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To: 2brasil who wrote (22234)	1/29/1999 5:37:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

3G Update> From the February 1, 1999 issue of Wireless Week Europe Requests Proof Of 3G Charges By Caron Carlson WASHINGTON--Responding to challenges regarding the fairness and openness of its standards-setting process, Europe told the United States to put its cards on the table. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute, answering charges from Qualcomm Inc. that the region is shutting out U.S.-developed technology in existing markets and in the anticipated third-generation markets, asked the manufacturer for proof. ETSI "would appreciate documented evidence to indicate where the ETSI standardization process has not been followed by the ETSI Technical Organization (SMG) so that it may be further investigated," ETSI Director General Karl Heinz Rosenbrock, said in a Dec. 17 letter to Qualcomm. The tortured international effort to develop a 3G wireless standard increasingly implicates highest-level trade officials on both sides of the Atlantic. In a recent exchange of letters, the United States rebuked Europe for settling on its own 3G standard before the international effort was concluded, and Europe countered that the United States misunderstood the European activities. Each side has intimated that the other may have violated obligations within the World Trade Organization. From the perspective of the CDMA Development Group, ETSI consistently resists code division multiple access-based proposals. A harmonization initiative introduced by CDG three weeks ago was not openly received by the standards body, according to Perry LaForge, CDG executive director. "Europe seems open, but ETSI seems hell-bent that they're not going to change on anything," he said. According to LaForge, an internal European Union memorandum from EU Telecommunications Commissioner Martin Bangemann to other EU officials in early 1997 clearly demonstrates Europe's intent to block U.S.-developed technology from the region. He said the memo was widely circulated among U.S. policy-makers, but he does not currently have a copy of it. A chronology of technical contributions submitted to ETSI by Qualcomm also shows unfairness in the process, according to William Bold, Qualcomm vice president for government affairs. "A synopsis of the contributions we made is evidence that the proposals made by innovators of CDMA in good faith to improve wideband CDMA were summarily rejected and tabled," he said. ETSI's voting structure also is under attack. Qualcomm maintains that voting is weighed by the level of sales a company has in Europe, limiting the influence of U.S. manufacturers. Proponents of the rival technology, including Ericsson Inc., appear undaunted by the solicitation of hard evidence showing European resistance to Qualcomm's technology. Ericsson drafted a letter to U.S. officials supporting the process as "an excellent opportunity to bring forth documented evidence relating to concerns that have been raised by U.S. government officials."

To: 2brasil who wrote (22234)	1/29/1999 5:55:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

This is "Kinda" Interesting> Posted 29/01/99 12:40pm by John Lettice BT gets green light to bid for 3G wireless British Telecom has been given the green light to bid for a third generation (3G) wireless licence, and to increase its stake in the UK's current number two player, Cellnet, beyond 60 per cent. The Department of Trade and Industry announced the relaxation of restrictions on BT in the wireless market this morning, effectively giving BT all it wants in the area, and unleashing a dangerous competitor on the UK market. The number of 3G licences granted in the UK is likely to be limited, and the existing four cellular players already have to take into account the likelihood of large bids from new entrants. BT has already said it wanted to bid for a licence, but that it has not yet decided whether to do so independently or via Cellnet. This stance puts a certain amount of pressure on the other Cellnet shareholder, Securicor, as the value of its stake is somewhat dependent on the way BT decides to jump. Current GSM providers are all aware that they may not be successful in bidding for 3G, or indeed that they may not be able to afford the going rate. They are therefore considering alternatives. Earlier this week, for example, German operator T-Mobil signed a deal with Ericsson to build a GPRS (General Packet Radio System) into its network. In the long term GPRS may not match the speeds of UMTS (the European 3G standard), but it can be seen as more evolutionary and more immediate than UMTS. The T-Mobil system will offer data at up to 115kbit/s, and Ericsson claims: "GPRS is a common step for both GSM and TDMA (IS-136) networks to handle higher data speeds and offer 3G packet capabilities." So you could say that GSM with GPRS could form an alternative to full 3G for quite a few years yet.