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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cooters who wrote (22063)	5/1/2002 2:57:13 PM
From: jackmore	Respond to of 196584

All eyes on EDGE date: May 1, 2002 While US operators forge ahead with EDGE, Europe is waiting and watching. But analysts, operators and suppliers all agree: Europe will go to EDGE … eventually. GSM operators in the US find EDGE an exciting technology that deals with their spectrum problems. The roll-out starts this year. Meanwhile, the Europeans are watching with polite interest, even though their main focus remains on WCDMA. “In the US everybody is talking about EDGE. It is happening now,” says Patrik Cerwall, Strategic Product Manager at Ericsson Radio Access Network GSM/EDGE/WCDMA. “Europe is so focused on WCDMA that it appears as if EDGE is not happening there. But it is only a question of time before EDGE becomes a reality in Europe as well.” The trans-Atlantic difference is caused by two factors: the difference in frequency distribution among operators; and the competition that GSM faces from CDMA2000 in the US. In Europe WCDMA has a new frequency spectrum that gives operators capacity. In the US frequencies are divided in a way that leaves no available spectrum for WCDMA. GSM operators must take some of their GSM spectrum and use that for WCDMA. This will take time. Competition between GSM and CDMA operators in the US is fierce, while in Europe all operators use the GSM standard. CDMA2000 and WCDMA are two technologies that will not merge. “The road leading to WCDMA in the US is a bit longer and more winding than in Europe so operators need something before that,” Cerwall says. “EDGE is the answer because it gives more capacity and higher speed than CDMA20001x.” Although EDGE will establish itself in the US first, operators, analysts and suppliers are convinced it will also take off in Europe. Cerwall says: “The big change and development will happen when GSM operators go over to GPRS. “EDGE is so intimately connected to GPRS that there is no reason not to include EDGE technology as well.” EDGE will lift GSM services so they work well in both WCDMA and GSM. This is essential because customers who want WCDMA services will not be content with a slippage to GSM-only services if there is no WCDMA coverage. EDGE bridges the gap. Cerwall says: “If this is the year for building out EDGE in the US, then it will happen soon in Europe.” 3gnewsroom.com