Tim Bernard
Introduction
Over the years technology has grown rapidly with new inventions and ideas. In dealing with technology, telecommunications has also become a very big industry.Now that third-generation networking (3G), mobiles service has been in production across seas.This puts pressure on the U.S. to keep up with technology.
In the future, using your cell phone to actually make a phone call may be a rare occasion. “Released in May 2001 in Japan and within the next few years for the rest of the world, the next big jump in wireless networking will be third-generation technology. Jim Healy, the chair of Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSM), said during his opening speech at the 3GSM World Congress, "Close your eyes, and count to ten. You are now experiencing second-generation communications." He was referring to today's generation of digital mobile phone systems, which are based on technologies such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or GSM. "Now open them," said Healy. "That's 3G." http://www.cae.wisc.edu/~wiscengr/Sept01/wireless.shtml
The
mobile phone revolutionized communications when it first arrived in Australia
in the late 1980s. Now we take it for granted. The mobile phone is such
a central part of everyday life that it's easy to overlook the big impact
it has had, from the way we work when we're out of the office, how we check
the shopping list at the supermarket and the way we keep in touch with
friends, at any time and in any place.
As 3G services are introduced,
we will experience another shift in the way we live and work. It's not
just about upgrading to a new mobile phone, or connecting to the Internet
with a new handheld computer. It's about new services that can make our
lives simpler and easier.
“Imagine pulling a device out of your pocket, snapping a picture and then sending that picture via email to a friend. You then feel a little hungry, so you jump on a popular website and find a good restaurant in the area, along with directions on how to get there. You want to see a movie afterwards, so you watch the previews of a couple of flicks on a small color screen. After deciding to call your mother, you ring her up and talk while you both see each other’s faces in live teleconferencing. At the same time, you then stroll along jamming to a recently downloaded MP3. Now imagine doing all this on the same device. Many companies are already promising devices that do this and more powered by 3G technology.” http://www.cae.wisc.edu/~wiscengr/Sept01/wireles.shtml
Present
State of Nature
As
the movement to 3G wireless services begins with radio channel element
upgrades in 2001, the movement to data-capable mobile wireless networks
has already begun. “In 2000, General Radio Packet Services have been introduced
in Western Europe, North America and other parts of the world. As GSM systems
begin to offer direct access to the Internet through GPRS, many other service
providers will begin to offer truncated access to the web, allowing subscribers
to have specially- formatted sites written exclusively for the wireless
user at their disposal.”
http://www.gii.co.jp/english/ab4859_mn_3g_wireless.html
“The
Wireless Application Protocol is one example of a de facto standard allowing
wireless operators, handset makers and network operators to be on the same
page, finally, when it comes to truncated access. Actual Internet access
will be available for CDMA users when 1XRTT, a 3G technology, has been
in testing since 2000 and will be put onto the market at the end of 2001
and beginning of 2002. TDMA and GSM operators will upgrade to Enhanced
Data Rates for GSM in 2003-2005, allowing Internet access.” http://www.gii.co.jp/english/ab4859_mn_3g_wireless.html
This
will help the narrowband and wireless broadband movement, to allow MIS
directors to become more comfortable with information being sent out over
the airwaves as encouragement for all wireless systems become standard.
Mobile wireless data has been introduced in the past, but was looked upon
as a security risk. As large amounts of information are moved over wireless
broadband networks, the narrowband application will soon be viewed as another
extension of the client-server architecture made common in the 1980s.
Although,
some industry analysts say 3G, will arrive in May 2002, others are saying
it is already here, in South Korea.They
have already begun
offering service to Samsung handsets outfitted with the Qualcomm chip last
year.Others say U.S. carriers Sprint
and Verizon Wireless will introduce Americans to 3G services by the end
of the year.
