Growing worldwide market for GSM High Speed Data
Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association, announced today that 28 GSM networks so far have successfully implemented the feature known as High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD). "This feature enables subscribers of GSM networks to transmit and receive data at rates of up to 4 times the standard GSM rate of transmission," said Conway.
Due to the implementation of International Roaming agreements among the networks, High Speed data services can be offered to customers of these networks while traveling to other networks that provide the HSCSD service.
"Thanks to International Roaming," said Conway, "the community of traveling mobile users is expected to extensively exploit the new feature, which will enable them to connect to their corporate networks and email service without the hassle of cables and plugs, and at reasonable data rates."
High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data, is part of the evolving GSM family of technologies (GSM, HSCSD GPRS, EDGE and 3GSM/W-CDMA) for digital wireless communications and is a high speed transmission technology which allows users to send and retrieve data over GSM networks at transmission speeds between 28.8kbit/sec and 43.2kbit/sec by enabling the concurrent usage of up to four traffic channels of a GSM network.
HSCSD, being mainly a software upgrade does not entail new network elements and so the GSM operator not only avoids having to redesign the network, but can also have fast implementation. However, the user does require a new handset. HSCSD does not require the user to learn an entirely new data service or technology: it is very similar to existing services, just substantially faster.
Mobile office applications, as well as web browsing and applications such as mobile navigation services and other features using maps and graphics will benefit greatly from the enhancements provided by this technology, making applications more attractive and easier to use. HSCSD enables completely new applications too, such as mobile video.
Networks that have so far launched HSCSD:
Europe: Connect, Austria; KPN Orange, Belgium; Eurotel Praha, Czech Republic; Tele Denmark, Denmark; Sonofon, Denmark; Sonera, Finland; Cosmote, Greece; Stet Hellas, Greece; E-plus Mobilfunk ,Germany; Pannon GSM, Hungary; Eircell, Ireland; BiteGSM, Lithuania; Tango, Luxembourg; Telenor, Norway; Polkomtel, Poland; Telecel Vodafone, Portugal; Mobitel d.d., Slovenia; Telia, Sweden; Europolitan Vodafone, Sweden; Swisscom Mobile, Switzerland; Orange, Switzerland; Turkcell, Turkey; Orange, UK
Asia Pacific: Hong Kong;HONG KONG CSL Limited, Hong Kong; SmarTone, Hong Kong; SingTel Mobile, Singapore.
Middle East and Africa: Partner Communications Company, Israel; MTN, South Africa
About the GSM Association:
The GSM Association is the world's leading wireless industry representative body, consisting of more than 535 second and third generation wireless network operators and key manufacturers and suppliers to the wireless industry. Membership of the Association spans 168 countries of the world.
The GSM Association is responsible for the deployment and evolution of the GSM family of technologies (GSM, GPRS, EDGE and 3GSM) for digital wireless communications. The Association's members provide digital GSM wireless services to more than 500 million customers (as of end April 2001). The GSM system accounts for approximately 70 percent of the total digital cellular wireless market.
Source: GSM Association
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