The Operators Harmonization Group-which began work more than a year ago as a loosely tied consortium of four operators trying to end the global debate over third-generation technology standards-is now an official organization.
Earlier this month, 26 operators from around the world approved an international charter that formalizes the organization’s commitment to promote the rapid development and commercialization of third-generation systems. Michael Walker, technical executive with Vodafone AirTouch plc, was appointed the first chairman of the group.
The OHG gained considerable clout with the International Telecommunication Union, the global body in charge of setting 3G standards. Carriers involved with the group say the OHG helped foster a global standards environment, allowing carriers to come together and make concessions despite their fierce loyalty to each of their particular second-generation standards.
While the ITU initially hoped to adopt one 3G standard, it found itself with a plethora of submissions, including 13 different CDMA-based radio interfaces. The OHG managed to shrink that number to three modes that encompass both W-CDMA and cdma2000. Today the OHG is helping to ensure the standards can interoperate with each other.
Still, the standards-making process for the next-generation is far from over, and carriers have a long road ahead in deploying functioning 3G systems and competing in the marketplace with them. The 26 operators wanted a group that will represent all IMT-2000 carriers.
Still, others wonder what purpose this new group will serve. The GSM Association, UMTS Forum, the CDMA Development Group and the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium are working on 3G standards as well. Many fear OHG work will become duplicative.
All of these groups will be invited to join the OHG, said Vino Vinodrai, director of industry relations and research with Canada’s Bell Mobility. And most operators support the OHG as long as it doesn’t replicate efforts in existing carrier groups. Many harmonization efforts remain, including a common Internet Protocol network, dual-mode handsets and authentication schemes.
Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG, said his group will work with the OHG. The CDG has aggressively pushed for harmonization of the standards, and LaForge noted his disappointment in the CDG’s attempt to gain membership as a market representation partner with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s 3G Partnership Project, a standards group ETSI established in 1998 to develop GSM-based 3G technology, primarily W-CDMA technology.
3GPP said it is seeking clarification from the CDG on its reasons for wanting to become a member.
“The principal concern of the 3GPP Partners has been to ensure that the interests and ambitions of both parties are sufficiently well-aligned to bring the promise of a constructive collaboration,” said Paul Reid, ETSI’s 3G marketing officer. “Whilst the dialogue has been very positive and has seemed to confirm the expected alignment, the 3GPP Partners have found that the CDG’s Web site does not appear to reflect this.”
The GSM Association did not comment by RCR press time. The UWCC said it would evaluate the opportunity to join the OHG.
