3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
14 May 2010
South Africa’s Cell C has contracted Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to modernize its all-IP radio access and backbone network. Cell C is modernizing its radio network in response to dynamic growth in mobile data traffic and increasing smart device usage. NSN will deploy its Flexi Multiradio Base Station with GSM, 3G and LTE features. This will allow the operator to roll out 3G-based mobile broadband services while simplifying the network and reducing operating costs.
Following their merger, Orange UK and T-Mobile UK have outlined the vision of their joint company, aiming to give customers instant access to “Everything Everywhere” – the new name of the joint venture. The JV will run the mobile networks, while the merged company will retain the separate T-Mobile and Orange brands, with a joint base of 30 million customers. Each brand will also retain its own shops, marketing campaigns, propositions and service centres.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has suggested in a recent techno-economic study that, even without voice services, operators can keep their monthly capital and operating expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX) to EUR3 per subscriber, on the basis of at least 500 subscribers per site each using less than 2 GB per month. Operators can profitably provide up to 5 GB of data per month for every one of their existing voice subscribers by using HSPA and LTE radio technology in existing sites and by using spectrum on multiple frequency bands.
Singapore’s M1 has unveiled an application store, branded the M1 AppStore, with a mix of free and paid content available for various operating platforms, including iPhone OS, Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Java. M1 is also aiming to stimulate the local developer community by offering cash incentives to selected developers. The operator is also giving developers the opportunity to price their products and enjoy revenue share arrangements.
TeliaSonera Denmark has been awarded a mobile broadband licence in the 2.5 GHz spectrum band. The operator paid DKK336.3 million (US$56.7 million) for 2 x 20 MHz paired spectrum and 10 MHz unpaired spectrum. TeliaSonera plans to launch its LTE network in Denmark in the first half of 2011. The company also owns licences to offer services in Sweden, Norway and Finland. TeliaSonera launched the world’s first LTE networks in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway, in December 2009. Other winners in the Danish auction were Hi3G, TDC and Telenor.
Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CMT) has unveiled a new mobile broadband service, branded Net’s Go. During a three-week promotional period, the Net's Go Mobile Broadband Service will be on offer for MOP88 (US$11) per month with 1800 free SMS included. Outside the promotion, the service will be charged at MOP128 per month with local data usage of 2 GB and Wi-Fi usage of 10 hours.
Vodafone Malta has reduced data roaming rates by up to 50%. The new rates stand at EUR1.75 per megabit (MB) on Vodafone preferred networks and EUR2.50 per MB for other EU operators. The Vodafone preferred networks consist of 69 operators in 46 different countries across the globe. The accompanying ‘Data Roaming Notifications’ service lets users limit their data roaming spend.
Indonesia’s Indosat has upgraded its network with HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology using Ericsson’s HSPA Evolution solution, enabling peak downlink speeds of up to 42 Mbps.The operator has also signed a three-year contract with Ericsson to further modernise its network ahead of the planned upgrade to LTE, as well as to equip the network with alternative power sources and features that reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.
COSMOTE has deployed HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology in Greece. During field trials, the operator has reached mobile broadband data rates of to up to 42.2 Mbps. COSMOTE is Greece’s first network operator to move to HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology. The Dual-Carrier technology is based on the aggregation of two carriers and is a standardized HSPA+ feature of 3GPP Release 8 for the downlink.
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