BROWSING: ITU

HARMONIZATION EFFORT TAKE-OR-LEAVE PACKAGE

The Operators Harmonization Group, an assembly of mobile phone operators from around the world, said they agreed last month in Tokyo to a baseline proposal to harmonize ITU CDMA-based third-generation technology proposals.The proposal needs further refinement, a process that should be completed in the...

U.S. PRESSES ERICSSON TO PUSH ETSI ON CDMA

U.S. government officials pressed L.M. Ericsson Chief Executive Sven-Christer Nilsson last week to lobby the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to adopt the tri-mode CDMA third-generation standard framework agreed to at a TransAtlantic Business Dialogue meeting months ago.Government officials are concerned over statements Ericsson made...

FCC EXPECTED TO DESIGNATE 3G BANDS LATER THIS YEAR

DENVER, United States-The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should narrow down in about six months which frequency bands it could allocate for third-generation mobile phone services.The World Administrative Radiocommunication Conference is 14 months away, and the United States wants to forge a position on additional...

FCC EXPECTED TO DESIGNATE 3G SPECTRUM BANDS THIS YEAR

The Federal Communications Commission should narrow down in six months which frequency bands it could allocate for third-generation mobile phone services.The World Administrative Radiocommunication Conference is 14 months away, and the United States wants to forge a position on additional spectrum and which frequency...

CARRIERS TO MEET ON 3G IN TOKYO

The world's carriers are set to meet in Tokyo this week for another round of discussions on converging Code Division Multiple Access-based third-generation technology.The International Telecommunication Union adopted a framework in March resulting in a single flexible standard with a choice of multiple access...

ERICSSON CLARIFIES 3G POSITION

L.M. Ericsson said it supports the third-generation TDMA proposal and a group of 3G CDMA technologies that accommodates three different modes and various chip rates.The statement comes just weeks after ending the deadlock with Qualcomm Inc. over rights to CDMA-based technologies. Ericsson and Qualcomm...

DESPITE FENCE-MENDING, STANDARDS WAR CONTINUES

Some Telecommunications Industry Association members and U.S. carriers were angered last week by comments attributed to a TIA senior executive by the French Press Agency. The incident illustrates the continuing technology holy wars and brings to surface concerns a few large members have about...

CDMA2000 FACES UPHILL BATTLE IN EUROPE

WASHINGTON-Despite the much-ballyhooed settlement of the patent dispute between Qualcomm Inc. and L.M. Ericsson and the global embrace of multiple third-generation mobile phone standards, it remains unclear whether American wireless technology can break into a European market that has shunned it to date.Some industry...

QUALCOMM, ERICSSON LEAVE OTHERS TO DECIDE CHIP RATE

Although Qualcomm Inc. and L.M. Ericsson announced resolutions to Code Division Multiple Access disputes and the standoff over third-generation intellectual property rights, the companies didn't resolve key technical differences 3G parties have tried to resolve for more than a year. Qualcomm and Ericsson announced last week they resolved...

QUALCOMM, ERICSSON NEAR DEAL?

Tensions ran high at the International Telecommunication Union two-week meeting on third-generation technology in Fortaleza, Brazil, as the industry waits for an agreement between Qualcomm Inc. and L.M. Ericsson on cdmaOne patents.Qualcomm and Ericsson won't comment on progress made in negotiating a settlement over...

3G ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED

Sources close to International Telecommunication Union activity on third-generation technology say standards likely will not be set during the 31 March meeting in Brazil.The ITU had hoped ideally by the end of March to set a single 3G standard-one that will allow for global...

JAPANESE CARRIERS GEAR UP FOR EARLY LAUNCH OF 3G

TOKYO-Anticipating the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) scheduled March decision regarding key characteristics for the third-generation cellular, IMT-2000, Japanese carriers are mounting efforts to be able to kick off their 3G businesses earlier than any other nation.Japan Telecom Co. (JT), in cooperation with Nissan Motor...

