Telecom Technologies 

Always-on, wireless Internet on the move is now closer to reality. And, the ongoing mobile price wars might just as well make us say goodbye to the familiar landline phone

The success of any technology largely depends upon its widespread usage, which in turn depends upon the number of applications that can be made from it. There are countless examples to prove this. The computer, for example, was a very complex machine used by scientists in test labs, until VisiCalc, the first commercial spreadsheet program was released to the public in 1979 for Apple II computers. This little program made computers a worthwhile purchase. VisiCalc was later sold to the then Lotus (now IBM) Corporation, which made it available for the PC platform by 1983.

	GSM Technology Understanding how the cellular service works An EDGE over GSM A new faster version of GSM that can challenge existing 3G technologies Mobile Internet with GPRS A new technology that allows existing mobile technologies to provide ‘always-on’ Internet for mobile devices Wireless with CDMA The latest entrant to wireless communication offers better spectral efficiency and lots of bandwidth for voice and data applications

On the telecom front, numerous wireless technologies have been introduced in the country. It started with GSM-based



mobile phones, and today we can see GPRS and CDMA technologies being implemented as well.

This opens a whole new avenue for lots of different types of mobile applications to come in, which go far beyond simple voice communication. SMS was the killer application on GSM networks, which allowed short text messages to be sent through the mobile phone. Wireless Internet could be the killer applications for the other two technologies. Though Internet access through GSM phones has been possible and has been offered, it didn’t really take off because the technology provided limited bandwidth. Now, this problem is being resolved with GPRS and CDMA technologies as they can support much higher bandwidth. This could make wireless Internet a reality.

With newer applications, you also need newer equipment to use them. One recently introduced device is a CDMA-based PCMCIA card for laptops that will allow you anytime, anywhere access to the Internet, and that too at very high speeds.

Camera phones are another possibility. Nokia and Sony Ericsson have already launched their cellphone cum digital cameras in the market, which allow you to take snaps and immediately send them out to others. GPS applications are another possibility.

You could have a wireless phone embedded into a car to provide location information, traffic details, weather

alerts,etc.

A lot of these services are already being offered through these technologies in many countries abroad.

Presented in this story are the three hot telecom technologies fighting it out in the Indian market, namely GSM, GPRS, and CDMA. We’ve spoken of how they work, the advantages they offer, and their limitations. We’ve also talked of some of the possible applications that can be made possible with them.

How soon before we see exciting wireless applications become available? There are a lot of key issues that must be resolved first. Interoperability is one such issue. Would CDMA subscribers be able to communicate with GSM ones? Similarly, data services are currently not allowed over a WLL (Wireless in Local Loop) service, and the CDMA networks in the country are using WLL. If so, then despite so much bandwidth being available over CDMA, it will not be of any use. Cost is another factor that plays a very important part. Currently, we’re seeing a major price war happening among the telecom circles.

Mobile to mobile incoming has been made free, MTNL is hiking its PSTN rates from April 1, CDMA phones are being targeted at the common man with very low call rates. If wireless communication finally becomes more affordable thanks to the price wars, will we say goodbye to the noble telephone as we know it today?

Anil Chopra