re: VoiceStream GPRS/EDGE 802.11b Integration Plans
>> VoiceStream Details 802.11B Integration Plans
Dan Meyer
Orlando, Fl
RCR Wireless News
March 25, 2002
flarion.com
Breaking the industry mold for how GSM operators are expected to migrate their voice networks to third-generation data networks, VoiceStream Wireless Corp.'s John Stanton said the Bellevue, Wash.-based carrier plans to use local area network technology to offer high-speed data solutions instead of UMTS.
The carrier's plans were illustrated in a chart showing its current GPRS network continuing to cover its entire national footprint providing data speeds of around 40 kilobits per second. Stanton made the official announcement at CTIA's Wireless 2002.
For more highly populated and business intensive markets, VoiceStream plans to implement EDGE technology, providing peak data speeds in excess of 400 kbps and average throughput of around 150 kbps.
VoiceStream said it would begin deploying EDGE upgrades to its network later this year, with its intended coverage area completed by the end of next year.
Following its EDGE deployment, VoiceStream said it would then implement LAN technology based on the 802.11 standard in portions of its network where there is demand for data rates in excess of what GPRS or EDGE could deliver.
The current 802.11b standard, which operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum bands, offers data speeds of around 11 Megabits per second, with pending upgrades expected to increase speeds to more than 20 Mbps.
In addition to providing higher speeds than the 2 Mbps that is expected from UMTS technology, 802.11 would not require carriers to find additional spectrum or sacrifice voice capacity to launch high-speed data services.
"By combining 802.11 and our existing GPRS service, customers will have access to the right technology at the right time," Stanton said.
Empowering VoiceStream's 802.11 plans is its recent purchase of MobileStar Network Corp., which provided 802.11 wireless service in 65 "hot spot" locations across the country in public locations such as Starbuck's, airports, hotels and convention centers. VoiceStream will operate it under the T-Mobile Wireless Broadband name.
"The proliferation of mobile devices and a `road warrior' business climate are driving a huge market demand for wireless broadband solutions," Stanton explained. "As a national carrier, Voice-Stream can utilize its scalable infrastructure such as billing and customer care to offer a seamless experience at a cost-effective price."
Before the carrier can move ahead with its plans, Stanton said there needs to be devices that allow seamless coverage between the technologies, a need that VoiceStream expects to be partially filled by next year with single devices combining GPRS and 802.11.
Nokia Corp. unveiled a PC card that combined the two technologies at the CTIA show, noting it was expecting to begin shipments during the third quarter of this year. Flarion Technologies also demonstrated its equipment can handoff between 802.11b and commercial wireless networks.
Other U.S. carriers also said they were looking at deploying 802.11 technology on their network, including AT&T Wireless Services Inc. <<
- Eric - |
