVGA display and 3.2 megapixel camera. Both devices also feature FM radio, Bluetooth with stereo audio support and microSDHC expansion slots. They will be available in the first quarter of 2010, with the Nokia 6700 slide retailing at EUR160 and the Nokia 7230 at EUR100, before taxes and subsidies.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has partnered with LG Electronics (LG) to carry out the first end-to-end LTE interoperability tests in the 2100 MHz frequency band. The first phase of the trial featured successfully completed data calls, demonstrating the interoperability of NSN LTE radio equipment and Evolved Packet Core network elements with an LTE USB Datacard manufactured by LG. In the second phase, the partners will run field trials using LG’s LTE terminal and NSN’s test network in Espoo and Ulm, followed by tests in operator networks. The trials will also be extended to cover other frequency bands such as 2.6 GHz and AWS (advanced wireless spectrum) 700 MHz.
Orange UK has expanded its Connected Laptops line with the launch of two new mobile broadband-enabled models: the Asus 1005HGO and the Compaq CQ61. The Asus 1005HGO comes with embedded Orange SIM card, while The Compaq CQ61 is equipped with the Orange e1752 USB stick. Both laptops, which feature the new Windows 7 operating system, are aimed at consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) on 18- or 24-month contracts ranging from GBP25-40 per month on 1GB, 3GB, or 5GB plans. Unlimited UK data plans are available for SMEs on a 24 months contract. Orange has also unveiled two new USB sticks: the Orange e1752 and Option 515M, which will be available from GBP20 on most mobile broadband price plans.
Belgian wireless solutions provider Option has announced that its new HSPA-enabled GTM501 mobile broadband module will be used by MOTO Development Group in the Android 2.0 Media Platform (AMP). The AMP development platform is designed to support a range of next-generation consumer and enterprise electronics powered by Google's Android 2.0 mobile operating system and Texas Instruments' OMAP processor, with 3G connectivity provided by Option’s GTM 501 module. Measuring only 25mm x 30mm x 2.3mm, the GTM501 is the smallest and thinnest module currently available on the market.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has been selected by Telefónica to run LTE trials in the Czech Republic. NSN will deploy its LTE solution based on the Evolved Packet Core and the Flexi Base Station for Telefónica O2 Czech Republic in a six-month test. NSN’s LTE technology will allow operators that have already deployed NSN’s Flexi Based Stations to switch from 3G to LTE by a software upgrade. The project is part of Telefónica’s LTE trials with six partner vendors in six countries announced last month.
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