3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
05 November 2010
T-Mobile USA has expanded its HSPA+ network to additional metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Colorado Springs, Wayne, Louisville, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington. Its HSPA+ network now reaches over 75 metropolitan markets in the US, with theoretical downlink speeds up to 21 Mbps and average download speeds of 5 Mbps in some cities with peak speeds of nearly 12 Mbps. The operator has also introduced two new HSPA+-enabled devices: the T-Mobile myTouch 4G and T-Mobile’s first HSPA+ netbook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 4G.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has launched Mobile Quality Analyzer (MQA) for Mobile Broadband that enables operators to measure mobile broadband performance cost-effectively. They can obtain live data on connectivity bottlenecks in their networks directly from their customers at different places and in real time in order to improve service quality. MQA for Mobile Broadband provides operators with information to plan and efficiently adjust their network capacity, as well as speed up resolution of customer complaints.
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has launched its HSPA+ network in Turkmenistan, completing the deployment of 3G networks in all of its markets that include Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia. In Turkmenistan, MTS’ 3G network currently covers the centre of Ashgabat, the capital city, as well as areas surrounding the international airport. MTS’ subscribers in Turkmenistan can now access the internet with peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 11 Mbps. MTS plans to provide 3G coverage in Turkmenbashi City next and will continue the rollout to cover all of the provincial centres.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ Mobile Broadband Study 2010, which covers HSPA+ usage in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, has revealed a 40% increase in average monthly spend on mobile broadband compared to 2009. It also reported that more than half of mobile broadband users are interested in high-speed mobile broadband or LTE. It has also shown that about 50% of users access mobile broadband on the go, while one in five fixed users want to move to mobile broadband. Two-thirds of users access mobile broadband from devices smaller than laptops.
Orange UK has announced new mobile broadband price plans, offering one- and 12-month options on new Dolphin and Racoon packages. The operator has also expanded its SIM Only mobile portfolio with three new tariffs. In addition, the company has unveiled the Samsung N150 connected netbook and its first Mobile WiFi device, the Novatel Wireless 3352, allowing customers to get online with up to five simultaneous WiFi devices, over Orange 3G network.
Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has deployed its policy control and subscriber data management solutions for Australia’s Telstra to enhance the operator’s Next G mobile network. The Policy Control platform provides crucial functionality by enabling Telstra to optimize traffic based on a set of business rules, while the Subscriber Data Management System allows the company to manage its customer profiles in real time. The new technology will enable Telstra to develop new services demanded by customers in the growing mobile internet market.
Huawei has released the WiMAX and LTE TDD SingleRAN solution, which enables operators to seamlessly migrate from WiMAX to LTE TDD networks. The end-to-end solution consists of a WiMAX and LTE TDD dual mode remote radio unit (RRU) and dual mode base band unit (BBU), which fully support 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz mainstream Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) frequency bands. It has a 4T4R (four transmitters and four receivers) design that supports multi-input multi-output (MIMO) and Beamforming (BF), and it can be flexibly configured as a WiMAX module, a LTE TDD module, or a WiMAX and LTE TDD dual mode module simply by upgrading the software.
Telefónicaand Jasper Wireless have signeda strategic partnership to connect machine-to-machine (M2M) and consumer electronics devices. Jasper Wireless’ platform will power the Telefónica Control Centre, which enables M2M enterprise customers and device manufacturers to connect and manage embedded mobile devices, reducing time-to-market and total cost of ownership (TCO). The collaboration will accelerate market entry for a new generation of connected consumer devices, including PNDs (Personal Navigation Assistants), e-Readers, digital photo frames, cameras, and gaming devices.
US operator MetroPCS has expanded its LTE network to the Los Angeles and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. The LTE service is available on the world's first commercial LTE-enabled smartphone, the Samsung Craft, which allows consumers to take advantage of the multimedia-rich experience. MetroPCS provides LTE services on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no annual contract. The operator builds on its previous commercial launches of LTE service in Las Vegas, Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit in October.
Swisscom has announced plans to cut data roaming prices as of 1 December 2010, replacing flat-rate prices with one-day packages of 5 MB. At the new rates, customers will just pay CHF7 (US$7.27) for 5 MB within the EU instead of the old rate of CHF10 per MB. A cost ceiling will also protect customers from high data roaming bills, increasing the appeal of mobile surfing abroad.
Verizon Wireless has signed a four-year US$4-billion contract with Alcatel-Lucent to support the US operator’s ongoing 3G network expansion and LTE network rollout. Under the deal, Alcatel-Lucent will provide infrastructure wireless network architecture, including end-to-end CDMA and LTE radio network solutions, IP, optical and microwave backhaul and transport and a complete portfolio of professional and network integration services.
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