Ericsson won’t rush into 3G system sales
biz.thestar.com.my
Saturday, August 31, 2002
By HONG BOON HOW
LEADING global third generation (3G) technology supplier Ericsson is keen to offer its 3G network systems to local telecommunications companies but will not rush into securing sales for the time being.
Ericsson Malaysia Sdn Bhd president and country manager Mats H. Olsson said 3G services would take several years to roll out and to achieve mass consumer acceptance in Malaysia.
“We are in no hurry to begin sales talks at the moment but are offering support to the telecommunication companies which have applied for the IMT-2000 spectrum (also known as 3G spectrum) licence,” he said after the launch of the company’s 3G showcase in Wisma Ericsson in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Datuk Amar Leo Moggie using a 3G handset to make Malaysia's first international mobile-to-mobile 3G phone call to Ericsson group executive vice-president Ragnar Back (on video) in Honh Kong. [See url for picture]
The showcase, to demonstrate the effectiveness and appeal of mobile applications in a high-speed network, was opened by Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie.
It features a complete WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) system comprising a core network centre, a radio access network, a radio base station and an operations centre.
Olsson said Ericsson was in the forefront of 3G technology development and deployment with 40% market share in global UMTS/WCDMA commercial agreements. UMTS stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
He said the showcase houses existing 3G network technology and equipment similar to those Ericsson had installed for commercial use for Japan’s NTT DoCoMo [????] and J-Phone telecommunication companies.
“We want to show our clients and business partners that we have a proven and a commercial 3G network system now which can be used for training and educational purposes,” he said, adding that the showcase has the capacity to provide 3G services to 100 users.
He said the usage of wireless application protocol (WAP) services through general packet radio service (GPRS) was expected to peak in 18 months after local subscribers had become more familiar with it.
Olsson said one reason for the slow pick-up rate in WAP services among local users was that content sites were not user friendly.
“We have to make access to WAP content easier, and introduce content that is compelling to users,” he said.
DiGi Telecomunications Sdn Bhd and Time dotCom Bhd are providing WAP services using GPRS to their subscribers now, while Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd, Maxis Communications and TM Cellular Bhd are either testing their services now for commercial implementation or offering them to selected customers.
Olsson said Ericsson has set up Malaysia Focal, a local chapter of applications developers, content aggregators and service providers, to encourage growth of wireless content that address the practical needs of local users on a business or individual basis. He also said Ericsson would relocate its regional operations to Cyberjaya by the end of the year in a move to promote the knowledge-economy in Malaysia.
At the launch, Moggie also made the country’s first international mobile-to-mobile telephone call using 3G technology – to Ericsson group executive vice president Ragnar Back and SmarTone Mobile Communications Ltd chief executive officer Douglas Li in Hong Kong.
In his speech, Moggie said there was a need to focus on the development of suitable and robust mobile Internet applications and other relevant content to meet the needs of local users.
“Based on past experience, clearly the weakest link along the value chain of our mobile sector is the content component,” he said.
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3G: More content, terminals needed
star-techcentral.com
Monday, September 02, 2002
By L.C. WONG
KELANA JAYA: There needs to be more robust content, applications and choices of terminals for “third generation” or 3G mobile communication services to be successful, said Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie.
“The lack of General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) phones that has hampered the launch of infrastructure rollout, and the lack of subscriber take-up, must not be allowed to happen to 3G technology,” he said at the launch of the Ericsson 3G Showcase here last week.
GPRS is considered an evolutionary step between second-generation mobile telephony and 3G technology, and is sometimes referred to as “2.5G” technology.
GPRS can boost the capacity of 2G systems like the currently predominant GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) networks, to deliver richer content at data speeds of up to 115 kilobits per second (Kbps).
This is about 10 times faster than data transfers over current mobile networks.
The Malaysian Government in July awarded 3G licences to fixed-line incumbent Telekom Malaysia Bhd and UMTS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of mobile telephony giant Maxis Communications Bhd.
Their 3G services are expected to be launched in early 2004.
As industry and market gear up for 3G services, Moggie highlighted the importance of applications and content to entice users to migrate.
“Given that the majority of existing 2G users are using the service for voice-calls and SMS (short message service), creating a different value for 3G along this value chain depends on content,” he said.
Moggie said that the weakest link in the mobile telephony value chain was the content. He urged infrastructure providers, network operators, content providers and application developers to work together to share market information and research data.
Meanwhile, Mats Olsson, president and country manager at Ericsson Malaysia, is convinced that the main problem is not in the content per se, but rather in the availability and applicability of the content.
He however said that he expected GPRS will see mass market adoption in 12 to 18 months.
Ericsson Malaysia last week showcased a fully operational 3G system based on WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) technology.
The company claimed it was a “full fledged commercial system” housing a core network centre, radio access network, a radio base station and an operations centre.
The company demonstrated the first international 3G mobile-to-mobile call between Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is believed to have been the first outside of South Korea.
The Ericsson Malaysia showcase, which cost a “substantial investment” according to the company, is being housed at the company’s office here.
It intends to demonstrate the capabilities of 3G, to provide training and knowledge sharing to its employees and customers, and also to create a testbed environment for local mobile Internet applications.
Visitors to the showcase will be able to experience the “Mobile Internet lifestyle” using location-based solution, games, messaging services and mobile commerce applications.
Olsson said that the showcase may be extended to next year depending on the response.
Meanwhile, the company also said it was relocating its regional function centres from its Kelana Jaya and Shah Alam facilities to its Cyberjaya office by year-end.
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Ericsson Demonstrates Malaysia's First International 3G Mobile-to-Mobile Call
hoovnews.hoovers.com
STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2002--Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERICY), the world leader in mobility, successfully demonstrated the first international 3G mobile-to-mobile call in Malaysia today.
The historic international 3G mobile-to-mobile call was made via Ericsson's 3G mobile system in Malaysia to SmarTone Mobile Communications Ltd's 3G network in Hong Kong.
The historic call was made in conjunction with the opening of Ericsson's 3G Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) Showcase in Kuala Lumpur, with Malaysia's Minister of Energy, Communications & Multimedia, YB Datuk Amar Leo Moggie, presiding at the opening ceremonies and making the nation's first international 3G mobile-to-mobile call.
The Ericsson 3G Showcase is a fully operational 3G network based on commercial 3GPP compliant WCDMA products from Ericsson. Visitors can experience the appeal and effectiveness of advanced mobile applications, ranging from location-based solutions and games, to messaging services and mobile commerce, in a high-speed mobile network environment. The Ericsson Showcase features a complete WCDMA system and operations center.
"Ericsson is taking the leading role in the world's transition to 3G, moving towards wideband, multimedia and data telecom networks. Today, we are proud to showcase our full-fledged, ready-to-roll 3G system for the first time in Malaysia," says Ragnar Back, Executive Vice President of Ericsson Group and President of Ericsson Asia Pacific Ltd.
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
--30--rc/ny*
CONTACT: Ericsson Inc.
Kathy Egan, Vice President, Communications
Phone: 212-685-4030
E-mail: pressrelations@ericsson.com
or
Glenn Sapadin, Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 212-685-4030
E-mail: investor.relations@ericsson.com
or
Ericsson Malaysia
Bee Yoke
Media Relations Manager
Phone: +60 3 7808 7515, +60 12 297 9799
E-mail: bee.yoke@ecm.ericsson.se
KEYWORD: SWEDEN MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL EUROPE ASIA PACIFIC
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS INTERNET TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SOURCE: Ericsson Inc. |
