High-speed data communication now available to over 100 million GSM users in 27 countries worldwide

Added : ( Tue Mar 12 2002 )

Hanover, Germany: 12 March 2002 - GSM High Speed Data service is now available to more than 100 million* customers across 27 countries around the world - in Europe, Asia Pacific, South Africa and Israel. The service today offers customers access to a range of existing and new 3G-like features and applications at much higher speeds than previously available on GSM’s second generation platform, all with International Roaming - where available.

Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association, announced today that 38 GSM networks so far have successfully implemented the feature known as High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD). "This feature enables subscribers of GSM networks to transmit and receive data at rates of up to 4 times the rate of transmission on GSM’s second generation platform," said Conway. “This feature that enables networks to test existing new applications that demand high data rates over the existing infrastructure”, he added.

The GSM Association today welcomes a separate announcement by Nokia which has highlighted its support for HSCSD technology via the launch of a new range of innovative terminals as an integral part of the company’s current terminal equipment offering.

According to David Gordon, Manager of International Services for Partner Communications Company, Israel, and Co-chair of the HSCSD Interest Group of the GSM Association, “HSCSD is especially valuable to travelers that are seeking to connect to their corporate networks and email service without the hassle of cables and plugs, and at reasonable data rates”. He added, “It is expected that the innovative HSCSD enabled product currently launched will increase the adoption rate of the technology among GSM family networks.”

Due to the implementation of International Roaming agreements among the networks, High Speed data services can be offered to customers of these networks while traveling to other networks that provide the HSCSD service.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Technical Background

High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data, is part of the evolving GSM family of wireless communications (GSM, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE and 3GSM*) and is a high speed transmission technology which allows users to send and retrieve data over GSM networks at transmission speeds between 28.8kbit/sec and 43.2kbit/sec by enabling the concurrent usage of up to four traffic channels of a GSM network.

HSCSD, being mainly a software upgrade does not entail new network elements and so the GSM operator not only avoids having to redesign the network, but can also have fast implementation. However, the user does require a new handset. HSCSD does not require the user to learn an entirely new data service or technology: it is very similar to existing services, just substantially faster.

Mobile office applications, as well as web browsing and applications such as mobile navigation services and other features using maps and graphics will benefit greatly from the enhancements provided by this technology, making applications more attractive and easier to use. HSCSD enables completely new applications too, such as mobile video.

Networks that have so far launched HSCSD:

Europe:
Connect, Austria; KPN Orange, Belgium; Eurotel Praha, Czech Republic; Tele Denmark, Denmark; Sonofon, Denmark; Sonera, Finland; DNA, Finland; Cosmote, Greece; Stet Hellas, Greece; E-plus Mobilfunk, Germany; Mannesmann, Germany; Pannon GSM, Hungary; Vodafone, Ireland; LMT, Latvia; Swisscom, Liechtenstein; Tele 2, Liechtenstein; BiteGSM, Lithuania; Tango, Luxemburg; Telenor, Norway; Netcom, Norway; Polkomtel, Poland; Telecel Vodafone, Portugal; Connex, Romania; Mobitel d.d., Slovenia; Telia, Sweden; Europolitan Vodafone, Sweden; Swisscom Mobile, Switzerland; Orange, Switzerland; Eurotel Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Turkcell, Turkey; Orange, UK.

Asia Pacific: HONG KONG CSL Limited, Hong Kong; SmarTone, Hong Kong; New World, Hong- Kong; SingTel Mobile, Singapore; M1 Singapore.

Middle East and Africa: Partner Communications Company, Israel; MTN, South Africa

* 107.81 Million as of end February 2002

About the GSM Association
The GSM Association is the world's leading wireless industry representative body, consisting of more than 600 second and third generation wireless network operators and key manufacturers and suppliers to the wireless industry. The Association's members provide digital wireless services to more than 662 million customers (end February 2002). The GSM family of wireless communications platforms account for approximately 70 percent of the total digital wireless market today. The GSM Association is a unique organisation, with a truly global reach, offering a full range of business and technical services to its members. Its vision is of a seamless, limitless, world of wireless communications.
About GSM - the Wireless Evolution
The GSM platform is a hugely successful wireless communications platform and an unprecedented story of global achievement. In less than ten years since the first second generation GSM network was commercially launched, it has become the world's leading and fastest growing mobile platform spanning more than 170 countries. The GSM family of wireless communication platforms is living, growing and evolving and already offers an expanded and feature-rich family of voice and data enabling services. The GSM family consists of today's GSM, High Speed Cicuit Switched Data (HSCSD), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and third generation GSM services (3GSM)**. Together the GSM family provides a flexible platform and an evolutionary path that enables network operators to offer a potentially limitless range of services, meeting the ever-growing needs of their customers worldwide. GSM is The Wireless Evolution
Visit the home of GSM - The Wireless Evolution: www.gsmworld.com
** 3GSM represents third generation services delivered on an evolved core GSM network. 3GSM services are delivered at a technical level on third generation standards developed by 3GPP,which utilise air interfaces for W-CDMA and, in some specified markets, EDGE.
GSM is a registered trademark, registered and owned by the GSM Association

For more information, please contact:

Mark Smith
Director Communications
The GSM Association
Tel: +44 207 518 0549
Fax: +44 207 518 0531
E-Mail: mailto:msmith@gsm.org

David Gordon, Co-chair
GSM Association High Speed Data Roaming Interest Group
And Manager, International Services
Partner Communications Company, Israel
Tel +972 3 9054154
Fax: +972 3 9054161
Email: mailto:gordon@orange.co.il

Lorna MacDonnell, Co-chair
GSM Association High Speed Data Roaming Interest Group
Marketing Manager
International Roaming
Tel: +353 1 203 7802
Mobile: +353 87 684 9814
Fax: +353 1 260 3457
E-mail: mailto:lmcdonnell@eircell.ie



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