World's first 900MHz 3G network is good

World's first 900MHz 3G network is good

Finnish cellular network operator, Elisa, has switched on the worlds first commercial 3G WCDMA network operating at 900MHz, the frequency Optus wants to use for the planned expansion of its 3G network to 98 percent of the population.

Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (Optus' incumbent cellular network supplier) have both announced their involvement as network infrastructure suppliers for the new network, but neither has been more specific as to the areas in which its equipment is being used, or what other services/equipment it is providing.

Nokia Siemens Networks said "Elisa is the first in the world to launch a commercial WCDMA 900 MHz network, improving the efficiency of its 3G network and bringing broadband mobile data services to its customers in wide and sparsely populated rural areas. With 900 MHz spectrum, the increase in WCDMA network coverage will be achieved in a cost and energy-efficient way using a reduced number of sites."

Ericsson said: "The new part of the network is seamlessly integrated in Elisa's existing WCDMA/HSPA network in the 2.1GHz band. Ericsson's WCDMA/HSPA portfolio for the 900MHz band offers Elisa a cost-efficient way to further expand the coverage of its WCDMA/HSPA network in sparsely inhabited areas of Finland."

Optus announced it January plans to expand its 3G network from its present capital city coverage to match that of its 2G network, which reaches 96 percent of the population. Optus said at the time that rollout to 96 percent coverage would commence in April and was expected to be completed by 2010. Total capex was put at between $500 million and $800 million depending on whether Optus used the same frequency as its existing 3G network, 2100MHz or 900MHz. The lower frequency provides greater range from each base station but there at that time no commercial users and no handsets. Optus said a final decision on operating frequency would be made later.

Optus later revealed that it had applied for Broadband Connect funding to expand coverage to 98 percent of the population, at an estimated cost of $370 million. Since that initial announcement there has been considerable progress in 900MHz systems. Nokia announced in February that it and French mobile operator SFR had carried out a technical pilot carrying WCDMA 3G/HSDPA voice calls in the 900MHz band in SFR's network.

Optus announced in April that it had completed trials of 900MHz 3G network equipment, using equipment from Huawei. And in June, Vodafone New Zealand announced that it had selected Nokia Siemens Networks to build out a 3G WCDMA network operating at 900HMz. Optus has not named the supplier for the planned coverage upgrade.