3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
12 March 2010
Bahrain’s Viva, part of Saudi Telecom Company (STC), has announced a free-of-charge mobile broadband promotion of its soon-to-be-launched HSPA+ network. The operator will offer a free USB HSPA+ modem, enabling peak downlink speeds of up to 21 Mbps, to participating customers. Mobile broadband services will be provided with no subscription or registration fees until 4 June 2010.
Finland’s DNA has contracted Sierra Wireless to supply HSPA+ USB modems. The device, branded the DNA Mokkula USB 309 modem, will enable peak downlink speeds of up to 21 Mbps. The modem is equipped with an external antenna, which greatly improves reception in fringe areas. DNA, which is Sierra Wireless’ first customer in Finland, has upgraded its network to HSPA+ in 2009.
A new initiative, named Beyond Next-Generation Mobile Broadband (BuNGee), seeks to achieve a tenfold increase in mobile broadband infrastructure capacity density. The EUR4.7 million scheme, which is funded in large part by the European Commission, targets the goal of 1 Gbps per square kilometre. The project will identify new network deployment strategies, especially suited for dense urban environments where market demand for wireless broadband access is highest. The BuNGee consortium members comprise European service providers, technology equipment vendors, universities, and research organisations.
Anadigics has unveiled a new set of power amplifiers (PAs) designed for mobile broadband datacards and handsets based on HSPA+ and LTE technologies. The new PAs use the innovative Anadigics’ HELP (High-Efficiency-at-Low-Power) technology to deliver exceptional performance to customers making USB modules and new generation handsets based on the LTE standard.
A white paper on deployment of UMTS in the 900 MHz band details new refarming technology for wireless operators to drive efficient spectrum utilization. The paper, from spectrum conditioning solutions provider ISCO International, proposes more efficient network planning techniques for controlling interference between 3G networks and GSM systems operating at the same frequency. ISCO’s Proteus solution enables mobile operators to reduce the cost of deploying the expanded coverage of 3G while maintaining 2G network assets.
Verizon Wireless has conducted field trials of next-generation mobile broadband data speeds, which indicate its forthcoming LTE network is capable of peak download rates of 40 to 50 Mbps and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps. The operator has been testing its LTE network using 700 MHz spectrum in Boston and Seattle. Verizon plans to commercially launch its LTE network by the end of 2010, making it available to 100 million Americans in 25 to 30 US markets.
The German telecoms regulator (Bundesnetzagentur) has selected four applicants to participate in the auctions of 800 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2 GHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands. The selected companies are Germany’s four mobile operators: T-Mobile Deutschland, Vodafone D2, Telefónica O2 Germany and E-Plus. The auction is scheduled to commence on 12 April 2010 at 1 pm.
3 UK, part of Hutchison Whampoa, has introduced Microsoft Office to its mobile broadband product line-up. The operator now offers Microsoft Office Home & Student for GBP59.99 to customers buying any mobile broadband contract. 3 UK also offers discounts for customers opting for a laptop and mobile broadband bundle.
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