Since having arrived in Italy I’ve enjoyed using UMTS and HSDPA networks to connect to the Internet for my day to day work for reasonable prices. It has also allowed me to run a number of network traces to get some more insight into the performance of the UMTS and HSDPA air interface. In the … Continue reading Using Wireshark to Peek Into the UMTS Air Interface
One of the main issues with VoIP over 3G networks is that the number of possible simultaneous calls per cell is much lower today than the number of calls that can be transported over 3G networks in circuit switched mode. This is due to the fact that the radio interface has been optimized on every … Continue reading VoIP capacity over HSDPA
Recently, a number of German MVNOs have slashed prices for prepaid mobile Internet access. Now, mobile network reseller Talkline has launched a 60 day try and buy offer for mobile Internet connectivity for people with a usage that makes a contract more attractive than prepaid. During this time the two year contract can be canceled … Continue reading Talkline Launches Try And Buy Offer for Mobile Internet Access
Here’s a statement made by Anssi Vanjoki at the recent Nokia World Conference: “Broadband Internet is not a socket in the wall, it is all around us”. He draws and interesting picture and I think he is right. Today, many people already use Wifi access points to create their personal broadband Internet cloud. Thus, the … Continue reading Broadband Internet Is Not a Socket in the Wall
It’s done, it’s over and it looks like it has been a great week for the wireless Internet in Germany. After a four day auction, three companies have each received a nationwide license to deploy Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) networks in the 2.5 3.5 GHz band. The three companies are DBD (Deutsche Breitband Dienste GmbH), … Continue reading Three Companies Get Nationwide WiMAX Licenses in German Spectrum Auction
Several years after the start of 3G and some operators still struggle with their 3G network engineering. Unbelievable but true. Latest example: Wind in Milano, Italy. I’ve been using the Wind network already last year in Roma for several weeks and enjoyed great 3G coverage and performance. A year later, I am in Milano, a … Continue reading 3G Network Engineering: When Operators Cripple Their Networks
I couple of years ago I thought EDGE (Enhanced Data Rate for GSM evolution) would not have a big chance on the market with new technologies like 3G and later on HSDPA entering the market. An yet, EDGE has made it into many networks around the world. In some countries, 3G hasn’t made it beyond … Continue reading Evolved EDGE – The New Kid On the Block
HSDPA, the 3.5G speed booster for UMTS networks is up and running in many neworks these days and data cards have been available for some time. Now, HSDPA phones have entered the market with Samsung’s SGH-ZV50 and Nokia in close pursuit with the N95. As an article in the latest C’T, a german computer magazine, … Continue reading TCP settings for HSDPA and ADSL
I like Bluetooth very much as it lets me connect my notebook with my mobile phone to access the Internet via 3G networks. I also like Bluetooth because I can quickly exchange small chunks of data between different devices. Current 3G technologies like HSDPA and EVDO, however, pretty much challenge the bandwidth Bluetooth offers today … Continue reading UWB Coming to a Mobile Phone Near You?
This blog entry is the fourth in a row about my thoughts on the current development of 4G wireless standards. You might want to take a look at the introduction before reading on. Previously, I’ve discussed why 4G networks are necessary and what to generally expect of 4G wireless networks. Three different standards are currently … Continue reading 4G – The competitors