“Verizon
Wireless and Lucent Technologies are forging ahead with plans to lay the
groundwork for the launch of 3G later this year. According to a recent
news release, the two companies plan to speed the introduction of 3G technologies
in the United States and have signed a $5-billion contract, which positions
Lucent to become Verizon Wireless' largest supplier of 3G high-speed wireless
services to the United States.” http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?src=search&id=r00720010803mcc01.htm
“When
the coast-to-coast network is operational later this year, it will mean
3G has arrived in the United States. This first phase rollout will use
the CDMA2000 technologies, which will comply with the standards established
by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).” http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?src=search&id=r00720010803mcc01.htm
“Verizon
Wireless customers will be the first to tap into a growing list of new
applications that require very high-speed data transmission’s, giving the
company a significant competitive advantage over other providers. And it
also means that we'll all have a faster connection to this strange new
world soon. The network is already in place, according to the company,
but 3G handsets have not yet been fully tested.The
company expects to have the 3G cell phones in hand in the fourth quarter.Where
as, Sprint continues to affirm plans to migrate to 3G services by the end
of the year, with a limited rollout in a to-be-named city and full deployment
by the middle of 2002.”
http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?src=search&id=r00720010803mcc01.htm
Flashback
Anyone
who remembers the earlier days of Internet browsing with modem speeds as
low as 14.4 Kbps should be drooling at the thought of 3G. In the days of
wired surfing, you could go get a cup of coffee, converse with coworkers,
and stroll back to your desk before a Web page loaded. That was also when
only key personnel were granted limited access to the Internet. With the
comparative lightning speed of broadband, you can imagine what mobile wireless
surfing access is like now and what the future will be like with 3G.
1G
The
first-generation (1G) networking period began in the late 1970s and lasted
through the 1980s.These systems
featured the first true mobile phone.The
networks used an analog voice signaling that was a little more sophisticated
than repeater networks and were used by amateur radio operators.The
1G phones were archaic by today’s standards and were commonly referred
to as brick phones for because of their size and weight.Their
systems are analog and are designed for voice transformation.Post-analog
technology has advanced rapidly and consequently only a very few analog
systems remain in existence.
2G
The
second-generation (2G) phase began in the 1990s, and much of this technology
is still in use today.Second-generation
systems are digital and are capable of providing wireless networks to carry
voice, limited data and short messaging services. Wireless subscribers
can use CDMA data connections to send and receive fax messages and e-mail,
browse the Internet, and access their corporate intranets via secure virtual
private network (VPN) connections.
“CommWorks’
2G IWF solutions enable their customers to converge wireless voice services
with newer data applications across an integrated infrastructure. The CommWorks
IWF is a hardware and software platform that serves as a gateway from the
wireless network, giving subscribers access to the Internet, corporate
intranets, PSTN dial-up, and fax services. The IWF system resides within
a service provider’s central office or switching center and connects directly
to wireless switches.” http://www.commworks.com/Wireless_Access/
“Their
IWF solution is currently compatible with all major CDMA switches and is
used worldwide by virtually every major CDMA cellular and PCS data provider.
Numerous revenue-generating services can be delivered via the CommWorks
IWF system. These include:
·Remote
Access Services:
Give subscribers the ability to send and receive information quickly and
reliably via data or fax services.
·E-mail
Access: Enable anytime,
anywhere access to e-mail that lets subscribers stay in almost constant
contact with colleagues and customers.
·Intranet
Access: Offer corporate
subscribers access to their company intranet using secure, standards-based
VPN tunneling and encryption methods.
·Internet/Online Services Access: Provide subscribers with transparent access to the Internet and various online services.
The
Total Control 1000 IWF adds value to their services and enhances the mobile
networking experience for their subscribers. It also serves as a platform
for our migration from 2G to 3G: they plan to make it possible for their
2G IWF and 3G PDSN systems to coexist within our network, and even within
the same Total Control 1000 chassis.”
http://www.commworks.com/Wireless_Access/2G_CDMAOne
Shortcomings
A
few years ago, everyone was amazed at the thought of “anywhere” phone usage.Now,
this has become the standard, and the wireless world is poised to take
the next step: freeing data and the Internet from the wired infrastructure.In
some countries, wireless has already begun to rival wired as the primary
way to access the Internet.
Today’s
second-generation wireless networks carry voice, limited data applications,
and short messaging services. Next-generation or 3G networks will offer
much greater capacity and significantly higher data rates. This will open
the door for new enhanced data applications that go far beyond traditional
wireless e-mail and Internet access. To the end user, the move to 3G will
be a seamless transition to advanced wireless data services such as multimedia
and location-based content.
