Friday, September 15, 2006

Mobile operators team up on next-generation standards

A group of leading mobile operators has teamed up to work on next-generation network standards, putting the focus on making the most out of existing infrastructure. The group includes Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, KPN, NTT DoCoMo and China Mobile, which have incorporated a UK company, the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) initiative, to spearhead the movement. The group plans to work with other standards body on developing mobile technology beyond HSPA and EVDO, focusing on "practicality" and using existing infrastructure and spectrum allocations. Guiding principles for nay new technology should include high levels of data throughput with low latency, low operation and maintenance costs, compatibility with legacy networks, improved terminal certification schemes and support for differentiated services and high levels of authentication and security. The group said it welcomed other mobile operators, hardware and software makers and research institutions joining the initiative.