3GPP adds 3G support to UMA standard integrating WiFi and cellular communications

The 3GPP standards body completed a specification update effort that added 3G (Iu-interface) support to the UMA/GAN standard.

The news came from UMA Today, an international consortium of companies leading the adoption of 3GPP UMA/GAN technology.

UMA technology is the 3GPP global standard for fixed-mobile convergence. Known as GAN within 3GPP, UMA/GAN enables secure, scalable access to mobile voice, data and IMS services over broadband IP access networks. By deploying UMA/GAN technology, mobile operators can deliver a number of fixed-mobile convergence services.

The most well-known applications of UMA/GAN include dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handsets and 3G femtocells access points.

With the 3G version of the 3GPP UMA/GAN standard now complete, the vendor community is able to rapidly develop UMA-based 3G dual-mode handset and femtocell products in anticipation of operator service deployments later this year.

“Operators and vendors alike have recognized the need for standardization to drive mass-market femtocell network deployments,” said Stéphane Téral, principal analyst for Infonetics Research. “The addition of Iu interface support to the UMA/GAN standard is an important step in supporting in-home 3G service delivery.”

“Completion of the 3G UMA standard could not be timelier, with strong operator demand for both 3G dual-mode handset and femtocell services,” said Patrick Tao, vice president of technology for Kineto. “The vendor community is also preparing to deliver UMA-based 3G solutions. In the dual-mode handset market, we’ve seen recent announcements about UMA-enabled 3G dual-mode handset platforms from both Qualcomm and NXP. And in the femtocell market, NEC, Motorola, Ubiquisys and Netgear have all announced UMA-based solutions as well as trials with O2 and Telia.”