“Since
its inception, 2G technology has steadily improved, with increased bandwidth,
packet routing, and the introduction of multimedia.There
is, after all, a very small screen on most mobile phones and 2G wireless
networks are only capable of connection speeds approaching 14.4 Kbps.So
we are outgrowing 2G just like we outgrew 1G.With
3G on the horizon, we are just starting to imagine what this strange new
world will be like once it becomes mainstream.It
will allow speeds up to 26 times faster than 2G, were it could reach up
to speeds of 2,000Kbps.” http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml/src=search&r00720010803mcc01.htm
“Third-generation
wireless communication technologies support data rates of 384K to 2M bit/sec.
and beyond. The packet switching is IP-based, making for efficient routing
of data from the Internet through the carrier's gateway. The higher bandwidth
may allow for better integration of voice, data and video signals.”
http://www.computerworld.com/itresources/rcstory/0,,KEY18_STO63949,00.html
“Unlike
2G technologies, which simply provide software updates to existing carrier
infrastructures, 3G technologies require new "base station" hardware at
each tower. Consequently, the services aren't expected until next year
or 2003. The current 3G competitors are wideband CDMA, which blends CDMA
and GSM technologies, and Qualcomm Inc.'s CDMA 2000.” http://www.computerworld.com/itresources/rcstory/0,,KEY18_STO63949,00.html
“Wireless
data networks offer an alternative to cellular-based radios. These networks
aren't IP-based but are designed to support data. They typically offer
good coverage and support low-bandwidth applications such as messaging.
They also require the use of proprietary data modems embedded into products
such as Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry devices.” http://www.computerworld.com/itresources/rcstory/0,,KEY18_STO63949,00.html
“These
technologies won't evolve to compete with 2G or 3G services, analysts say,
but they'll continue to provide a low-cost alternative for low-bandwidth
applications. The primary network technologies are Mobitex, DataTAC, and
Reflex.Ultimately, 3G technologies
should deliver the improved reliability and performance that corporate
users need.” http://www.computerworld.com/itresources/rcstory/0,,KEY18_STO63949,00.html
Proposed
Solution
Third-generation
networking will offer a much greater capacity and with significantly higher
data rates, opening the door for new enhanced data applications that go
far beyond traditional wireless e-mail and Internet access. To the end
user, the move to 3G will be a seamless transition to advanced wireless
data services such as multimedia and location-based content.This
is no dream. Sophisticated wireless communication will soon be a reality,
with fast, intelligent, and affordable devices opening up better ways of
organizing our lives and staying in touch.
“Some
industry analysts say 3G, or third-generation, arrived in May 2001, but
only in a limited release in Japan. Others say it was already here, in
South Korea and some say U.S. carriers Sprint and Verizon Wireless will
introduce Americans to 3G services by the end of this year.” http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2692281,00.html
Though
all of the potential 3G airwaves are currently in use, some by the U.S.
Defense Department and some by universities.If
3G is going to move in, those other services have to move out.
Although
others may “say that third-generation mobile communication systems are
scheduled for operational startup in Japan and Europe in 2001-2002. Applying
high-speed data transfer and state-of-the-art radio terminal technology,
third generations systems enable multimedia, and are currently in the process
of being standardized.”
http://www.nokia.com/networks/systems_and_solutions/whatis_glossary/1,23787,1,00.html
Therefore,
the million-dollar question continues to nag consumers.When
will 3G take hold?I don’t believe
that, anybody really has that good of an idea.In
general, I think that everyone is almost guessing on this new technology.Nobody
knows exactly how much this is going to cost or how much time it is going
to take, they are just estimating and wishing on a star.
