Telecom going W-CDMA

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DjShadow

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Topic # 6881 2-Mar-2006 10:25

I get a business news update each morning with my job, there was a piece in it about Telecom.
They are basically talking about spending upto $500 million on a new mobile network, since Australia is likely to be without a CDMA network in 2008. Strongly hinted however they are going to use UMTS/w-cdma.
Seems like common sence in a nutshell, Telecom is going to have a problem if their major roaming destination no longer has a compatible network for users to roam on!!

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Reply # 29633 2-Mar-2006 10:48

Cool - who wrote the article? do you have a link?

DjShadow

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Reply # 29639 2-Mar-2006 11:16

could breach copyright here but I'll take a chance:

AUCKLAND. Telecom New Zealand is considering a new $500 million mobile network in New Zealand as it prepares for its biggest internal restructure in four years. The potentially wide-ranging changes come as TNZ's share price remains under sustained pressure due to the looming threat of increased government regulations. TNZ finance chief Marko Bogoievski is overseeing a review of the group's mobile options in the wake of Telstra's decision to begin closing its CDMA network in 2008. TNZ operates a CDMA network in New Zealand and its customers need a network in Australia on which to roam. The new network would match the newest Australian networks based on UMTS technology.

Jama

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Reply # 29640 2-Mar-2006 11:18

What publication was it in? PM me if you don't want to say here.

sbiddle

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Reply # 29647 2-Mar-2006 12:12

The story has been picked up by numerous organisations if you do a Google news search.

This was a bit more indepth

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/...

sbiddle

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Reply # 29648 2-Mar-2006 12:29

The biggest issue I can see would be the logistics of telecom running & maintaining 2 completely different technologies. This reason alone is why Telstra are dumping CDMA and switching solely to WCDMA. While they can easily use dual mode phones and have WCDMA falling back to CDMA this just gets very messy. Telecom could have a huge advantage over Vodafone however rolling out 800Mhz WCDMA since they will have the spectrum available once they shut down their AMPS network whereas 900Mhz WCDMA isn't even finalised yet.

DjShadow

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Reply # 29649 2-Mar-2006 12:42

If telecom wants compatible roaming, wouldn't it be better to use w-cdma 2100 which Vodafone uses? I mean ok they can use w-cdma800 but does anyone overseas use this?
I assume they would keep EV-DO running at least...

freitasm

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Reply # 29651 2-Mar-2006 12:58

And on Yahoo! news, courtesy of Dow Jones:

"The unsourced story said the potentially wide-ranging changes come as Telecom's share price remains under sustained pressure due to the looming threat of increased government regulations".

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sbiddle

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Reply # 29653 2-Mar-2006 13:10

DjShadow: If telecom wants compatible roaming, wouldn't it be better to use w-cdma 2100 which Vodafone uses? I mean ok they can use w-cdma800 but does anyone overseas use this?
I assume they would keep EV-DO running at least...

This isn't really a big issue as we'll no doubt see WCDMA phones supporting multiple WCDMA bands very shortly in much the same way all GSM phones are now tri or quad band.

2100Mhz is crap for coverage and inbuilding penetration, WCDMA at 800 or 900 will offer coverage characteristics similair to what the existing CDMA and GSM networks will offer.

SNicolle

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Reply # 29658 2-Mar-2006 17:37

i found the article using infogator, it is just another angle in an ongoing topic really, hard evidence such as quotes and plans are what I'm looking for as I can speculate on my own
technology could and will go a long way by 2008

DjShadow

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Reply # 29665 2-Mar-2006 19:09

If Telecom does have to face a network technology change, would they still press on with plans to upgrade to EVDO Rev A? or maybe just look at the technologies that Vodafone is looking at upgrading to?

bradstewart

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Reply # 29667 2-Mar-2006 19:12

This is the knid of news that is bound to turn a good day into a bad one. I really dont care about the commercial benefits etc etc. Just imagine what will happen to GZ, no more CDMA vs GSM/WCDMA debates, we will be reduced to 800 vs 2100. Not just that, but i happen to love the speed of EVDO for data. Hopefully this is all just speculation and unfounded rumor

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Reply # 29677 2-Mar-2006 19:52

One positive thing would be that they could potentially compete at a higher level.

Flick a SIM card out, put a different one in. All without having to invest in a new/different handset.

Though who knows.

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sbiddle

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Reply # 29693 2-Mar-2006 21:18

cokemaster: One positive thing would be that they could potentially compete at a higher level.

Flick a SIM card out, put a different one in. All without having to invest in a new/different handset.

Though who knows.

Wouldn't the teenagers love that..No need for 2 phones for TXTing, just swap the SIM or a dual SIM holder if you can find one for a newer model phone.

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Reply # 30127 7-Mar-2006 22:22

The fate of EVDO is certainly key (since the fact that it's blindingly fast is the one thing the Telecom network has in its favour).

On the other hand, get me pervasive WiFi (including European cities, which from what I've seen are already pretty well covered) and I just might stop caring...

tonyhughes

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Reply # 30128 7-Mar-2006 22:30

KevDaly: The fate of EVDO is certainly key (since the fact that it's blindingly fast is the one thing the Telecom network has in its favour).

On the other hand, get me pervasive WiFi (including European cities, which from what I've seen are already pretty well covered) and I just might stop caring...

Dead right - EVDO might be fast, and better/faster than other cellular data here, but with WiFi handsets on the increase, I have WiFi at home, had WiFi at my last job (now self employed), WiFi at the neighbours, the in-laws, the coffee shop, and theres always an open WiFi network in town (three completely open ones in Hastings CBD last week!!)...

... so cellular data becomes less important, even though it helped the uptake of data capable phones.... (IMO)

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