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July 16-31, 2000 TELECOM |
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Cellular operators are evolving their networks towards high - bandwidth data/video transfer capabilities By Sudhir Chowdhary Data already exceeds voice traffic on some of the world's largest public wireline networks. The same shift is being witnessed in the wireless industry as technological developments bring forth mobile networks and handsets that do more than just 'talk'," says Sanjay Kapoor, CEO, Bharti Cellular Ltd, while talking to CT. "Cell phones can now be used as a handy notepad to send and receive text messages to and from your colleagues, friends and family," Kapoor adds. Kapoor talks about this diversity in the usage of a cellular phone to facilitate data applications through SmartNet services to present complete information, communication and business tool for people on the move. Announced recently by several cellular operators across the country, these services offer messaging capabilities to send and receive text messages, and information related to news, TV schedules, stock quotes, sports updates and entertainment. There is a lot of excitement in the global mobile communications business. There are predictions that the mobile connections will "cross-over" fixed line connections in the next five years. But the actual excitement stems from the phenomena of convergence. Third-generation (3G) wireless technologies now enable high-speed data transfers over airwaves. This, in other words, means that cell phone will allow users to browse the Net, videoconference and conduct banking transactions while on the move. Gearing up for Migration
For nearly two years, an unabated fervour for 3G has steadily simmered. The attraction is in corralling the industry's vision of the ultimate wireless configuration. It is worldwide and seamless from country to country and frequency to frequency. The high data rates go well beyond support for the contemporary Internet and capture video that is displayed on a handheld phone. The predictions of just what will be the new age of wireless are as diverse and varied as the number of players. Common hallmarks though are transmission rates that graduate from 14.4 Kbps of circuit-switched and packet-switched data to 64 Kbps and up to 144 Kbps in a mobile setting. Those rates pale in a campus environment. By all accounts, wireless Internet access will be the initial draw for 3G when the first system launches in 2001. But debut applications won't necessarily begin at 2 Mbps. They will gradually rise to that speed as they satisfy the wireless appetite, whether that's full-motion video on a handeheld terminal or video mail. According to Peter MacLaren, Nortel vice president of strategic market relations for wireless networks, "Two-thirds of the applications of third-generation systems are things we haven't even thought about. We think of 3G as the underpinning of the evolution of the wireless network from voice to data. We see a part of that evolution moving from what is today still a voice-optimised circuit-switched network to an IP-optimised packet network. And it's that transition that is going to be the major engine of the evolution of wireless networks." The industry has proven surprisingly adept at not only defining the first transmission level, but in identifying the second level as well. Before 3G launches, GSM networks can dabble in the high-speed data realm using general packet radio service (GPRS). This packet-based approach races at speeds that top 100 Kbps. It is also a bridge between the mobile unit and the Internet, giving users a direct Internet connection and eliminating the need to go through an Internet service provider. And transition has begun. Worldwide, cellular operators are installing GPRS capabilities to their GSM networks. Carriers will ultimately be able to use GPRS with enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) to reach transmission rates of 384 Kbps. Priming the Mass Market Amidst all the discussions about new wireless standards and air interfaces, it is worth keeping in mind that the real point of moving to third generation systems is to give users high speed access to wireless multimedia services. It is also worth bearing in mind that today's wireless data market is still in its infancy: among wirless subscribers, penetration of wireless datacom services is still less than three per cent, excluding short message service (SMS). Wireless data capabilities have been available and marketed for sometime, so why is the market still so small? Research carried out among users showed that there were four main obstacles to the take-up of wireless data services: it is seen as being too complicated, too expensive and too slow, and there was some uncertainty about how wireless data services could actually be useful. These concerns need to be addressed soon by operators who want to 'ride the wave' of third generation wireless services in three or four years' time, and find a mass market that will justify the required investments in new wireless infrastructure and other systems. The problem is that current wireless networks are not best equipped to deal with these new forms of data use, and do not meet the IMT-2000 requirements. Towards this, GPRS, the new packet-based data bearer service for GSM, offers current operators a golden opportunity to kick-start the elusive mass market for wireless data services. Better still, it is a relatively small step from building a core network capable of delivering GPRS services to enhancing it to meet the requirements of IMT-2000. In other words, implementing GPRS will provide a core network platform for current GSM operators not only to expand the wireless data market in preparation for the introduction of third generation services, but also to build up on for IMT-2000. GPRS will provide end-to-end packet switching capability from the mobile terminal upwards, enhancing GSM data services significantly, especially for bursty Internet/intranet traffic call set-up will be almost instantaneous and users will be charged on the basis of actual data transmitted, rather than connection time. Primer for the New Generation The catalyst in ushering in 3G technologies over the world has been the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an arm of the United Nations. It has pioneered the drive to standardise technologies and establish a commonality that would enable third generation technologies to be commercially viable. Conflicting standards and the inability to connect with other standards would kill the prospect of 3G communications. World over, three standards or communications protocols are operational. The ITU has undertaken an exercise "IMT-2000" which seeks to set technological standards and specifications and create links between various technologies. The IMT 2000 would be using higher frequencies that would see quantum leap in the capacities available to transmit signals. It would then be possible to download data while whizzing in the car at a speed of 144 Kbps and videoconference while shopping. As also surf the Net at 2 Mbps speed at fixed location. As 3G moves from the backroom into commercial service, carriers and equipment vendors will leave no stone unturned to realise the potential of this new technology. That is the promise of this next generation of communications. |
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