When
doing my research on third-generation networking I found an article that
gave their prediction on this technology and where they thought it would
be in the future.“It's
2005, and next-generation 3G wireless technology still hasn't made it to
the United States, cell phone customers are getting swamped by advertisements
masquerading as trivia games, and the number of operating systems for mobile
devices has ballooned past 50.The
studies are yet another indictment of the progress toward "3G," the elusive
technology that has long promised to deliver high-speed data rates to mobile
devices, but has yet to make a showing. Telecom providers are spending
hundreds of billions of dollars to build a 3G infrastructure. Yet, there
is just one 3G service out now, in South Korea.”http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2693450,00.html
“Instead
of super-fast connections, the studies point to a radically different future
for a successful wireless industry, one in which things like low-tech games
or downloading ring tones are offered over a lower bandwidth network.The
reason? The technology can't support a lofty 3G future in which a movie
theater would stream movie trailers onto the handheld of patrons waiting
on a ticket line, Jupiter argues. Most industry experts say that to do
so, it'll take a network capable of delivering 2 million bits of information
every second, which would be an expensive service to offer.”http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2693450,00.html
We
know that, regardless of whether we find new technologies intimidating
of fascination, 3G will bring a host of mobile services that will bring
more information, more efficiency, and more joy to our lives. Although
there are a lot of predictions on when this phase is expected to reach
maturity, I would
guess that it would be between the years 2003 and 2005.If
the U.S. wants to presume this new technology sooner they are going to
have to figure out some guidelines to go by.The
most important ones are what is it going to take to develop this new technology,
the amount of money that this technology is going to cost, and the use
of a ghant chart in trying to develop this product with a certain time
line. If the U.S. can come
up with a sufficient way in accomplishing these types of questions, I think
that this may lean them in a safer environment with third-generation networking.To
me it seems they are trying to presume this new technology to quickly and
they are just making careless mistakes.I
am not for sure even if they know where they want this technology to go
or how to go about this sophisticated process.
Identification
of 3G
What
exactly is 3G? Third-generation
networks are the next step in the evolution of wireless voice and data
services. With substantially enhanced capacity, quality, and data rates,
3G is positioned to deliver on the promise of anytime, anywhere, any way
access for mobile users. Increased bandwidth and a robust solution for
IP service mobility opens the door for new data applications that service
providers with the ability to provision flawlessly to mobile users.
The most
important new feature is its blazing fast speed. True, there are currently
cell phones that can browse the Internet, but only if you don’t mind waiting
with connections that are slower than most home PCs. 3G systems will offer
speeds about the same as DSL and high-speed cable connections. This will
allow users to easily transfer movies, music, and other large data files
on the go.
Other
interesting applications include “voice portals” that will let people command
wireless devices merely by speaking. A device may ask you, “What stock?”
and you can simply reply to the question verbally. Another interesting
feature is that 3G will run under one unified system, a solution to a problem
that plagues the U.S.
Currently
in some countries, it’s possible to buy a soda from a soda machine using
your cell phone. Dial a number and enter your choice, and the system will
relay a message to the vending machine with your purchase and automatically
bill your account. Companies are already looking into more applications
of this sort, such as purchasing movie tickets and ordering dinner. Another
big jump is that your device will always be connected to the network. There
will be no need to dial into the Internet, as you are always online. The
instant somebody sends you an email, your phone will alert you that you
have an incoming message. There are also plans to tie the technology in
with Bluetooth, another emerging wireless technology that will enable connectivity
between electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, and
digital cameras, within a range of 10 meters, eliminating the need for
cables.
