Replacing the system hardware in more than 20,000 base stations, T-Mobile (News - Alert) has completed a nationwide modernization of its cellular network. This GSM/EDGE network is expected to improve voice quality and reduce costs. The company claims this is the world’s most modern GSM network with new system hardware.

 

EDGE can be used with mobile devices such as the iPhone (News - Alert), or laptops and stationary PCs fitted with a Web ‘n’ Walk card. For home and business users, T-Mobile offers a selection of suitable mobile Internet devices and plans.

 

The EDGE mobile communications standard supports four times the speed of a single ISDN line or download rates of up to 220 kbps (upload: 110 kbps). With this, customers can be provided high-speed Internet access at all times, no matter where they are. With the help of EDGE technology, households and companies in regions without access to DSL or UMTS can enjoy mobile broadband Internet access.

 

Apart from upgrading its GSM/EDGE network, T-Mobile is also expanding its UMTS and W-LAN network infrastructure. It is the first mobile communications operator in Germany to equip its entire UMTS network with high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology that supports speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps.

 

The system technology was supplied by Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson (News - Alert). Experts opine that replacing the system hardware of a cellular network during live operation is just like an open heart surgery. T-Mobile feels that with this project, a new ground has been broken as nothing comparable was ever done before.

 

The state of Saxony witnessed the final modernization measures of this technology. The latest T-Mobile technology is now also available in the Bautzen, Kamenz, Löbau-Zittau and Oberlausitz rural districts and the city of Hoyerswerda.

 

“The implementation of Alcatel-Lucent's (News - Alert) radio access solution on the T-Mobile network has not only permitted an easy launch of EDGE, but also dramatically improved overall quality of service, while cutting energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent. In addition, the GSM/EDGE Multi-standard Base Stations will allow smooth and affordable upgrading of the T-Mobile network towards the latest broadband wireless access technologies,” stated Philippe Keryer, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile access business.

 

Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.