Smart conducts 3G network test in Cebu

By Ehda M. Dago-oc The Freeman

A week after its rival company publicly tested the 3G (third generation) technology, Smart Communications Inc. also countered with its network test showcasing its capability in this latest development in telecommunication industry.

Smart conducted the first inter-network 3G video call in the country during an international telecom conference held in Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort Wednesday.

The video call was the first public demonstration of Smart's test 3G Network, awaiting the commercial permit to be released soon by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on the 3G technology. It was made between Smart and roaming partner Telecom Italia Mobile.

"The success of this video call between our 3G test network and that of our European partner is proof of Smart's capability to offer 3G-enabled services and its commitment to always stay a step ahead of the others," said Smart head for Network Services Division Rolando G. Peña.

The 3G wireless communications technology will make possible high-speed data, voice, and video services. It promises greater bandwidth and higher transfer rates ranging from 384 kbps (kilobyte per second) to 2 Mbps (megabyte per second), a quantum leap from GSM technology maximum speed of 9.6 kbps. This speed also allows easier Internet browsing and the downloading of huge files.

Peña vowed to immediately offer the service as soon as it gets the NTC permit, that would probably a year from now. It is expected to attract initially the high-end market, while this particular service will be first introduced commercially in key cities and class A municipalities.

Globe Telecom also held a public network demonstration of 3G in the country last week in Cebu, tested by its chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

According to Peña Smart started conducting tests with 3G technology five years ago. In December 2000, the company together with communications solutions provider Nokia, and then NTC deputy commissioner Nestor Dacanay completed the first every 3G trial in the Philippines.

The trial focused on testing the video conferencing capabilities of the system, which ran on a Wireless Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) platform. Transfer speeds of this year 2000 test run were recorded at 216.9 kbps.

This time around, Smart is demonstrating its 3G capability. With trial permit and frequencies from the NTC, Smart has set-up a 3G test network in Mactan to in time for the Inter-working Roaming Expert Group (IREG) Conference at Shangri-La which was attended by over a hundred delegates from all over the world-rarely held outside Europe.

IREG is the group within the international body GSM Association that addresses the technical, operational, and performance issues supporting international roaming services. The group is composed of different telecommunications operators from around the world.

"We have decided to stage our test facility for 3G in conjunction with the IREG event to show our international counterparts our capability in providing mobile broadband services," Peña said.

3G, or as the name implies, follows the first generation (1G) and second generation (2G) in wireless communications. 1G began in the late 1970's and lasted through the 1980s. These networks featured "cellular mobile radio telephone" that uses analog voice signaling.

The 1990s ushered in 2G, which features digital voice encoding. Since its inception, 2G has steadily improved, with increased bandwidth, packet routing, and the introduction of multimedia.