“Developers are already drastically changing the functionality of wireless devices, allowing people to do things much easier and cheaper. Sharp Corporation already has on the market the $120 J SH04 phone with an embedded digital camera that will permit instant transmission of snapshots by email to personal computers. Matsushita is working on a digital wristwatch with a full-screen display and built-in camera, much like what Dick Tracy used.” http://www.cae.wisc.edu
“Sony
Computer Entertainment and NTT DoCoMo, the company that is releasing the
system in Japan, have signed a series of deals to build mobile Internet
gaming platforms for users of Sony’s PlayStation video game console and
cell phones around the world. Together, the companies plan to build a series
of new network services for PlayStation users that will enable people to
access services and play PlayStation games via their cell phones. Even
Motorola Inc. and Palm Inc. are teaming up to develop a “smart phone” that
will serve as a wireless Internet device, phone and personal organizer.”http://www.cae.wisc.edu
Capabilities
and Features of 3G
Ultimately,
3G is expected to include capabilities and features such as:
·Enhanced
multimedia (voice, data, video, and remote control)
·Usability
on all popular modes (cellular telephone, e-mail, paging, fax, videoconferencing,
and Web browsing)
·Broad
bandwidth and high speed (upwards of 2 Mbps)
·Routing
flexibility (repeater, satellite, LAN)
·Operation
at approximately 2 GHz transmit and receive frequencies
·Roaming
capability throughout Europe, Japan, and North America
While
3G is generally considered applicable mainly to mobile wireless, it is
also relevant to fixed
wireless
and portable wireless. The ultimate 3G system might be operational from
any location on, or over, the earth's surface, including use in or by:
·Homes
·Businesses
·Government
offices
·Medical
establishments
·The
military
·Personal
and commercial land vehicles
·Private
and commercial watercraft and marine craft
·Private
and commercial aircraft (except where passenger use restrictions apply)
·Portable
(pedestrians, hikers, cyclists, campers)
·Space
stations and spacecraft
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci214486,00.html
Although
the technology behind 3G may seem complicated, the ways in which 3G will
affect all of our lives are easy to imagine.Mobile
communication is moving from simple voice to rich media, where we use more
of our senses to intensify our experiences.However,
not all will happen at once.3G is
an evolution to a communications ideal that we cannot see the end of yet.While,
we find new technologies intimidating or fascination, 3G will bring a host
of mobile services that will bring more information, more efficiency, and
more joy to our lives.
Scenarios
of the use for 3G
As
3G services are introduced, you will experience another shift in the way
we live and work. It’s not
just about upgrading to a new mobile phone, or connecting to the Internet
with a new handheld computer.It’s
about new services that can make our lives simpler and easier.
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Scenario
1: Quick Work
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You're
at a meeting with a client and you realize you've brought an outdated version
of your corporate presentation. No problem. You call one of your colleagues
and ask for the latest PowerPoint file. Your colleague finds it on the
office server and emails it over the 3G networks - the bandwidth is more
than enough - to your 3G handset, a mobile phone with the power of a computer.
You transfer the file over a wireless Bluetooth link to your laptop.
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Scenario
2: Keeping up with the Grandparents
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Your
grandparents are traveling in Europe. You've seen all their snapshots on
the journey from London to Rome, because they've sent their photographs
to a virtual photo album on the Internet. Thanks to their digital camera
and 3G connections, they can upload their photographs to the web site almost
as soon as they are taken. And you don't even have to check the site to
find out what they've been up to: they use a service that prints selected
photographs in a postcard format, sending you one in the mail every week.
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Scenario
3: Cash Crisis
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You're
doing your grocery shopping but didn't have time to go the ATM for cash.
And you don't have time to wait for the slow process of using a credit
card or EFTPOS at the checkout. Instead, you use your 3G terminal to pay
for the groceries - it's simply a matter of authorizing the transaction
and confirming the payment through the wireless connection at the store.
Your bank account is automatically debited, and your screen shows you your
new account balance.
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Scenario
4: Scrawling a Message
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So
far, there has not been an easy way to communicate online with character-based
languages in Asia. Consider this a thing of the past, thanks to the 'white
board' application that is possible with 3G. Using this, you can hand write
a message while you're in the middle of a video call with your friend.
The result is a quick and easy message whether you're communicating in
Chinese, Japanese, English, French or any other language.
These
scenarios where found from: http://www.ericsson.com.au/technologies/3g/3g_applications.shtml
How
3G works
“The
3G solution provides two key packet-data services for cdma2000 mobile subscribers:
quick authenticated Internet access using Simple IP services; and fast
secured access to home or private networks using Mobile IP services. These
services create the necessary data conduits for delivering enhanced revenue-generating
applications.” http://www.commworks.com/Wireless_Access/3G_CDMA_2000/
“Based
on the IS-2000 series of standards, the CommWorks 3G data solution ensures
interoperability with all standards-based wireless equipment, giving service
providers enormous flexibility in designing and developing their networks.
