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Harmonization group reaches agreement for global 3G standard
A globally harmonized third-generation CDMA standard is finally within reach, following the International Telecommunication Union's endorsement of an agreement recently signed by 30 of the world's largest mobile operators and 12 major manufacturers, including Ericsson. The agreement addresses the requirements of both the WCDMA and cdma-2000 communities.
The proposal calls for a single Wideband CDMA umbrella standard with three modes, a direct sequence (DS) mode, a multi-carrier (MC) mode and a time division duplex (TDD) mode. This gives a clear global structure for 3G standards that addresses all operator needs for 3G services, says Mats Nilsson, corporate director responsible for strategies for future standards at Ericsson. "Many operators have long pushed for a single standard, which would facilitate roaming and help achieve economies of scale. This maximizes the scale factor benefits and also facilitates support for global terminals," he says.
The specifics of the proposal were hammered out in a series of meetings held over the last year by the Operators Harmonization Group. The proposal was presented to the ITU on June 7 and approved shortly thereafter by the ITU's Task Group 8/1. The ITU's approval of the OHG's proposal means the ITU is likely to achieve its target to adopt 3G standards by the end of 1999.
IP-based standards planned for 3G
Following closely on the heels of the Operators Harmonization Group's agreement for a global 3G standard, Ericsson and eight other telecom leaders announced the formation of a group to develop an architecture wholly based on Internet protocol for 3G systems. The 3G.IP focus group, announced at the recent UMTS Congress in Monte Carlo, aims to create a common evolved GPRS core network standard, which will fully support advanced IP voice telephony, data and multimedia applications.
"This is going to help with the further development of UMTS and EDGE as an evolution of GPRS," says Filip Lindell, senior manager of wireless strategy at Ericsson. According to Lindell, the 3G.IP focus group will eventually agree on a high level of network architecture, which will then be submitted to the 3G Partnership Project for development into the actual standard. Other members of the focus group include AT&T, British Telecom, Lucent, Nokia, Nortel, Rogers Cantel, Telecom Italia Mobile and Telenor.
3G license trends
Only one country, Finland, has granted licenses for third-generation (3G) mobile technology at this time. However, that process has taught some lessons and identified some trends regarding 3G licenses, according to Katrien Van der Spiegel, director of telecom policies and regulations at Ericsson.
One important lesson is that regulations work better when there is the right balance between securing the consumers' interest and letting market forces play, Van der Spiegel says. "When issuing licenses, the best scenario is that regulators specify functional requirements for 3G systems, rather than dictate what the standard should be." She adds that it seems best to allow all interested players to bid on the licenses, rather than limiting the pool of applicants.
As far as trends, regulators in countries with many bidders appear to favor offering more than four licenses using an auction process, according to Van der Spiegel. Japan, New Zealand and Germany are likely to be the next contenders, with licenses expected by the end of 1999.
Internet router meets new-generation Internet standards
Following the recent acquisition of a 75 percent stake in Denmark's Telebit Communications, Ericsson's IP portfolio has expanded to include a carrier-class Internet router that meets new-generation Internet standards.
Telebit is the first vendor to provide commercially available Internet router solutions that meet the IP Version 6 (IPv6). The company's dual IPv4/IPv6 products operate with IPv4 systems as well. Telebit's IPv6 software solutions can help meet IP mobile network demand for combined voice, multimedia and data traffic, as well as security. With increased demand rapidly exhausting the number of IP addresses, IPv6 also enables more addresses to meet the needs of the growing mobile terminal market.
Over the next two years, Ericsson plans to invest about 200 million Danish kroner (US$30 million) in Telebit.
Ericsson sets top speed in packet-switched services
Ericsson once again combined its core strengths in datacom and mobility in live demonstrations that moved third-generation mobile communications one step closer to end users.
Visitors at a recent trade show in Stockholm, Sweden, experienced the first-ever live demonstration of packet-switched services at speeds of up to 472 kbps in a vehicle traveling in a 3G wide area network.
Ericsson's 3G demo vehicle has been used before to surf the Web, listen to streamed music, send emails with large attachments and play interactive media games in a WCDMA network, but never at such high speeds.
"Doing this kind of demo in a controlled environment like a laboratory has been done," says Håkan Djuphammar, director of WCDMA product strategy at Ericsson. "Providing multimedia services live, while moving around a wide area outdoors is the real breakthrough we're demonstrating."
Publication explains 3G
Do you have questions concerning 3G? High Mobility tells you everything you need to know about 3G wireless communications in a clear, easy-to-read style. This Ericsson publication explains why there is so much excitement about 3G and what it will mean for the industry and for users. It is written for general business readers, rather than technology experts, and reviews 3G developments around the world.
The 76-page publication is available free of charge. Send your request along with your address information to Ericsson at central.copy@era.ericsson.se. Subject to availability.
Copyright and Editorial Information
© Copyright 1999 Ericsson
Mobile Next is an Ericsson publication produced in cooperation with Appelberg Publications AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
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