US : IPWireless announced 3G UMTS450, a complete high-speed packet-based data and voice solution designed for UMTS operators with access to spectrum in the 450MHz band.

Inset is Chris Gilbert, CEO, IPWireless who is quoted below. The paired spectrum solution uses IPWireless's Multi Chip Rate technology to support three separate chip rates, 1.28Mcps, 2.56Mcps, and 3.84Mcps, allowing operators to get the most out of their available spectrum and expand their capacity with no additional capital expenditure once legacy analogue systems are retired.

3G UMTS450 also supports multi-band devices that allow users to roam between the 450MHz band and the 1900/2010MHz IMT2000 TDD bands, enabling 3G UMTS operators to deploy a common mobile broadband platform across properties.

3G UMTS450 leverages the commercially proven IPWireless TD-CDMA baseband chipset with HSDPA that powers 3G UMTS TDD solutions for the IMT2000 TDD bands (1900MHz, 2010MHZ, and 2500MHz), as well as the 3400MHz band. The same set of low-cost devices that are available in the current bands will be available in the 450MHz band, including plug-and-play broadband modems, integrated residential gateways, PC cards, VoIP integrated access devices, and VoIP handsets. 3G UMTS450 will support the same range of services as these existing bands including mobile, portable, and stationary broadband data and voice services, while fully taking advantage of the improved coverage capabilities of the 450MHz band. Dual band devices will allow roaming and handoff with other 3G UMTS bands, allowing 3G UMTS operators to use 450MHz networks for wide area coverage including rural areas and their 1900/2010MHz 3G UMTS TDD spectrum for additional capacity in cities and roaming with other countries where the operator has properties.

3G UMTS450 is the first 450MHz product that will automatically expand to allow operators to maximize their available 450MHz channels. The 3G UMTS450 Node B base station with IPWireless Multi Chip Rate technology will support one, two, or all three channels in the 450MHz band. An operator can start their deployment in a single pair of channels and automatically expand to two or all three channels once legacy analogue customers are transitioned to the new network, or new spectrum is acquired. As analog subscribers are transitioned, the chip rate is simply increased by a change on the Element Manager, with no additional hardware or capital expenditure required to expand within the band. 3G UMTS450 devices will also support all three channel bandwidths, unlike many multi-carrier solutions.

3G UMTS450 delivers unmatched data and voice capacity for the 450MHz band, up to 7.5Mbps on the downlink and up to 3.6Mbps on the uplink per sector in 2005, with a near doubling of these numbers expected in 2006. Cell edge performance, a critical metric for these systems since it determines the service levels that an operator can offer to subscribers, for TD-CDMA is expected to deliver more than 2.5Mbps on both the up and the downlink in 2006. These capacities translate into delivering the lowest cost per megabyte for a mobile broadband technology. Additionally, 3G UMTS450 supports both packet-based data and voice on the same carrier allowing operators to maximize their networks for both services.

"As the first 3G UMTS-based technology for the 450MHz band, IPWireless's 3G UMTS450 gives operators unmatched performance and economics, as well as the opportunity to leverage a single 3G UMTS platform across multiple countries and spectral bands," said Chris Gilbert, chief executive officer, IPWireless. "IPWireless will continue to leverage TD-CDMA's unmatched versatility to respond to operators' demand for more deployment options across their properties in bands like 450MHz and 800MHz."

TD-CDMA, a global standard that can be used by operators and manufacturers worldwide, has emerged as the leading standard for mobile broadband, with commercial deployments in countries around the world including Australia, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. TD-CDMA networks have the highest average sector capacity, the strongest cell edge performance, and the lowest cost per megabit of any standards-based mobile broadband technology. The commercially proven system includes a complete network infrastructure, pocket-sized wireless modems, gateways, and PC cards (PCMCIA) for laptops and PDAs. In addition, major equipment makers are developing a variety of network infrastructure solutions and end user devices, including mobile voice over IP handsets and Compact Flash Cards, with IPWireless-licensed TD-CDMA chipsets embedded.