In addition, its open, standards-based architecture provides the scalability
and flexibility required for easy deployment of new services and applications
that can give service providers a competitive edge.”http://www.commworks.com/Wireless_Access/3G_CDMA_2000/
Evaluation
Pros
of 3G
In
the near future, mobility won't be an add-on; it will become a fundamental
aspect of many services. 3G services will add an invaluable mobile
dimension to services that are already an integral part of modern business
life. These include the Internet, intranets, video-conferencing, and the
interactive sharing of office applications to manage sales, appointments
and business documents. We are not just talking about corporate 'road warriors'
who spend most of their time traveling. 3G will support new and flexible
working practices, providing employees with access to a wide range of information
and services whether they are at their desk or elsewhere. We'll expect
high-speed access to the Internet, entertainment, information, and electronic
commerce (e-commerce) services wherever users are.It's
for employees who sometimes work at home, accountants who carry out audits
at client premises, on-site maintenance engineers who need access to detailed
instruction manuals, and emergency services workers who need video links
with hospitals or doctors.
“We
will also see 3G services enter our day-to-day lives in all sorts of new
ways, from shopping and banking to playing interactive computer games over
the Net. It won't be long before we think nothing of sitting on a train
using a mobile palmpilots to check our bank accounts or pay bills. We might
even click on an icon on screen to set up an instant videoconference with
your bank clerk. On holidays, we will be able to use our mobile palmpilots
to obtain local tour guides, make last minute reservations at hotels, find
and call the nearest taxi firm, or send video postcards. 3G will mean many
things to many people. But most all it will be about speed, intelligence,
convenience and having the Internet at your fingertips - all the time.” http://www.ericsson.com.au/technologies/3g/3g_what_is_3g.shtml
Cons
of 3G
Third-generation
is going to change what it takes to access the Internet from a thousand-dollar
computer to a couple hundred-dollar device. We will be able to make phone
calls, use the Internet, take pictures, play games, and more, all with
the same gadget. However, reaching that point may prove more difficult
than companies hope.
“Though
the transmission to 2G in the U.S. seems to be going pretty smoothly, experts
believe changing the system to 3G will prove much more difficult. 3G requires
a much wider radio spectrum than existing wireless services, and this can
create many problems. Countries are currently auctioning off their spectrum
to phone companies for huge sums of money. The phone companies may find
themselves without enough money left over to build the new networks. Last
year, more than $100 billion was spent in Europe just for the rights to
the airwaves necessary to implement 3G services. Analysts say it will cost
another $80 billion to upgrade their existing network.”
http://www.cae.wisc.edu/~wiscengr/Sept01/wireless.shtml
“The
U.S. has an additional problem – all of our potential 3G airwaves are currently
in use, some by the U.S. Defense Department and some by universities. If
3G is going to move in, those other services have to move out. Despite
the problems and the difficulty in implementing 3G, many companies are
already hard at work. NTT DoCoMo Inc. has already been making investments
all over the globe, including purchasing 16% of AT&T Wireless.” http://www.cae.wisc.edu/~wiscengr/Sept01/wireless.shtml
Air
Wave Problems
In
dealing with airwave problems, others around
the world suggest there will be no shortage of 3G-ready towers when the
technology is ready for rollout. The situation with backbone networks,
where the traffic is transferred from the towers for national and global
transit, is even more secure. New IP-focused backbones, designed to carry
huge quantities of mobile Internet traffic, have sprung up globally from
the likes of Cable and Wireless. The number of backbone providers is so
great that even big names, like self-proclaimed 'super-carrier' PSINet
are struggling to stay afloat.
“ So all the infrastructure's
safely in place for 3G and there's no danger of congestion from the huge
surge in data and video traffic? Well not quite. The tower sites then need
connecting back into the backbone network via high capacity broadband links
often running over relatively short distances, between 500 and 1500 meters.
This is the 'missing link' in the 3G-infrastructure chain.”
“Without
enough bandwidth running between towers and backbones, there's a risk of
bottlenecks. Huge amounts of data and video traffic could be 'log-jammed'
at the towers end because an adequate stepping-stone to take it onto the
backbones does not exist. Whereas in a 2G network each 'back-haul link'
was typically 2MB/S, the requirement for 3G is more likely to be 34MB/S.”
http://www.redman.co.uk/press/3gexpo-MissingLink.asp
“The
options for providing this vital link may be myriad but choosing the right
one is difficult. Each technology has pronounced pros and cons so it's
necessary to study the options in more detail. First to come under scrutiny
is the fixed leased line circuit.
