3G can hold own against WiMax says Nokia
Published:02-February-2005
By BR staff writer
Future evolutions of 3G will be able to see off the potential threat from WiMax, according to Nokia Corp.
In a panel discussion with UK journalists in Helsinki last week, leading figures in Nokia's technology platforms and networks businesses explained that much of the hype associated with WiMax, which in some quarters has been labeled a 3G-killer, arise from some basic misunderstandings about radio technology and the economics of network rollout.
The next evolution of wideband CDMA (WCDMA), the 3G migration path chosen by the majority of GSM operators, known as HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access), should begin commercial deployments next year, according to Nokia.
HSDPA will ultimately offer around 20Mbps for systems employing MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) smart antenna technology over a 5MHz band. WiMax, meanwhile, has gained considerable column inches on the grounds that it will be able to deliver up to 70Mbps over a distance of 50km, under ideal conditions.
However, these base level figures only tell part of the story, according to Nokia. "It's important we focus on the theoretical maximum speed. Often these technologies are compared in non-comparable environments," said Oscar Salonahu, head of technology marketing with Nokia Networks.
"HSDPA in similar spectrum specification will compete very effectively with WiMax. [They're] very close to the limit in terms of radio physics. We feel WCDMA evolution is a very competitive alternative [to WiMax]."
The argument has more than a little in common with the regular cry of Star Trek chief engineer Mr Scott's call that "ye cannae change the laws of physics". But more prosaically, WiMax operators will also have to compete with cellular operators on a cost basis.
"WiMax is an interesting technology that can complement our own technology portfolio in the long run. But it's not as mature as cellular at the moment and it's not so much for mobility but for broadband wireless," said Jyrki Rosenberg, director of strategic marketing with Nokia's technology platform business.
"[WCDMA already has] the mobility, security and billing infrastructure in place. The cost of building coverage, the cost of user and the cost of building the technology into handset must also be taken into account. For many in wide area coverage WCDMA evolution is a lot more cost effective."
"Every penny invested into HSDPA can be allocated instantly between data and voice," added Salonahu.
The reality is that HSDPA and WiMax will almost certainly coexist in future. Nokia has so far shown mixed feelings for WiMax, known officially as IEEE 802.16. The company was a founding member of the WiMax Forum, along with Intel and Fujitsu, in April 2003 but publicly withdrew its support in early May 2004, citing its lack of near-term product plans for the technology.
However, the Finnish mobile telecoms giant then recanted that decision in the middle of June on the grounds that it needed to be at the coalface of developments in the wireless communications industry.
Despite the hype, little WiMax-compliant equipment has yet hit the market although momentum is building and pre-WiMax, or WiMax-ready, equipment is slowly being deployed by some wireless broadband providers.
The mobile version of WiMax, labeled 802.16e, is likely to be approved by mid-year. Vendors such as Alvarion expect demonstration systems to be ready within a year.
