Wireless Future - Telenor

above 2 Mbit/s into the 10 Mbit/s range. It was
further conceived, as agreed upon by 3GPP, to
be able to accommodate various (current,
planned and future) air interfaces.
Even if the focus remains fully on public service,
the above approach, going back to ETSI
SMG’s consideration of HIPERLAN Type 2 as
an extension of UMTS, will at least “standardise”
the interface with any such future system,
increasingly of a personal nature, allowing full
exploitation of VHE.
ITU’s objective was to achieve global roaming,
but that has become difficult with five different
modes approved by ITU-R (CDMA Direct
Sequence, CDMA Multi Carrier, CDMA TDD,
TDMA Single Carrier, FDMA/TDMA), and the
lack of common bands (see Figure 2).
B What about 4G?
We have just argued that 3G, at least as defined
by 3GPP, has all the potential to evolve and to
exploit other, enhanced air interfaces as extensions.
So, in order for 4G to deserve that designation,
it needs to constitute a clear step forward
from 3G, and has to bring about a clear paradigm
shift.
More than new air interfaces in some areas
where gaps have been identified (personal area
networks and body-LANs, low power sensors,
networked appliances and self-configuring ad
hoc networks), we contend that what will define
4G is the ability to integrate all systems and offer
access to all services, all the time and everywhere,
irrespective of serving network, allowing
for the integrated provision of personalised,
enhanced services over the most efficient/preferred
networks, depending on the user profile,
on the type of data stream under consideration,
and on the traffic load in the available networks.
Furthermore, 4G will be designed to take into
account multiple classes of terminals, adjusting
content delivery to the terminal capabilities and
the user profile.
Telektronikk 1.2001
IMT-2000 Extension IMT-2000 Core IMT-2000 Extension
AMPS ISM Gov PCS ISM Sat
Brdcst
What 4G is NOT about ... [3]
NII NII f /ISM
GSM 900 GSM1800 UMTS
DECT
ISM HiperLAN ISM
806 960 1710 2170 2400 2690 5150 5875 MHZ
Fourth Generation will put the User in control,
allowing in every occasion (application) and
environment (mobility, coverage) for the selection
of the right system, and even of the right
terminal. It will offer personalised service irrespective
of the underlying network, and make
best use of scarce spectrum by directing each
data stream in a communication session through
the most appropriate (i.e. efficient) network.
C Coexisting Generations
Mirroring closely what happens in human society,
successive generations coexist in time, even
if pursuing different agendas. The heavy investments
made in 2G have not yet led to the demise
of 1G, particularly in the US (but also in Italy,
Germany and Spain), and likewise, the heavy
investments foreseen for 3G (more than $200
billion in Europe alone, without considering the
licence fees) will not lead to the quick disappearance
of 2G systems.
In fact, in Europe, the result of recent 3G auctions
and beauty contests, and some subsequent
deals, was that until now all 2G incumbents obtained
(access to) 3G licences. It is therefore in
their best interest to make optimum use of their
assets, both old and new, and this immediately
suggests a much higher level of integration than
has been possible, or even considered, until now.
The evolution towards 4G will crystallise the
need to fully integrate all systems, as by then 2G
will, from all projections, still be going strong.
And, to this public service dimension one will
have to add a private, unlicensed dimension, as
Figure 2 Spectrum
allocation and usage
in the 800 MHz to
5 GHz bands
• NOT just higher data rates – this would correspond to UMTS-Phase 2 (what
some call IMT-2010), and has already been done by MBS and HiperLAN;
• NOT only public system extension, but taking also due account of private,
unlicensed systems;
• NOT technology driven, whereby the label 4G is seen as just a way to sell a
new air interface (differentiation).
ITU
USA
Europe
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