GSM Alliance Endorses 'Third Generation' Technology Selection
CHICAGO, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American GSM Alliance, a
consortium of the seven largest North American wireless providers using Global
System for Mobile communications (GSM), today added its voice in support of
the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) accord for next
generation wireless systems recently approved by the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute.
The agreement, reached by the world's leading telecommunications
manufacturers and operators and ultimately endorsed by the worldwide wireless
community, is an important step forward in providing the next -- or third --
generation of wireless communications for people around the world.
UMTS is optimized for high-speed packet data-rate applications, including
high-speed wireless internet services and other data applications.
"For North American GSM Alliance operators, UMTS offers the ability to
supplement our current networks with new capability. It does not obsolete
current networks which optimize for voice and lower-speed data applications,"
said Don Warkentin, chairman of the GSM Alliance and President and Chief
Executive Officer of Aerial Communications. "UMTS can be used as an overlay
to current networks, enabling GSM operators to add advanced services without
major investment in our backbone networks.
"This development is particularly welcomed, because it can be based on a
GSM platform," Warkentin explained. "UMTS which utilizes code division
multiplexing, has been referred to as W-CDMA or TD-CDMA, it is important to
note that this is a separate and distinct development from the IS-95 standard,
commonly called CDMA in North America. UMTS is designed and will be produced
by vendors supplying GSM equipment today, both here and abroad.
"GSM operators, in fact, are uniquely positioned to eventually adapt,
deploy and integrate UMTS into their already feature-rich service," he said.
"The businesses of today's GSM operators are enhanced by this development.
With UMTS expected to be available in the next several years, GSM-based
operators will be able to easily augment their current networks with this
advanced wireless technology, bringing significant features and benefits to
our customers and the marketplace.
"The potential of UMTS will be fully realized not only through the efforts
of the manufacturers, but through the combined resources and creativity of
more than 200 GSM operators around the world, who will help further deploy and
refine this technological advance."
At the and of 1997, GSM technology served more than 66 million customers
around the globe, or nearly one of every three wireless users worldwide. GSM
is the world's leading digital wireless technology, adding a new customer
every second.
Companies affiliated with the GSM Alliance currently serve more than
1 million customers and operate networks covering more than 130 million people
in the U.S. and Canada. Members of the Alliance include Aerial Communication,
Bell South Mobility DSC, Pacific Bell Mobile Services, Microcell
Communications, Omnipoint Communications, Powertel and Western Wireless.
SOURCE North American GSM Alliance
CONTACT: Mike Houghton for The North American GSM Alliance,
703-799-7383, or fax: 703-799-5819, or houghton@communicreate.com
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