ASIA
Japan : KDDI announced that it has successfully completed field trials
of a Mobile WiMAX system, the first in Japan to be built in accordance
with IEEE802.16e, in the central Osaka area. The trials verified Mobile
WiMAX functionality in an urban environment in demonstrating practical
communication speed along with basic performance and high-speed handover
between base stations.
A Mobile WiMAX
platform supports stable, high throughput communications in non-fixed
environments at speeds of less than 120km/hour. As one base station
covers a radius area of several kilometers, the system is suitable
for providing service in an urban environment. KDDI confirms Mobile
WiMAX has the capacity to become a platform that will complement 3G
mobile phone systems in urban areas.
The field trials
also demonstrated the successful connectivity of Mobile WiMAX to "Ultra
3G" as a part of its access operability. In addition to WiMAX,
the trials also examined "Ultra 3G" connectivity with EV-DO,
ADSL, etc. and successfully demonstrated a world first 'seamless handover'
between WiMAX and EV-DO. An "Ultra 3G" trial system also
connected the WiMAX system to an MMD [1] application server via an
IPv6 network.
With these trials,
KDDI succeeded in testing services that can only be found on an "Ultra
3G" platform, including interoperability on both fixed and mobile
networks, such as Mobile WiMAX, and the automatic selection of the
most suitable network across various user functions such as exchanging
picture and sound files.
KDDI plans to
commercialize Mobile WiMAX in the future, and will continue to carry
out various performance tests, including simultaneous multi-terminals
connectivity, and trials with adaptive arrays [2], an advanced technology
which can improve the system's performance.
[1] MMD (MultiMedia
Domain)
An all IP MultiMedia Platform targeting mobile devices based on the
3GPP2 standard. Several internet technologies such as SIP Protocol
are used, making it easier to integrate internet and mobile phone
networks.
[2] Adaptive Array
Technology using multiple antennas to project radio waves in the desired
direction, and eliminate the influences of unwanted radio waves.