BAL HARBOUR, Fla.-Let the lobbying wars begin. The Universal Wireless Communications Consortium is stepping up efforts to promote Time Division Multiple Access technology around the world following the CDMA Development Group’s success in working to open up the Chinese market to Code Division Multiple Access technology.
“It certainly says to us that we need to jump,” said Jim Manis, newly appointed vice president of international and public affairs with the UWCC. “We have not been paid attention to that much in the past.”
Greg Williams, UWCC chairman and vice president of wireless systems with SBC Communications Inc., echoed that sentiment last week at the UWCC’s annual global summit here, saying the association has always been a silent one, pushing ahead with its own agendas.
That changed somewhat last year when UWCC began spending more time on Capitol Hill countering Qualcomm Inc.’s lobbying efforts on third-generation CDMA technology. And last week UWCC announced it was opening two new offices designed to serve the Asia Pacific and South American regions in promoting TDMA technology. The CDG already operates offices around the world and has been aggressive in promoting CDMA technology.
“We need access to the decision makers that control markets,” said Manis. “Our target will be government authorities in the U.S. and other countries as well as standards groups.”
UWCC is concerned about the U.S. Commerce Department’s role in pushing China-the world’s largest telecommunications opportunity-to commercialize rival CDMA technology. Williams told RCR he soon plans to send U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley a letter stating the UWCC’s concerns about the high visibility given to CDMA technology during the recent U.S./China telecom trade talks. China recently agreed to commercialize CDMA technology and allow operators to expand experimental CDMA networks.
Williams said UWCC, which includes large U.S. carriers such as AT&T Wireless Services Inc., has tried in the past year to remind policy makers that whenever CDMA technology is mentioned in trade talks, TDMA technology should be included in those talks.
“Our intention is to remind them once again,” said Williams.
Daley’s office could not be reached for comment by RCR press time. Commerce Department officials in January said TDMA proponents had approached the government body about promoting TDMA technology as well.
“Commerce considers itself the representative of the U.S. industry,” said one U.S. government official in January. “We try to be responsive to U.S. industry requests as long as they are consistent with overall policy. We’re not specifically promoting CDMA technology over the other technologies. We’re asking governments to allow network operators to choose … CDMA companies tell us they have customers lined up. TDMA companies don’t have customers lined up already with systems ready to buy.”
UWCC reports that it has 130 members, with 11.1 million subscribers in North America and 7.5 million in South America. UWCC’s international strategy is to support its TDMA 3G proposal adopted by the International Telecommunication Union and push commercial deployment of TDMA technology around the world, said Manis.
“With the GSM/TDMA interoperability agreement, we have the opportunity to expand,” said Manis.
In Latin America, UWCC will continue to encourage the growth of TDMA technology, while it will heavily target certain markets in Asia. TDMA technology has dominated Latin American markets in recent years, but CDMA technology is making inroads.
“We will be in Asia quickly,” said Manis. “Our goal in two to four weeks is to have people in the field.”
Eventually, UWCC hopes to open an office in Europe as well. Many UWCC members believe European Global System for Mobile communications operators have the opportunity to use TDMA technology to offer in-building wireless solutions.
UWCC said it is expanding its office in Bellevue, Wash., and recently appointed a president of the association. UWCC will soon announce the appointment of Shiela McKool as president.
Washington Bureau Chief Jeffrey Silva contributed to this article.