Leased line circuits tend to be copper wire links provided by the local
telephone company. Relatively, easy to upgrade for greater capacity, leased
lines are a viable way of coping with the increased bandwidth demands of
3G. And once installed, leased lines tend to deliver the kind of high performance
levels that a Mobile Operator requires. However, leased lines do have two
notable drawbacks - speed of delivery and price. The price also tends to
escalate dramatically as the bandwidth increases from 2 to 34MB/s.”
http://www.redman.co.uk/press/3gexpo-MissingLink.asp
“In
Europe and even more so globally, there are still many areas, rural and
urban, that don't have a high density of copper in the ground. This means
that to obtain a leased line link, the local telephone company must install
the cable required first. This can take weeks, sometimes months, denying
the mobile operator rapid access to greater network coverage. What's worse,
there's no guarantee the telephone company will be allowed to install more
copper anyway. Many cities with heavily built-up urban centers often cannot
withstand any extra construction work.” http://www.redman.co.uk/press/3gexpo-MissingLink.asp
“Leased
lines also tend to bring hefty rental costs, a very serious issue for companies
that had to spend billions to obtain a 3G license in the first place. KPN,
for example, has had to raise an additional 5.5 billion Euros to repay
debt from the 3G auctions. For many 3G Operators, trying to capitalize
in a nascent market, the price factor and the possible slow delivery time
can put them off leased lines.”
http://www.redman.co.uk/press/3gexpo-MissingLink.asp
“Fiber
optic connections tend to multiply the strengths and weaknesses of leased
lines. Many telecom operators in Europe are investing heavily in fiber
optic cable, which delivers high capacity, reliable performance. Unfortunately
fiber optic lines, at the moment at least, are expensive to install and
tend to be deployed in the backbone network rather than as a 'last mile'
network link. Fiber-to-the-tower is not yet a viable option for most 3G
operators. As a result, enterprising financial directors look more closely
at the cost-effective wireless alternatives. It's from within this area
of technology that we must focus next.” http://www.redman.co.uk/press/3gexpo-MissingLink.asp
Migration
Strategies
Third-generation
also faces the need to tailor migration strategies to fit positioning in
the market, according to Jimmy Lukito, “marketing and sales support manager
for Alcatel SA's mobile networks division in Asia-Pacific.”
“Operators
must migrate to 3G in a way that fits the business model they have adopted,"
he said in an address at the International Data Corp. (IDC) Asia-Pacific
Telecom forum. "3G is a much more complex environment to design for than
2G as there are many different types of traffic.”The
second generation of mobile phone services, of which the most widely used
is GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), carry predominantly voice
traffic. This makes the 2G-business model simple. The value chain consists
of network operators and handsets. With 3G's ability to deliver a wide
range of services, there are many more elements in the value chain, including
content providers, value-added aggregators and service providers, according
to Lukito.” http://www.itworld.com/Net/2629/IDG0108223G/
Fraud
The
subject dealing with telecommunications fraud is a very serious matter
when dealing with 3G.The merits
and demerits are serious approaches to the problem, mostly dealing with
fraud management systems, and the general lack of awareness regarding the
seriousness of the issue.
“What
needs to be considered when 3G is implemented is the complex integration
of different and multiple types of network entities and services, in combination
with content billing as a complement to the existing “usage billing”. This
opens up the vulnerability for the operators and the opportunities for
the fraudsters, to be compared with the same evolution the computer industry
just experienced with massive virus threats when the Internet was introduced.
Users and industry were not prepared for the new threats and concentrated
more on features and functions than on security. This is very logical since
features and functions are the driving forces within most development.
