Slacker,
<< Cingular/EDGE ... I think that this is going to have a pretty big impact on some Latin American operators... >>
It will have an impact, I think, on both Latin America operators and the regional IS-136 carriers in the US. This was alluded to in the Cingular webcast.
The score is now 8 to 0 on IS-136 tech flips in the Americas.
GAIT is a big draw. Cingular has been very active since its inception. CDMA group doesn't have a full hand.
<< it is probably going to make it more likely that they will consider EDGE the end-game rather than a step to W-CDMA >>
For the moment it will, but eventually WCDMA, IMO. They can be used in complementary fashion and are not mutually exclusive. In rural areas EDGE could be the end game for quite some time.
Obviously current general economic factors in LA are in play.
Anatel opened the door for 3G 2 GHz core spectrum. Several countries are moving on this.
<< Any comments during the Cingular call about W-CDMA? >>
Not really. Allusions to the spectrum swath for 3G carriers in Europe (60 to 80 MHz v. 25 MHz typical here). Also allusions to need for more spectrum in the future.
One gets the impression Cingular is not real enamored with San Diego.
I don't think the tining of the webcast was any accident.
<< If they are not eventually moving to W-CDMA....this is a pretty dumb decision on the part of Cingular. >>
Right now they have on average 25 MHz across their net.
This makes EDGE rather than WCDMA a natural for now, particularly since they have lots of spectrum in 850 MHz and WCDMA designed initially for the 2GHz IMT-2000 core is being stretched down to 1800/1900 MHz but it'll be a while before it is downbanded to 850.
<< Looking back on a discussion that we had a couple of weeks ago, you stated that 1xrtt would have 5x the capacity of GSM/GPRS in most areas and 3x to 4x in NY. >>
That is NOW (well not actually since that would require 80% 1xRTT handsets in use and no AMPS) ... not in Cingular's implementation time frame when AMR, frequency hopping, and antenna hopping are in play. I think across the board (TDMA and AMPS) Cingular is looking at 4 to 5 times increased efficiency with GSM/EDGE fully implemented. Bill Clift covers some of this in the CC.
Nothing prevents Cingular from migrating to WCDMA at some point in time off this network upgrade but it is certainly not near term.
Lifting of the spectrum cap of course will change the game and Cingular will no doubt acquire spectrum when cap lifts which I'm confident it will.
<< The wild card in our comparision of AWE and PCS was the fact that AWE would eventually migrate to W-CDMA....and thus have a chance at a spectrum efficiency comparable to PCS. This is not the case with Cingular's decision to migrate with EDGE. >>
Cingular would say that you are underestimating the spectral efficiency of EDGE (fully implemented).
<< A comparision between PCS and Cingular shows that both have 30MHz of spectrum in NYC. >>
Actually 40 (shared with VoiceStream)
<< PCS is going to have anywhere from 1.5x to 4x the voice capacity of Cingular. My assumption is that this comparision just gets worse when you include data. >>
PCS is unlikely to have anywhere near 4x the voice capacity of Cingular after EDGE near term (although I'm not taking into consideration new CODEC, dual antennas's, blah, blah, blah).
Best to get Cingular's view on this from the webcast, not mine.
Still available at:
videonewswire.com
I think you'll find it an interesting listen.
<< Afterall....the prime reason for the GSM world's comittment to W-CDMA was it's ability to handle data. >>
Yes, but WCDMA with 5 MHz carrier requires big chunks of (ideally right now) contiguous spectrum. EDGE does not and until the spectrum cap lifts or other spectrum becomes available (which will require clearing so not near term) EDGE (or 1xRTT) were the alternatives.
- Eric - |
