3G Feeds

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it has posted a 300 million-peso performance bond with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to complete the requirements for the roll-out of its third generation (3G) mobile phone network.

Globe has applied to the NTC for the frequency bands that will be used for its 3G operations.

“The company believes it is best qualified for 3G operations, given its commitment to service innovation, on top of its technical muscle and financial strength to guarantee the best delivery of 3G in the country,” Globe said in a statement.

Globe, the second biggest mobile phone service provider in the Philippines, has Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. and Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp. as major shareholders.

Why is it that places like the Philippines can get 3G networks rolling and we cannot here in the United States? Incredible.

Reuters is reporting that Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, has annouced the release of 3 new UMTS/3G phones for the Americas. The new 3G slider phone, the Nokia 6282, should be released in Q2 of 2006. While the 6233 is a stainless steel 3G cameraphone. The 6233 is also expected to hit the market in the second quarter of next year. The UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks, that these new phones are designed to use, allow phone users to play video as well as download games and music wirelessly.

Thanks to 3G technologies being accepted and rolled out in the United States and in Europe, wireless revenues are expected to rise in 2006. Wireline revenues are expected to fall off ~5 to 6% in 2006 due to cable system operator telephony offerings making further inroads as well as market saturation for products like DSL.

On the other hand, wireless revenues should increase in the high single digit rate, according to Fitch Ratings. They happen to like wireless operators such as Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless, giving Sprint Nextel a favorable rating outlook for 2006. Due in no small part to their improved network quality and 3G network upgrades (EV-DO). Good news.

Struggling to keep up with the likes of Sprint / Nextel and Verizon Wireless, the boys and girls over at Cingular have launched the GSM answer to EV-DO, HSDPA (high speed data packet access) in three manjor US cities. Dallas, Phoenix and Seattle, three of the countries biggest consumers of high speed and broadband internet services, have had their Cingular wireless network upgraded to utilize HSDPA technology. Cingular used equipment provided by Ericsson to upgrade their Dallas/Fort Worth network and is relying on Lucent’s recently upgraded networks in Seattle in Phoenix to provide service to Cingular 3G users. Both say that the HSDPA upgrades should provide average data speeds of between 400Kbps and 700Kbps. Good news for Cingular customers, but will it be in time?