3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
23 April 2010
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has been selected by T-Mobile UK and 3 UK, via their Mobile Broadband Network Ltd joint venture, to expand their combined HSDPA 3G network to more than 98% of the country’s population by the end of 2010. Their network currently covers outdoors more than 90% of the UK’s population. The contract, which is worth over GBP400 million (US$532 million), includes the provision of 3G radio network infrastructure, mobile network planning, implementation, optimization and maintenance, equipment and services.
ZTE is now shipping its new HSPA+ data card to Cosmote in Greece. The ZTE MF662 device supports peak downlink speeds of 28.8 Mbps and 5.8 Mbps in the uplink. Cosmote has deployed its high-speed HSPA+MIMO network. Currently, the new broadband speeds are available in selected areas of Athens, and will gradually be expanded across the country.
Hong Kong’s SmarTone-Vodafone has upgraded its network with HSPA+ technology, enabling the operator to deliver peak downlink speeds of up to 28.8 Mbps. To coincide with the move, the company has launched its new Power 28 price plan, which is offered as a free upgrade to all existing Power 21 customers. At the same time, SmarTone-Vodafone has activated the first HSPA+ Dual Carrier 42 Mbps base stations, also with its partner vendor Ericsson, and plans to roll out the technology across its entire network.
AT&T has unveiled a new HSPA-enabled device, the Sierra Wireless AirCard 890, as part of its AT&T LaptopConnect device portfolio. The new data card will be available from 5 May. The AirCard 890, which supports peak downlinks rates of up to 7.2 Mbps, features a unique 2-in-1 form factor, supporting both PC Card and ExpressCard slots. It will be available for US$49.99 after mail-in rebate on a new two-year DataConnect contract of at least US$35 a month.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has selected Huawei to deploy a pre-commercial LTE network in Saudi Arabia. In the first phase of the field trials, the network has achieved peak downlink speeds of 100 Mbps per user on commercial LTE data cards. The pre-commercial LTE network is expected to complete its rollout by the end of 2010, covering major metropolitan areas, such as Riyadh and Dammam.
Denmark’s TDC has suggested that it could start LTE network rollout in June this year, provided it wins one of the licences that are currently being put up for the auction. Initially, TDC is planning to roll out LTE in Copenhagen and Aarhus, later covering the most densely populated areas in the rest of Denmark. During the first phase, TDC will use the new LTE network for testing before allowing customer access.
Cosmote Romania has launched HSPA+ network in cooperation with its vendor partner, China’s ZTE. The new network covers 11 cities: Bucharest, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca,Timisoara, Constanta, Galati, Craiova, Brasov, Moinesti, Oltenita, Orastie, as well as almost 300 localities. The operator has introduced new Connect 3G price plans, offering peak downlink speeds of up to 21.6 Mbps.
Ericsson has acquired Nortel's majority shareholding (50% + 1 share) in LG-Nortel, the South Korean joint venture of LG Electronics and Nortel Networks, for US$242 million on a cash and debt free basis. The purchase will significantly expand Ericsson's footprint in the South Korean market, taking over all leading Korean operators as part of the installed customer base. The joint venture will be renamed as LG-Ericsson.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has begun production of LTE network equipment for the ‘digital dividend’ 800 MHz band, ahead of the widespread switchover from analogue to digital TV. NSN’s LTE 800 MHz portfolio includes its LTE-ready Flexi Multiradio Base Station, with commercial deployment targeted for the second half of 2010. The 800 MHz frequency band, which is currently being auctioned in Germany, is particularly attractive for deployment in rural areas due to its greater reach, enabling operators to meet their mobile broadband access targets cost efficiently.
Huawei has deployed its advanced telecom computing architecture (ATCA) mobile softswitch for Safaricom, in a move towards developing the Kenyan operator’s high-quality all-IP network. Huawei's ATCA mobile softswitch solution will enable Safaricom to reduce transmission costs, improve service quality, and prepare for network evolution and convergence. In addition, the solution offers a customer-centric approach to network management that can provide real-time monitoring, fault location and automatic recovery functions to strengthen the network's smart IP operation.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has signed agreements valued at EUR750 million (US$992 million) with China Mobile and China Unicom for the operators to continue purchasing GSM, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA mobile network equipment and solutions. Under the contracts, China Mobile will purchase NSN’s GSM and TD-SCDMA network equipment, and its IP Multimedia Subsystem solution. China Unicom will source NSN’s GSM andWCDMA equipment, as well as its HSPA solution, while continuing to purchase the company’s “direct tunnel” packet core technology.
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