Re: Mobile Wireless Broadband Evolution- GSM/TDMA --> EDGE
Thread- I believe this is a significant announcement in support of GSM/TDMA --> EDGE technology. Significant but not unexpected. As most know, ATT is mainly a TDMA network.
And as I've mentioned upstream, not nearly enough credit is given to the power of the worldwide GSM network. The US investment/news gathering community still tends to focus on CDMA. -MikeM(From Florida)
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UWCC Applauds AT&T Wireless' Decision to Change Out CDMA Markets in Favor of TDMA-EDGE
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jun 20, 2000-- The Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC) applauds the June 19, 2000 announcement by AT&T Wireless to convert their newly acquired San Diego, Calif., and Houston, Texas, wireless networks from CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) to TDMA-EDGE networks (Time Division Multiple Access-Enhanced Data Rates For Global Evolution).
Chris Pearson, Vice President of Marketing at the UWCC stated, "The move by AT&T Wireless on the heels of the January announcement by SBC Wireless to convert its newly acquired Ameritech properties from CDMA to TDMA-EDGE shows significant confidence in TDMA-EDGE for 3G services." Pearson added, "Similar to the recent decision by China Unicom putting CDMA deployments on hold. Operators are positioning their networks not just for 2G applications, but taking into consideration deployments of 3G networks for their customers as well."
TDMA-EDGE is the most widely used wireless technology in the Western Hemisphere, with the largest number of subscribers and the greatest number of wireless operators. EDGE was recently accepted in May of 2000 as a 3G technology by the International Telecommunications Union as part of the UWC-136 Third Generation proposal.
"AT&T Wireless surely looked at a number of critical technical and operational factors in order to make this decision," stated Sheila Mickool, President of the UWCC. Mickool added, "To replace second generation equipment in San Diego and Houston with TDMA-EDGE technology shows significant support for TDMA-EDGE as a third generation (3G) solution for its customers."
The UWCC is a Bellevue, Washington-based international consortium of more than 100 wireless carriers and vendors supporting the TDMA-EDGE & WIN technology standards. TDMA-EDGE network operators currently serve over 65 million TDMA-EDGE and analog subscribers within their networks. The TDMA-EDGE `Taking Wireless Beyond the Call' technology brand represents not only second generation enhanced services but also 3G compliant high-speed wireless data and Internet access technology to be available anytime, anywhere.
Board Members of the UWCC include: Alcatel USA, AT&T Wireless Services (USA), BellSouth Cellular Corp. (USA), BCP S.A. (Brazil), Cable and Wireless (United Kingdom), Cellcom (Israel), Celumovil (Colombia), Compaq Computer Corporation, Ericsson Radio Systems, Hughes Network Systems, Industar Digital PCS (USA), Lucent Technologies, Mobikom SDN, BHD (Malaysia), Motorola, Movilnet (Venezuela), Nokia, Nortel Networks, Rogers Wireless (Canada), SBC Wireless (USA), Sony, Telecom Personal (Argentina), Telefonica Unifon (Argentina), and VimpelCom (Russia).
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