Ericsson showcases 3G technologies

MUMBAI: Ericsson, a leading communications supplier, exhibited various
features of the 3G mobile at the `3G tour Trans-continental air show’ in
Mumbai. The show also demonstrated the opportunities of mobile Internet using 3G
technologies.

At present, Ericsson has 26 of the 43 officially announced 3G orders
worldwide. Ericsson managing director, Jan Campbell stressed the significance of
the 3G technologies in India, stating that the technology would revolutionize
wireless communications globally by ensuring that mobile Internet applications
are available at higher speed and low costs to consumers.

With convergence of telecom and Internet in India, cellular operators in the
country are investing more and more in infrastructure for gradual migration from
GSM to GPRS, he said. Over the next 3-4 years there would be an inherent need
for faster and richer content through mobile Internet, which will be fulfilled
by the 3G technology.

Ericsson vice president (marketing and technical solutions) Rohit Chandra,
said 3G has immense market and would be targeted at network operators, ISPs, IT
hardware and software vendors, system integrators. However, the biggest
advantage will be for the consumers who will be able to access a host of
applications on their mobile phones at cheaper costs.

"The Indian mobile industry is going to experience an exponential growth
in the next 3-4 years. The government has allowed functioning of third and
fourth cellular operator and has also opened limited mobility through market
CDMA technology," Chandra said. "We already have over 40 per cent
share of the GSM infrastructure market and the gradual shift towards high speed
technologies, India offers immense opportunity for us," he said.

Ericsson also announced its plans to set up a ‘Developer Zone’ in India
over a period of two to three years. This would provide the back-end
infrastructure and the necessary support in developing wireless content and
applications, based on WAP, GPRS, Bluetooth and 3G.