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To: JGoren who wrote (19588)	12/11/1998 6:22:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 152472

Just An Opinion> From the December 14, 1998 issue of Wireless Week Guest Opinion: 3G's Two-legged Stool By Greg Williams The debate surrounding third-generation wireless standards has been narrowly defined as a two-legged contest between Europe's global system for mobile communications standards and the supposed U.S. flag-bearer, Qualcomm Inc., and its cdma2000 proposal. Even if both sides cut a deal to their mutual satisfaction, there's one problem with this fight: A two-legged stool still can't stand. Severely restricting the number of wireless options harms the wireless market's growth and innovation, and subsequently, its customers. The best and only solution is for the International Telecommunication Union to adopt multiple standards for third-generation wireless products and for the U.S. government to stand behind that policy. An inherent danger exists when a small collection of companies or government officials limits the number of technologies and choices available to consumers. It is even more disturbing to consider the scale of that exclusion. Companies such as AT&T Wireless Services Inc., SBC Communications Inc. and, of course, BellSouth Cellular Corp., project 100 million time division multiple access wireless subscribers in the near future. Today those subscribers aren't being given an afterthought in the minds of those who will decide this issue in March. This might be remotely justified if TDMA were not capable, but for many reasons it is the most capable technology to meet 3G requirements. Real service--not inflated claims--are behind the UWC-136 plan to offer improved coverage, increased capacity and high-speed data services along with low complexity/ cost of deployment. Seven factors distinguish TDMA. 1) Low cost: TDMA's second-generation networks will co-exist with 3G networks and use the same frequencies, ultimately lowering costs for customers. Existing TDMA infrastructure can be selectively changed out or augmented as required. 2) Timing: As subscriber demand for 3G services increases, TDMA network facilities can be seamlessly phased in. 3) Flexibility: Advanced 3G capabilities can be introduced wherever and whenever needed in the network to support users--while avoiding unnecessary costs of inventory and spectrum not in service. 4) Capacity: UWC-136 will support a full range of new services and capabilities including critical multimedia services. 5) Roaming: Compatibility between second- and third-generation TDMA, along with the deployment of software-defined radio, ensures ubiquitous network access for the subscriber and accommodates all TDMA-based standards. 6) Footprint: By the time UWC-136 infrastructure is ready for deployment, second-generation TDMA could have more than 100 million subscribers worldwide. 7) Enhanced services: UWC-136 will serve the new wireless marketplace with exciting new applications by supporting up to 384 kilobits per second in a vehicular or pedestrian environment and up to 2 Mbps in an in-building environment--meeting or exceeding ITU IMT-2000 requirements. It's time to stop playing a zero-sum game of winners and losers in the 3G debate and start considering what is best for customers and the wireless market, which is multiple standards, including TDMA. Greg Williams is chairman of the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium and vice president of wireless systems for SBC Technology Resources Inc.