ORBCOMM REGISTERS WITH ITU GROUP AS GMPCS-MOU FIRM

DULLES, Va.-Orbcomm Global L.P. announced it is registered with the International Telecommunication Union as a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite Memorandum of Understanding repository member. The company now is authorized to use the ITU's GMPCS-MoU registry mark.GMPCS-MoU is a policy developed by the...

QUALCOMM, ERICSSON TALK

Word broke last week that Qualcomm Inc. and L.M. Ericsson are negotiating a settlement over CDMA Interim Standard 95 patents at issue in a Texas court. The leak came during a key pre-trial hearing over the matter and continued rumblings of U.S. trade action...

U.S., EUROPEAN EXECS AGREE ON HARMONIZED 3G CDMA FRAME WORK

WASHINGTON-In potentially a major breakthrough in the gridlocked third generation mobile phone controversy, U.S. and European wireless executives here last week agreed to pursue a framework for an umbrella Code Division Multiple Access standard that combines common elements of competing CDMA technologies and gives...

ROBB READY TO USE TRADE AUTHORITY FOR 3G

WASHINGTON-In an embarrassing political blunder that lends insight into the tricky third-generation wireless debate, Sen. Chuck Robb (D-Va.) last week joined two fellow Finance Committee members in urging the Clinton administration to use renewed Super 301 trade authority to make Europe open its market...

ITU SAYS 3G HARMONIZATION RESTS WITH CARRIERS

NEW ORLEANS-International Telecommunication Union members did not reach any consensus in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, on harmonizing the various radio transmission technology proposals received by the ITU for third-generation technology.The ITU has decided harmonization efforts will rest with carriers and has asked them to put...

ITU MEMBERS SAY OK TO 3G TECHNICAL WORK

The CDMA Development Group and Qualcomm Inc. are in the minority in asking the International Telecommunication Union to stop work on third-generation technology development because of the intellectual-property-right standstill between Qualcomm and L.M. Ericsson.ITU members met Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to obtain industry...

FINNISH ISP IS TEST CASE IN 3G TRADE ARGUMENT

A Finnish Internet service provider will test the European Commission's claim it has not shut competing mobile phone technologies out of Europe.Clari Net Oy, wholly owned by Finnish ISP Saunalahden Serveri Oy, has applied for a license to operate a third-generation mobile phone network...

PRESIDENT’S EXPORT COUNCIL SAYS BACK AWAY FROM 3G CONVERGED STANDARD

WASHINGTON-The President's Export Council, confronting the Clinton administration on third-generation wireless policy, urged the White House against endorsing convergence of wideband mobile phone technologies being evaluated by the International Telecommunication Union.The export body, headed by AT&T Corp. Chairman Michael Armstrong and comprising other U.S....

DOCOMO DOWNGRADED BECAUSE OF 3G DELAY

The third-generation technology debate is beginning to have a negative impact on the valuation of the world's largest wireless carrier, Japan's NTT Mobile Communications, which plans to become the first carrier in the world to deploy wideband Code Division Multiple Access technology.Dresdner Kleinwort Benson...

ENHANCED SERVICES STALLED AS FIRMS CONTEND WITH Y2K

NEW YORK-Cautious optimism in the absence of completely verifiable proof is the prognosis for Year 2000 compliance by the wireless industry, according to consultants interviewed by RCR."How fraught with danger is the unknown? It is irresponsible to say 'head for the hills and take...

VIEWPOINT: STANDARDS GAME

The 3G debate these days could be characterized as a global poker game-no one is quite sure who's bluffing, who holds the winning cards or who plans to fold. Whether convergence of two primary CDMA-based proposals-W-CDMA and cdma2000-is achieved depends on the actions of...

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION URGES EU TO LEAVE 3G TO THE ITU

WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration, invoking powerful references to the World Trade Organization, competition and convergence, last week said the European Commission's response to U.S. concerns about potential trade barriers to third-generation mobile phone standards fell short, and urged Europe not to implement 3G before the...