Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[IceRich]

Wide use of wireless network card represents China Telecom's entry into "Quasi 3G"

5/13/03
Translated from People's Daily (China):
http://tech.sina.com.cn/it/t/2003-05-13/0909186053.shtml

After inserting a small name-card size wireless network card into notebooks, people can access the Internet anywhere at any time. The popularity of this wireless method that enjoys a much higher speed than traditional dial-up indicates China's mobile telecommunication industry is stepping toward the 3G era.

The wireless network card looks almost the same as the previous network card, except that a cable of the latter one is replaced by a 4 centimeter long antenna. This "replacement" lets notebook users utilize the nationwide 1X network, which has already been put into operation. Within the network, people can surf freely on the Internet and enjoy the SMS no matter if they are on a running train or bus, without a roaming fee.

Many domestic and foreign telecommunication manufactures, including ZTE, are engaged themselves in producing this kind of network card at a large quantity and commit themselves to reduce its price a little bit lower than several thousand, thus it could be well accepted by the public.

It is reported that the highest transmission rate of this wireless network card can reach 153.6kbps, much higher than using a handset at 9.6kbps and dial-up method at 56kbps.

After trying different wireless ways of accessing five typical Web sites, it is evident that CDMA 1X is the highest one on the current market, for instance, it receives peak packet data speeds of 136.95kbps when browsing the Web page, two times faster than other wireless ways. On Feb. 15, Unicom (Shanghai) did a test in an aerotrain on its way to Pudong Airport at a speed of 430km/hour, it yielded a great success from the 8 minute long call and expedited online surfing during the whole process.

3G mobile services provide better quality voice and high-speed Internet and multimedia service comparing to 2G, which is widely used now. The most important criterion in defining 3G is transmission rate. According to the standard of the ITU, the minimum speed rate should be no lower than 144kbps. From these tests, we can see that the nominal speed rate and on-site testing speed rate of CDMA 1X fluctuate up and down around 144kbps, thus providing much convenience to China Unicom which has deployed CDMA 1X technology. The reason is that if according to the strict definition of the ITU, CDMA 1X has already been recognized as a standard 3G technology. Furthermore, QUALCOMM, as a world leading company featured with CDMA technology also put CDMA 1X as the first-phase of a 3G technology, followed by many optimization phases that have already been commercially launched in Korea.

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Found at Qualcomm IR and http://www.3gtoday.com/news/peoplesdaily051303.html