3gPP Approves
3g UMA
The 3rd Generation
Partnership Project
(3GPP) GERAN work-
ing group approved
a change request
(CR) at the meeting
in Vancouver in November that added
support for the 3G core network inter-
faces (Iu-CS and Iu-PS) to the UMA/
GAN Stage 2 specification.
Approval of this CR formally created
a 3G version of UMA, also referred to
as "Iu-mode UMA."
The request was driven by increased
efficiency of the 3G core interfaces, as
well as the desire of several operators
to begin shifting more capacity to their
3G core networks rather than their
2.5G cores.
This 3G support forms the basis of
UMA-based 3G femtocell standards.
"This is clear evidence of the future of
UMA," said Patrick Tao, vice president
of technology for Kineto Wireless,
one of the main proponents of the 3G
approval. "We are looking at the long-
term evolution of UMA technology,
and its many applications."
Home Zone 2.0 Services explode
Home Zone 2.0 services, including dual-mode handsets and femtocells,
are poised for explosive growth in the next few years, several research reports
have found. Strategy Analytics' year-end market outlook predicts that UMA
will dominate the market for fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) in 2008.
In addition, a report by Infonetics Research (FMC Equipment, Phones and
Subscriber Market Outlook, October 2007) anticipates the market to reach
$46.3 billion by 2010.
Plus, ABI Research published a brief, "UMA: Vendor Ecosystem, Operator
Deployment Activity and Subscriber Forecast," in which it projects 65 million
subscribers in 2012.
UMA technology has established itself as the leading 3GPP standard FMC
platform worldwide.
Anton Wahlman, analyst with Think Equity research, recently stated: "We
believe UMA will go down in history as the most important wireless industry
phenomenon since the advent of GSM in 1992."
UMA Today, orange co-Sponsor UMA innovation Awards
UMA Today and Orange/France Telecom recognized excellence and innovation in
UMA-based products and services with the UMA Innovation Awards 2008.
Georges Penalver, senior executive vice president of strategic marketing for France
Telecom Group, hosted the awards ceremony during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
Feb. 11-14, 2008.
"UMA is a strategic technology for any operator developing a `home zone' service offer,"
said Penalver. "UMA is the cornerstone technology of Orange's convergence strategy, and
the company is proud to sponsor the UMA Innovation Awards."
The UMA Innovation Awards 2008 were judged independently by a panel of industry
experts. Award categories included best service offer based on UMA technology, best
dual-mode handset, best infrastructure solution and best test platform, as well as most
influential person and company in the market.
Information about the awards and a list of winners is available at www.UMAToday.com.
HEADLINES
Home Zone 2.0 Service Forecast
2007
2006
2008
2009
2010 2011
Femtocell Users
DMH or Femto Users
Dual-Mode Handset Users
04
UMA ToDAY
SPRING 2008