Tech Note

T&M Main | Archive | Feedback

Wireless Network Testing on the Threshold of 3G

by Sailaja Vepa, Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan, San Antonio, Texas 78229 www.frost.com

Page 1 of 2

Jump to...

The Need for Test Requirements That Change A Global Standard Challenge or Opportunity? Speed-of-Test In Production Network Optimization Testing Ergonomic by Design Inability to Forecast Growth It's a Technical Challenge The Upgrade Conundrum

What are the market issues that face test-equipment vendors, and cell-phone makers as mobile phone technology moves rapidly towards 3G?

Since the advent of mobile telephones more than ten years ago, the wireless communication industry has gone through several stages. It began with first-generation cell phones, referred to as 1G, then evolved into today's 2G, or second generation. It's now on the threshold of entering 3G, the third generation.

The industry is advancing from archaic analog networks designed purely for voice calls. Current 2G networks use digital technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA).

The cellular communication industry is researching 3G technologies that are emerging from GSM and CDMA. However, before networks completely shift to 3G, the industry is expected to adopt interim standards. These interim standards are sometimes referred to as 2.5G. Intermediate technologies such as Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Switching (GPRS), and Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) will ultimately lead to 3G.

As all this occurs, network operators are already facing issues surrounding these changing technologies. Especially significant is the fact that future communication systems will rely on packet-switched networks rather than on the currently used circuit-switched telephone networks.

For this reason, the transition to 3G isn't going to be smooth. It's likely to take place in stages.

The Need for Test
Back to top

As networks evolve to 3G and become more complex, the need for testing—as well as monitoring—is likely to increase. As technologies get more sophisticated, operators and service providers will find it difficult to locate and hire technicians who can perform intricate and demanding tests. This is fueling a demand for easy-to-use test systems.

Moreover, there's an emerging preference for remote testing. Remote testing can identify problems and troubleshoot them without the need to bring down a network or a part of it for maintenance purposes.

Requirements That Change
Back to top

3G will substantially change testing requirements. Older test equipment (even test gear purchased just two or three years ago) may be deemed outdated, and may need to be replaced. As such, there's a trend toward developing test equipment operating on platforms that are flexible and are capable of testing multiple technologies.

Given that 3G wireless hardware and 3G services will enable mobile phone users to receive voice calls and e-mail, as well as access remote databases and video calls simultaneously, a critical issue is the demand for multi-mode and multi-band (multiple frequency band) handsets.

As noted, the test-equipment industry is witnessing the development and deployment of interim 2.5G technologies. Both 2.5G and 3G technologies are presently in R&D stages, so the market is just starting to witness the deployment of 2.5G networks. These 2.5G technologies such as GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000, and W-CDMA will ultimately lead to 3G.

Large test-and-measurement companies must focus on developing comprehensive test systems that can perform accurate measurements on complex 3G networks.

A Global Standard
Back to top

In Europe, IMT-2000 (the 3G version of GSM) is gaining acceptance, and may emerge as the global standard. The goal of IMT-2000 promoters is to upgrade the world's 2G networks—including CDMA, GSM, and TDMA types—to comply with a common set of requirements. This 3G standard is expected to provide global roaming and database access.

Since most global markets have GSM, 3G is likely to use W-CDMA as defined by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). Furthermore, with the NTT DoCoMo company pioneering much of the 3G deployment using GSM, it's expected that this standard will gain prominence.

However, CDMA remains the dominant cellular standard in the United States and South Korea (and to a certain extent in Latin America). There are a small number of GSM networks, but it's likely that GSM and TDMA will converge with the advent of EDGE technology.

At the same time, CDMA is expected to evolve into CDMA2000 and CDMAone, ultimately leading to 3G. For example, Qualcomm is anticipating the deployment of CDMA networks in China. The CDMA standard is also gaining prominence in countries such as India, Israel, and Brazil.

In spite of all this, researchers at Frost & Sullivan indicate that over the next seven years it's unlikely that a single 3G standard will be deployed worldwide. Although NTT DoCoMo recently began 3G deployments in Japan, it's likely to be many years before there's a single standard for wireless communication.

Challenge or Opportunity?
Back to top

The lack of a uniform standard is expected to pose challenges to test-equipment manufacturers. However, multiple standards can also emerge as an opportunity by enabling test manufacturers to diversify product lines and enter niche markets. This is especially expected to shape up as a competitive advantage for smaller companies.

Note that during the shift to 3G, many networks are likely to support multiple technologies, making it necessary for providers to have test platforms that also support multiple technologies. It's expected to be several years before wireless communication test-equipment manufacturers develop a single test platform to test a single technology worldwide.

Next >>

		Click here to get your listing up.