2.5GHz - taking wireless broadband mobile

For all the talk of 4G services like WiMAX and long term evolution (LTE), the first services we see in the 2.5GHz spectrum in the UK may be based on the current 3G standards. New radio technologies offer higher bandwidth and better cost efficiency but business models will dictate what's on offer and how much it will cost.

By Mary Branscombe, 5 Aug 2007 at 19:19

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By 2012 more people will be accessing the internet on mobile devices than on fixed lines, claims Ericsson's UK chief technology officer (CTO) John Cunliffe.

In preparation, the mobile operators are ramping up their marketing campaigns for mobile internet access today, but although several networks are rolling out high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) at speeds of up to 7Mbps, in practice connection speeds can be disappointing. Early in 2008 Ofcom will auction off new spectrum, including the 2.5-6GHz band originally intended for additional 3G services but also suitable for mobile WiMAX (which will use the 802.16e standard) and long term evolution (LTE) - the project to develop the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) system used by 3G.

Ofcom's decision to allocate the spectrum without earmarking it for a particular technology means companies wanting to offer new WiMAX services will be competing with operators wanting to beef up current 3G services and add capacity for LTE when it's available. Even though new entrants are up against established providers with deep pockets, Ofcom expects more bids that it can accommodate in the 50MHz of spectrum it originally intended to allocate for WiMAX. "2.5 GHz spectrum is what every fixed and mobile operator wants to get their hands on," said Nigel Wright, wireless vice president of Spirent.

There's been plenty of political jockeying on both sides, from hardware vendors and network operators alike. Some mobile networks expressed worries that WiMAX could interfere with 3G connections but Ofcom says tests show the interference is no more than other 3G connections will cause; it's just as likely that 3G will cause interference with WiMAX connections but again it's not a significant problem.

3G and LTE supporters like Ericsson point at the contribution 3G has made to the economy; WiMAX supporters say they may have better business models. Sasha Williamson, the chief executive of Urban WiMAX, called for Ofcom to think flexibly about auction bids. "Is this the best thing for long term UK economy, to have a one-off large fee? There are other options; you could have a fixed fee, you could have a fixed fee and plus rental, you could have a freehold and leasehold out areas that local operators want," he said. Ofcom will announce the terms of the auction at the end of this year, along with a date - currently expected to be early in 2008.

In fact the fundamental technologies of WiMAX and LTE are very similar; both use orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and multiple antennas (MIMO) and both can be used to create an IP-based wireless broadband network with voice and other services running on top. Both claim similar speeds of up to 100Mbps (although that's not the data rate you'll see when you connect). Proponents of LTE say it's a natural progression with backward compatibility for older voice handsets. WiMAX fans claim lower costs as well as interoperability, quality of service and security.

Neither is ready today, but WiMAX is a couple of years ahead of LTE and Ofcom has resisted calls to delay the auction until mobile networks need the capacity for LTE in favour of the "short term window of opportunity" for WiMAX services.

Certification of WiMAX devices will start around the same time as the auction; the first will be PC Card and Express Card adapters but you can expect to start seeing WiMAX built into notebooks when Intel offers it as an option in the Montevina platform in the first half of 2008. Nokia and Motorola will ship WiMAX handsets in the second half 2008; LG expects to adapt the WiBro touch screen Windows Mobile phones it produces for Korea and Samsung promised a dual mode CDMA/WiMAX phone for 2007.