But dramatically increased fraud risks must be considered when 3G opens
up new ways of using the networks and services and content becomes more
valuable than the usage itself.”http://www.globalcomms.co.uk/features/features.asp?ID=1072
Four
Fraud Management Areas
“All
operators, and other players, dealing with 3G solutions have four major
areas to cover in order to successfully manage telecom fraud:
-
Fraud awareness
- Fraud management organization
- Fraud management procedures
- Fraud management equipment and technology.
http://www.globalcomms.co.uk/features/features.asp?ID=1072
Revenues
“In
the second-generation world, the main source of revenue for operators was
payment for airtime. In the world of 3G operators will have access to a
multiplicity of revenue sources, enabling them to double their current
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) without impacting on the actual end user's
costs. According to a model developed by Nokia, the next ten years we will
see 3G operators enjoying revenues from wireless advertising, mobile information
services, business solutions, mobile transactions, entertainment, and location
based services. Person to person communications will continue to represent
a major source of revenue, but machine-to-machine communications is a completely
unexplored area, this may become of equal importance within a few years.” http://www.nokia.com.cn/3gexpress/01/english/0102_02.html
Third-generation
enables so many new features, it has a substantial effect on the economics
of telecommunications. Most importantly, it helps communications companies
offer innovative services and champion new strategies to win the support
of customers.The result is an increase
in the ARPU, as consumers and businesses welcome 3G services.“Ericsson
Australia's facts-based business case modeling is being used by leading
operators to examine investments and returns in 3G services, taking into
account the major applications that are likely to generate the strongest
revenue streams in the coming years.In
one scenario a core finding is that the average network traffic generated
per subscriber will jump from 8 megabytes per month currently to about
70 megabytes per month by 2006, mostly due to new applications that encourage
wider use of 3G services.”
http://www.ericsson.com.au/technologies/3g/3g_business_case.shtml
"Revenue
is tipped to rise strongly as a result, climbing from an ARPU of less than
$80 per month during 2000 to $120 per month in 2009 and $160 per month
by 2015. Macquarie Bank and others have cited Ericsson’s projections in
studies of the Australian market. With consumers currently dedicating only
18 per cent of their communications spending to mobile services, there
will be significant room for growth. The top-down model predicts that the
proportion spent on mobiles will rise to 24 per cent by 2006 and then surge
to 50 per cent by 2015.” http://www.ericsson.com.au/technologies/3g/3g_business_case.shtml
“The
share of end-user revenue, going to network operators will drop from 75
percent in a 2G environment to 25 percent in a 3G environment, with content
providers taking 38 percent, value-added aggregators taking 12 percent,
and service providers taking 25 percent.” http://www.itworld.com/Net/2629/IDG0108223G/
Technologies,
such as mobile telephony, satellite communications and the shift from analog
to digital technologies, not only means convenience but also dramatically
lower costs: lower costs for building infrastructure, lower running costs
for operators, and lower prices for subscribers. Also, with this new technology
lower cost means greater access for the user.
Conclusion
and Recommendation
Once
again we have gain advantage towards a new technology.Like
1G we advanced to 2G, and now that we have almost grown out of 2G we are
now onto 3G.Although, we may be
trying to keep up with technology, one might say that technology is trying
to keep up with us.It seems that
there always will be something better, faster, or easier for users.This
may be the case, but it is also provides many obstacles to go threw before
that new technology reaches the market.
In
doing research about third-generation networking, it seems to me that there
might be a few more problems then they are aware of.There
has never been a technology product that has come strait off the shelf
without any flaws in it.When second
generation came out, they had a real problem with amount of clarity when
listening on a cell phone.To this
day, people are still having a big problem with this.Also,
2G is a more simpler network then the new upcoming 3G.There
is going to be billing problems, faulty device problems, fraud, airwave
problems, and the biggest problem, money.
Although, second-generation wireless networks carry voice, limited data applications, and short messaging services.Third-generation networks will offer much greater capacity and significantly higher data rates, opening the door for new, enhanced data applications that go far beyond traditional wireless e-mail and Internet access. To the end user, the move to 3G will be a seamless transition to advanced wireless data services such as multimedia and location-based content.
This
paper was supposed to be about why we should get rid of second-generation
networking?After many hours trying
to become an expert in the field of third-generation networking, I have
come to the conclusion that maybe it is time to move on but, maybe we should
take it a little slower in trying to push this new network off.In
doing so this would give us a little more time in trying to help us understandingthe
pros and cons that we will face with third-generation networking.After
all, 3G
networks will be the next step in the evolution of wireless voice and data
services that will take us to a higher level of technology but, it will
not help us any if we are unfamiliar with it.