Mobile telephony - cooperation and value-added are key to further success

The current problems in mobile telephony are leading critics to make overly pessimistic predictions that 3G – the third-generation mobile phone system – will never become profitable. However, the resulting calls not to introduce 3G and instead directly back alternative wireless technologies (e.g. WLAN) are a step too far. Ultimately, a profit- oriented service can only create significant value-added with a mix of both 3G and WLAN technologies. It is notable that no attractive broadband-dependent applications have emerged as yet. The typical user is only interested in the value-added the application provides, not the underlying wireless technology. Although mobile telephony remains one of the most dynamic areas of the economy, euphoria is misplaced. Advanced wireless technologies will on no account become profitable before the start of the next decade. But even that is not a given; this will challenge the entrepreneurial spirit of network operators, mobile terminal manufacturers and service providers alike.ICT, IT, mobile, telephony, UMTS, WLAN

Resource allocation for multimedia messaging services over EGPRS

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a new bearer service for GSM that greatly simplifies wireless access to packet data networks, such as the Internet, corporate LANs or to mobile portals. It applies a packet radio standard to transfer user data packets in wellorganized way between Mobile Stations (MS) and external packet data networks. The Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) is an extension of GPRS, offering much greater capacity. These enhancements have allowed the introduction of new services like Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS). MMS enables messaging with full content versatility, including images, audio, video, data and text, from terminal to terminal or from terminal to e-mail. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is the WAP Forum standard for the presentation and delivery of wireless information and telephony services on mobile phones and other wireless terminals. In this thesis it is indicated that efficient radio resource allocation is necessary for managing different types of traffic in order to maintain the quality demands for different types of services. A theoretical model of MMS and WAP traffic is developed, and based on this model a simulator is implemented in Java programming language. This thesis proposes two techniques to improve the radio resource allocation algorithm performance called "radio link condition diversification" and "interactive traffic class prioritization". The radio link condition diversification technique defines minimum radio link quality that allows the user to receive their packets. The interactive traffic class prioritization technique defines different priorities for WAP packets and for MMS packets. Both techniques give good results in increasing user's perception of services and increasing network efficiency. This thesis indicates also that the prioritization mechanism successfully improves the response time of the interactive service by up to 80% with a setting of priority for interactive traffic class and decreasing the performance of the background traffic. This decrease is within a range acceptable by the end-user and that the link conditions limit mechanism has an advantage in terms of resource utilization

UMTS broadband mobile technology is a reality – Confounding many expectations

Contrary to the negative public perception, third-generation (3G) broadband mobile telecommunication, aka UMTS, has become reality. UMTS networks have been rolled out above all in Central Europe. The take-up of UMTS differs sharply from one country to the next, though. The large differences are due not only to market-related factors and differing marketing strategies, but also to political intervention that distorts the market. At present, content providers, handset makers and telcos are working feverishly to produce UMTS-based supplementary offerings. For the sluggish demand for mobile broadband services still harbours a big risk for the entire telecommunications sector.information an communications technology; telecommunications; 3G; broadband

Prospects of the 3G Mobile Networks in Greece (Proc. IST Mobile & Wireless Telecommunications Summit 2002, pp 557-561 16-19 June, Thessaloniki, Greece)

This paper analyses the financial impact of the deployment and operation of the UMTS networks on Greek mobile operators. A Greek incumbent operator with market share 30% throughout the ten-year period of the study has been examined. The methodology and the tool developed in ACTS- TERA and IST-TONIC projects have been utilized for this case study. Initial economic conclusions have been derived, presented and discussed using key profitability factors such us Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback period. The techno-economic evaluation is followed by a sensitivity analysis in order to identify the impact of the most important parameters such us UMTS penetration, market share, tariff level and usage level.telecommunications, 3G mobile networks, UMTS, technoeconomics

Performance evaluation of information and communications technology infrastructure for smart distribution network applications

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Current electrical networks require secure, scalable and cost-effective Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions to facilitate the novel functionalities required by Smart Grids. Countries around the globe are investigating alternative energy sources to mitigate the current energy crisis and environmental issues experienced by many countries due to global warming, rapid growth of population, inefficient energy management, dwindling fossil fuel resources, etc. Therefore, alternative or renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, combined heat and power, etc., are required to mitigate such a crisis and such sources will also need to be integrated in to the power grid in a distributed manner. Such distributed energy sources are mainly connected to the distribution networks and introduce huge challenges to the distribution network operator (DNO). Many of these challenges cannot be dealt with effectively using existing network operation mechanisms therefore the research and development of novel ICT solutions to support smart distribution network operation is required. This research investigated suitable ICT solutions to enable the Smart Grid to tackle these challenges and proposes ICT infrastructure models that can be used for simulation studies in order to investigate cost-effective, scalable and secure solutions for the DNOs. Initially, a Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring test-bed was proposed to evaluate the performance of bandwidth intensive applications, such as smart meter data transmission. Simulation studies for different communication technologies, cellular and Power Line Communication (PLC), were also carried out and the simulation models were verified using experimental test results. Finally, the modelling and analysis of smart metering infrastructure was carried out using simulation and extensive studies were performed to evaluate the data transmission rate performance for different configurations of smart meters and concentrators

3G - chance for take-off in mobile

It became clear early on that UMTS, also known as 3G (third-generation mobile phone systems), would be a key technology for profitable markets of the future. However UMTS technology offers some major advantages that can be demonstrated under laboratory conditions but which it will not be possible to use fully in the mass market in the medium term. There is a need for services that emphasise the specific advantages of mobile phones and complement conventional wired services. Business models stand a particular chance of success if network operator, content providers and manufacturers of terminals coordinate the steps they take. In summary it may be said, that it is not certain that UMTS will be a success in m-business, but there is a strong chance.ICT, mobile telephony, UMTS