GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association, has published an update to the UMTS900 Global Status Information Paper, reporting on network deployments, launches, trials, regulatory developments, and devices availability.<\/p>\n
The paper confirms the strong momentum for introducing UMTS900 to help operators to extend voice, data and mobile broadband services coverage by leveraging the advantages of lower frequencies. <\/p>\n
While the majority of today’s HSPA mobile broadband networks operate in the 2100 MHz band, the use of lower frequencies, such as 900 MHz, provides a much larger coverage area. This translates to a significant reduction in the number of cell sites needed to cover rural and suburban areas.<\/p>\n
GSA recently published an operator case study on Elisa, Finland which concluded that 3G coverage with UMTS900 can save 50 to 70% of mobile network costs when compared to deployments in the 2100 MHz band, including both CAPEX and OPEX.<\/p>\n
These cost and coverage benefits also apply to the deployment of UMTS in other lower frequency bands such as 850 MHz.<\/p>\n
Alan Hadden, President, GSA said, "The availability of UMTS900-compatible devices is improving. This update confirms that 37 devices have now been launched, supporting data speeds comparable with 2100 MHz devices, and the 900\/2100MHz combination for WCDMA-HSPA is expected to become much more commonplace."<\/p>\n