4G:New Kid on the block

BANGALORE, INDIA: Though India is yet to come out with its final policy on 3G deployment, cellular service providers are talking about 4G. It is felt that 4G deployment may be faster than the rollout of 3G services because of the scarcity of spectrum in India. 4G is intended to provide high-speed, high-capacity, low cost per bit, IP-based services.

It is all about an integrated, global network that is based on an open system approach. The goal of 4G is to replace the current proliferation of core cellular networks with a single worldwide cellular core network standard based on IP for control, video, packet data, and VoIP. India has an opportunity with its large market and high technical skills to be a significant player in this field.

4G may be able to answer many cost and technical problems of the earlier mobile system. India is waiting to drive high-speed differentiated services into the rural India.

4G: The tech aspect

4G is the short term for fourth-generation wireless-the stage of broadband mobile communication that will abandon the third generation. When fully implemented, 4G is expected to enable pervasive computing, in which simultaneous connections to multiple high-speed networks provide seamless handoffs throughout a geographical area.

Network operators may employ technologies such as cognitive radio and wireless mesh networks to ensure connectivity and efficiently distribute both network traffic and spectrum. The high speed offered by 4G will create new markets and opportunities for both traditional and startup telecommunication companies.

Accessing information anywhere, anytime, with a seamless connection to a wide range of information and services, and receiving a large volume of information, data, pictures, video, and so on, are the key components of the 4G infrastructure. It is believed that 4G would help in boosting the Internet speed to 100 Mbps. It also holds the promise of worldwide roaming under a single hand held device.

4G will fundamentally advance the way we use mobile and existing network. It can take us from radio technologies into the next era of radio communication using “open spectrum”. With over 200 mn mobile phone subscribers across India, the country's largest operators are now targeting villages for wireless telephony growth.

The rural areas are expected to drive the next wave of telecom growth in the country, and they have the potential of adding at least 150 mn new subscribers. 4G can enable wireless broadband access for rural communities at reasonable cost.

In rural, densely populated and low-traffic density areas, an important concern for the deployment of wireless systems is the coverage advantages of lower frequency ranges. Lower frequency radio waves propagate beyond higher frequency radio waves. This results in greater coverage per cell site in cellular system operating in lower frequency range.

This also results in the need for fewer cells to provide the service for a geographic area, thereby lowering the cost for building up network infrastructure. 4G networks are all IP networks. So, the disadvantages of circuit switching are totally absent here. Even the signaling will be done through IP. The setting up costs of network infrastructure will also be lower. Therefore, leapfrogging to 4G will be extremely beneficial in the Indian context.

Feasibility

Former Union communication minister Dayanidhi Maran was in favour of 4G. He had announced that the country could leapfrog to 4G. If the telecom ministry pursues Maran's vision, 4G rollout will not be too far. However, a number of spectrum allocation decisions, technology innovations, component development, signal processing, switching enhancement, and inter vendor cooperation have to take place before the vision of 4G materializes.

It is also important that regulations and license conditions specifying the use of a particular technology or standard in bands be eliminated. Service definitions may also have to be modified to accommodate the new flexibility. Regulators can also enhance existing licenses and identify some preferred technologies in order to meet the demands of end users and operators. Spectrum regulation bodies must get involved in guiding researchers by indicating which frequency band might be used for 4G.

Japan, China on 4G track

China has already decided to move to the 4G network. Chinese telecom companies are preparing for faster fourth generation (4G) mobile phone networks even as they control investment in long-awaited 3G infrastructure and services. According to International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the fourth generation (4G) telephony timetable and spectrum planning will be complete by 2007, and global standardization by 2010.

China has made significant progress in its TD-SDCMA network and technology meeting 3G standards, and the government is paying an increased attention to 4G's latest progress, planning constructive involvement with communications technology research, development, and standardization.

The mobile phone market in Japan is fast approaching the saturation point. NTT DoCoMo is already in action with the next step in mobile network technology, which has been called '4G'. The 4G standards will allow subscribers to dial a code to choose the service they want to use to make overseas long-distance calls/Internet connections, just as today's fixed-line users do.

A special committee of the Telecommunications Council announced a detailed plan for the 4G mobile communications system, according to which the 4G fourth generation will be commercialized by 2010.

Action in the offing

NTT DoCoMo looks forward to contributing to the standardization of 4G through its ongoing research and development. The company has achieved a maximum packet transmission rate of 5Gbps in the downlink, using a 100 MHz frequency bandwidth to a mobile station moving at 10 Km/h.

Marvell announced the availability of the LG-KC1 smart phone with the Marvell PXA 320 application processor on Korea Telecom's high-speed WiBro 4G network. This Marvell's PXA 320 application processor is designed to allow superb gaming and multimedia functions over the high-speed WiBro 4G network. It is designed for a balance of high performance and low power efficiency and offers a broad roadmap that is consistent for maximum software reuse.

Nortel is teaming up with leading universities across the globe to develop new innovations that will help meet the growing demand for 4G mobile broadband application. Nortel announced the opening of its center of excellence-Wimax 4G Ecosystem. Its 4G-access solution will provide best-class coverage and capacity and deliver the level of performances and spectrum efficiency at higher magnitude.

Fourth-generation networks will probably develop sooner than expected, but operators can start preparing now. Countries like India, where significant investments have not yet been made for 3G, may leapfrog directly to 4G to gain benefits.

The 4G systems will not only support the next generation of mobile service, but will also support fixed wireless networks. 4G promises to fulfill the goal of PCC (personal computing and communication)-a visualization that affordably provides high data rates everywhere over a wireless network.