Edge offers 3G alternative.
VNU NET
March 10, 2003
Iain Thomson.
UK mobile network operators may adopt Edge network technology to increase data transmission rates for customers without the expense of upgrading straight to 3G.
Sony Ericsson last week announced it would launch a handset based on Edge, a superset of GSM, next year, joining Motorola and Nokia. News of the handset launches followed a recent announcement from the chief executive of telecoms carrier MMO2, Peter Erskine, who said his company was considering Edge technology for use in the UK and Ireland. In the past, Edge (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) has been regarded by some as inferior to 3G, which would offer faster data rates. However, in practice, Edge's 150kbit/s-180kbit/s, although only a fraction of 3G's theoretical maximum, would be a significant improvement on current GPRS services, which offer a maximum of about 43kbit/s. And some commentators predict 3G will be launched at relatively low speeds - possibly 64kbit/s.
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Now mobile operators are considering Edge as a viable option for data services. Analysts said the low cost of upgrading existing networks for Edge made the technology attractive, particularly given the slow rollout of 3G. Edge also uses the same Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard as GSM, so existing cells can be used, and it requires only a relatively cheap upgrade to GPRS infrastructure.
"To upgrade to Edge works out at $ 10 to $ 20 for each customer on an Edge-ready base station, which most are," said Richard Dineen of analyst firm Ovum. "The buzz about Edge has been growing steadily due to the financial imperatives of the telecoms industry and it's looking like an increasingly viable option."
Hans Losgren, product manager for Sony Ericsson, added, "I think you'll see European Edge networks soon. It's a cheap way to support enhanced data rates. When you upgrade base station masts to GPRS it's cheap to enable the station for Edge."
- Broadband for travellers, p33
ADVANTAGES OF EDGE
- Mobile carriers are considering support for Edge technology to boost data rates without the expense of upgrading to 3G.
- Sony Ericsson has announced it will launch an Edge handset next year, joining Motorola and Nokia.
- Edge offers up to 180kbit/s data rate. Current GPRS services offer a maximum of about 43kbit/s.
- Some analysts predict 3G services will launch at about 64kbit/s. |
