The Operators Harmonization Group, an ad hoc assembly of mobile phone operators from around the world, sent its third-generation technology harmonization proposal to the International Telecommunication Union, which meets in Beijing this week.
As RCR reported, the agreement defines a harmonized CDMA standard with three modes. The direct sequence mode has a chip rate of 3.84 Megachips per second rate and supports asynchronous and synchronous operation. The multicarrier mode supports a chip rate of 3.68 Mcps and synchronous operation while the Time Division Duplex mode has a chip rate of 3.84 Mcps. Each of the modes of the agreement will be supported on both Interim Standard-41 and GSM-MAP networks.
The OHG has compiled a technical framework document that will be submitted to the various world standards-development bodies. The document is to serve as a blueprint of agreed-upon technical issues for regional standards bodies to consider as they set final 3G CDMA standards.
The OHG’s newly formed transition team will oversee this work. The technical framework was agreed upon by a majority of operators, but it was unclear at RCR press time which operators did not support the agreement.
Manufacturers Nokia Corp. and L.M. Ericsson publicly announced support for the document as did AirTouch Communications Inc. and BellSouth Cellular Corp.
“What is important is the need to move forward officially and maintain a timely schedule,” said William Plummer, vice president of government and industry affairs at Nokia.
AirTouch and Vodafone plc, which plan to merge later this year, had been pushing for one chip rate, but AirTouch in subsequent interviews has said the two rates are close enough to provide economies of scale.
“The different modes are technically close enough to permit the advantages of economies of scale in handset and infrastructure,” said Jonathan Marshall, spokesman for AirTouch.
