Telstra Achieves CDMA2000 Wireless Data, Voice Calls

Toronto-based Nortel Networks and Telstra have made cdma2000 1XRTT packet data and voice calls on a live 800 MHz CDMA network in Melbourne, Australia. Following successful rollout of its CDMA mobile phone network, Telstra is conducting a trial of Nortel cdma2000 1XRTT high-speed data technology that will enable high-speed Wireless Internet, multimedia and packet data services. The trial was announced at the CDMA World Congress 2000 being held in Hong Kong from June 12-16.

"Australia offers some unique geographic and coverage challenges, with CDMA offering the greatest coverage area of any cellular mobile technology in Australia," said Greg Young, Telstra senior product manager. "Telstra is undertaking the field trial to understand the capabilities of 1XRTT, which is next-generation CDMA technology, including verification of data throughput speed, voice capacity increase, coverage impacts, and potential applications in a live network configuration."

The trial includes testing and verification of high-speed data, data applications including Web browsing and m-commerce and enhanced voice capacity. Although the 1XRTT specification for high-speed data transmission is 144 kb/s, Nortel is aiming for speeds up to 153 kb/s.

Based on the vendor's CDMA Metro Cell base stations and advanced 1XRTT voice and data terminals from Samsung, the trial is also intended to demonstrate the smooth evolution from existing radio infrastructure to third generation (3G) networks.

In March, Nortel Networks completed a series of 3G wireless calls, including wireless packet data sessions using cdma2000 1XRTT. Using a unified networks infrastructure solution and advanced cdma2000 terminals from Samsung, Nortel completed 1XRTT voice calls in a live, over-the-air environment in an end-to-end technical trial.

Edited by Ellen Jensen