All...CDMA Development Group Addresses Key United States
Government Officials on 3G Harmonization; Opportunity
for United States to Take Leadership Position
Business Wire - September 29, 1998 09:18
COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1998--The CDMA Development Group
(CDG) Tuesday announced that a letter was submitted last week to 21 key United States
Government officials, stressing the importance of harmonization for third generation mobile
technologies (3G).
The letter details the benefits of harmonizing the two leading third generation proposals, Wideband
CDMA (W-CDMA) and cdma2000, also known as Wideband cdmaOne, explaining that the
global telecommunications industry is at a critical juncture, providing the United States with the ideal
opportunity to assume a leadership position on the issue. The letter was signed by Members of the
CDG Executive Board, including AirTouch Communications, ALLTEL Communications, Ameritech
Cellular, BC TEL Mobility, Bell Atlantic Mobile, Bell Mobility, GTE Wireless, LG Telecom, and
Sprint PCS.
"The letter explains how the presence of multiple second generation technologies was a key driver
of growth and competition in the U.S. wireless market, and the significant differences between
CDMA, GSM and TDMA still provide an important basis for competitive differentiation. In
contrast, W-CDMA and cdma2000 are nearly identical and will provide little or no basis for
competitive differentiation," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG.
"The CDG has always advocated open markets and the use of multiple technologies where there is
a benefit to this approach. Our position throughout the 3G debate remains that similar standards
proposals should be harmonized when the differences between these proposals are so insignificant
that the consumer cannot tell the difference and may actually be disadvantaged by higher costs and
lack of interoperability.
"Therefore, supporters of proposals that are clearly different from W-CDMA and cdma2000, such
as those based on TDMA technology, should continue their standardization efforts and should not
be expected to converge with CDMA-based proposals. This approach is the very essence of the
International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) ITU 2000 effort, and also something that the global
telecommunications industry is expecting."
LaForge continued, "In addition, we are encouraged that the North American GSM Alliance and
the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC) recently indicated their support for
the principle of convergence. Historically, the two groups have been opposed to convergence, and
we only hope this shift is not too little, too late. We assume that their decision to work together on
3G matters also indicates their support for the ITU's Family of Systems concept which incorporates
both ANSI-41 and GSM MAP in 3G solutions. The GSM Alliance has opposed this concept in the
past. We look forward to the UWCC and GSM Alliance actively contributing to the definition of an
open interface between ANSI-41 and GSM MAP to enable global roaming to the IMT-2000
subscriber."
The CDMA Development Group (CDG) is a nonprofit trade association formed to foster the
worldwide development, implementation and use of cdmaOne. The 100 member companies of the
CDG include many of the world's largest wireless operators and equipment manufacturers. The
primary activities of the CDG include development of cdmaOne features and services, public
relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently there are
more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on cdmaOne-related
matters. For more information about the CDG, contact Christine Bock of the CDG News Bureau at
714/540-1030, Ext. 11, email chrisbock@bockpr.com, or visit the CDG Web site at
cdg.org. |
