All... Ericsson to test WCDMA...
Wednesday June 3, 2:55 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Ericsson, Mannesmann and T-Mobil to Test Wireless
Technology
STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1998--Ericsson GmbH together with the
two German GSM network operators, Mannesmann Mobilfunk GmbH and T-Mobil GmbH will
perform a Research and Evaluation project in Dsseldorf for the testing of Wideband CDMA
(WCDMA) radio access technology.
The practical realization of the project will start by mid-1998, and the subsequent tests and
measurements are currently expected to continue until the autumn of 1999.
Ericsson will supply the required system equipment and is actively engaged in the further
development of this future-oriented technology including the company's R&D centers in Nuremberg
and Herzogenrath.
Mannesmann, T-Mobil and Ericsson expect the test to deliver considerable practical experience
regarding the use of the new wireless technology. At the same time the results can be integrated into
the ongoing standardization activities.
In view of the global importance that is attributed to UMTS, Ericsson, Mannesmann and T-Mobil
also intend to invite other interested parties to participate in the trial project. First discussions with
possible further participants have already started.
After a decision on a new wireless communications standard that was reached in Paris in the
beginning of 1998, WCDMA will play a fundamental role in the mobile communications systems of
the next generation.
On the European market, the new technology - also referred to as Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS) - is expected to be launched in 2002. UMTS will first of all
offer data transmission rates that are many times higher than those available with the current
generation of mobile telephony systems. Thus, UMTS will not only be used for voice and fast
Internet access, but will also allow other kinds of multimedia applications such as video transmission
and teleconferencing to be integrated into mobile networks.
Ericsson's 100,000 employees are active in more than 130 countries. Their combined expertise in
wired and wireless networks, mobile phones and infocom systems makes Ericsson a world- leading
supplier in telecommunications.
Contact:
KATHY EGAN, PER BENGTSSON
212/685-4030
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