3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
24 September 2010
Fresh measures to facilitate the adoption of ultra-fast broadband in the EU have been adopted by the European Commission. The package includes a Recommendation on regulated access to Next Generation Access (NGA) networks that will stimulate investment, plus new measures to ensure that sufficient spectrum is made available by 2013 for wireless broadband. In addition, a new Broadband Communication sets out a coherent framework for meeting the Digital Agenda's broadband targets, outlining how best to encourage public and private investment in fast and ultra-fast broadband networks.
Having obtained 4 paired and 5 unpaired frequency blocks of 5 MHz each of the 2.6 GHz frequency spectrum, A1 Telekom Austria has confirmed its plans to offer LTE broadband services as soon as relevant permits are issued, which is expected at the beginning of Q4 2010. LTE services will initially be available to customers in Vienna.
Austria’s Telekom-Control-Kommission (TKK) has raised EUR39.5 million in the auction of 2.6 GHz spectrum, with the minimum bid set at EUR7.4 million. All of the country’s mobile operators participated in the auction. A1 Telekom Austria and Hutchison 3G Austria have both acquired 2x20 MHz paired blocks and 25 MHz unpaired blocks. Orange Austria and T-Mobile Austria were assigned 2x10 MHz and 2x20 MHz respectively in the paired band.
India’s Bharti Airtel has selected Ericsson India, Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei Technologies as its 3G network rollout partners. The vendors will deploy Bharti Airtel’s HSPA network in India. The operator aims to create a high-performing, future-proof network to serve its Indian customers, enabling users to enjoy an enhanced service experience. The HSPA deployment will enable Bharti Airtel to meet growing demand for high-speed surfing and wireless entertainment in the Indian market.
4G LTE Netbooks and Tablets to Represent 20% of LTE Subscribers by 2015
According to a new paper from Juniper Research, LTE 4G enabled netbooks and tablets will be used by as many as 1 in 5 LTE subscribers by 2015. The benefits of LTE mobile broadband, including high data transfer rates and reduced latency, will boost uptake of new and upgraded end-user devices (laptops, smartphones netbooks, tablets, digital cameras and games consoles). Mobile operators will also embed a wide variety of devices with broadband wireless connectivity as a way to halt ARPU declines. Effectively, there will be roughly as many LTE netbooks and tablets combined as laptops by 2015.
Orange UK has launched the San Francisco touchscreen Android mobile phone, the first in a series of affordable Orange-branded Android devices. Priced at GBP 99 on pay as you go (PAYG), the HSDP-enabled handset features an MP3 player with integrated FM radio, 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. It is powered by the Android 2.1 operating system and gives users access to thousands of applications, including Orange Wednesdays and Orange Maps.
Indonesia’s Telkomsel has selected ZTE for its LTE trial. According to the agreement, ZTE has been providing LTE solutions to roll out Telkomsel’s LTE trial network since August 2010. ZTE is a leading supplier for Telkomsel’s UMTS networks: with its advanced Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology already in place, the upgrade to LTE will be seamless, affording significant construction cost savings. Telkomsel has more than 92 million customers in Indonesia and holds more than 50% market share.
US operator MetroPCS has switched on its LTE network in Las Vegas and showcased the world’s first commercially available LTE-enabled handset, the Samsung Craft. The LTE service is available for US$55 or US$60 per month (including taxes and regulatory fees). The dual-mode LTE/CDMA Samsung Craft is priced at US$299, after US$50 instant rebate, plus tax. The unlimited, no-annual-contract, flat-rate LTE services will be expanded to other MetroPCS cities during 2010 and 2011.
Russia’s MegaFon has conducted an LTE network trial in Sochi in cooperation with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). The operator showcased the LTE mobile broadband data call at the IX International Investment Forum Sochi 2010 using NSN’s commercial end-to-end LTE system in 2.5 GHz band. MegaFon is one of the sponsors of the XXII Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2014 which will take place in Sochi.
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