EDGE & 3G

[Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

'found this  :

EDGE is a 3G-compliant data transfer technology that is up to three
times faster than GPRS ...

and :

Martin Courtney, Network IT Week <http://www.networkitweek.co.uk/>
15
Feb 2006
<http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/34d9/3/0/%2a/w%3B62975328%3B0-0%3B0%3B15128022%3B4252-336/280%3B19565108/19583002/1%3B%3B%7Efdr%3D63057830%3B0-0%3B6%3B14150510%3B4252-336/280%3B19410231/19428125/1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://mds.centrport.net/mdsefc?a20250041;MATT10CC18881P531780B531781S0;B531781;1>
advertisement
<http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/vnu.uk/telecoms;chan=news;sect=analysis;subsect=;topcat=communications;cat=telecoms;artid=2150339;page=article;tile=3;sz=336x280;ord=123456789?>
Earlier this month, Orange became the only mobile operator in the UK to
commit itself to upgrading its current GPRS packet data services to
higher speed connections based on Enhanced Data-rates for GSM
Evolution (EDGE) technology.

EDGE will provide roaming workers with an estimated 100-200kbit/s of
mobile data bandwidth in the vast swathes of Britain where faster third
generation (3G) data services are currently unavailable. Whilst EDGE
services should deliver more bandwidth for email, web browsing and file
transfer from notebook PC than GPRS, experts warn that the data rates
quoted could prove optimistic.

"The general rule of thumb is to take vendor/operator top bit rates
and
halve them," warned John Delaney, principal analyst with research firm
Ovum.

Whatever the speed, the faster data rates will cost no extra than
current GPRS services, according to Orange spokesperson Stuart Jackson,
whilst availability will expand from 300 base stations to 1,500 by the
end of 2006. To prevent customers enjoying the benefits of lower cost
mobile broadband all the time, however, EDGE connections will not be
available in areas already covered by Orange's 3G network, only where a
3G signal is unavailable.

"The 3G rollout is still the main focus for Orange. EDGE is an add-on
for customers, which we knew we could do quickly, and pushes further
into rural locations that aren't currently covered by 3G and are
unlikely to be for some time," said Jackson.

Orange's commitment to a nationwide EDGE rollout was well telegraphed by
a series of regional trials and pilots. But whilst the other three UK
mobile operators with a GSM/GPRS infrastructure in place (3 has only a
3G network) all trialled EDGE, none have decided to deploy the
technology as a commercial service.

Despite ongoing problems with 3G coverage - it is virtually pointless
attempting to gain a 3G signal outside the UK's major cities - O2,
Vodafone and T-Mobile are all committed to expanding their 3G networks
over the next five to ten years, and have no plans to upgrade GPRS data
services in areas of non-3G coverage in the meantime.

"3G offers the best infrastructure for delivering high speed data.
Vodafone UK already offers data rates of 384kbit/s to 72 percent of the
UK population and coverage is continually expanding," said Vodafone
head
of data services, John Lillistone. "Coverage is well on track to meet
license requirements of 80 percent population coverage by the end of
December 2007."

Mike Short, vice president for research and development for O2,
estimates that for O2 at least, the cost of rolling out EDGE services
did not justify the benefits it would provide either for the operator or
its mobile customers

-----

true or not ?

Chris



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]