CHICAGO-Alcatel Corp. this week announced an Unlicensed Mobile Access solution that provides access to GSM and GPRS mobile services over Bluetooth and 802.11 unlicensed spectrum technologies.
UMA technology allows subscribers to roam and hand over between cellular networks and unlicensed wireless networks using dual-mode GSM/GPRS and UMA-enabled handsets or personal digital assistants, said the company.
Alcatel said its UMA solution can integrate into legacy circuit-switched core networks, as well as into its Mobile Next Generation Networks. In addition, Alcatel said its combined Mobile NGN-UMA solution gives mobile operators a solution that reuses existing transcoding capability of the core network.
Alcatel said carriers also can use the UMA solution to extend geographical coverage of GSM networks in low-density rural areas. The solution also provides an indoor coverage solution alternative for GSM/GPRS carriers in densely populated areas, said the company.
The Unlicensed Mobile Access group, started by 14 vendors and operators, recently announced plans to shut down operations after its specifications were included in the Third Generation Partnership Project’s Release 6.
