Regarding your 3 April article, “Issa softens CDMA-only message,” the commotion stirred by the Congressman’s letter and the reaction to it by the GSM community as indicated by this statement in your article caught my attention.
“The wireless world was up in arms last week after GlobalWirelessNews.com sister publication RCR Wireless News first reported that Issa was circulating a letter telling the Defense Department and USAID to use CDMA technology when rebuilding Iraq’s wireless network. Issa also introduced legislation with several co-sponsors requiring the use of CDMA technology. The GSM Association was quick to point out that most of the Arab world uses GSM technology, and a GSM network was built in Afghanistan.”
I find it quite interesting that the GSM Association and your publications appeared to be “up in arms” at the idea that the congressman suggested that a CDMA system be installed in Iraq in response to being informed that a GSM system was being proposed. It is my understanding that the GSM Association and your publications have never objected to European governmental regulations that only permit GSM systems in 2G spectrum in Europe. It is also curious that of the over US$100 billion in 3G spectrum licenses issued in Europe, none of the carriers chose to use cdma2000 as all chose the European version (UMTS, formerly W-CDMA). I am sure you are aware that cdma2000 has been commercially deployed by over 39 operators throughout the world, with the sole exception of Europe.
I believe your publications are not providing you readers with the complete story when omitting discussion of the above.
Jim Mullens
Editor’s note: As a point of clarification, GlobalWirelessNews.com was not “up in arms” over the congressman’s suggestions. GlobalWirelessNews.com reported that the GSM Association was up in arms. We also detailed Issa’s arguments for deploying CDMA technology in Iraq in our original story U.S. lawmaker urges use of CDMA in post-war Iraq.
