AT&T/DoCoMo Deal For W-CDMA Deployment In U.S.

murky.waters writes "The specifics of several amendments to the original deal are spelled out in a news.com article: AT&T gets $6.2 billion from NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest telecom, for deploying a third generation wireless network in four of the top fifty cell phone markets by December 31, 2004. The chosen few are San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas and San Diego. However, there's a city-swap provision to possibly include either Miami or Detroit for Dallas, Phoenix or Houston for San Diego. Last, AT&T could get out of the deal if they chose an alternate third generation technology."

Comments

I just want my cell phone to work as a phone

[Powercntrl]

As I write this, my cell phone is chirping to inform me that it is switching in and out of roaming mode. The reception at my home is horrible.

Every time I read an article about "next generation network features", I'm curious as to when they'll make the first generation feature - voice communication work better.

Maybe it's different in other parts of the country, but here in Lake Mary, FL, Sprint PCS and their suppose-ed "next generation network" is a bunch of features and fluff surrounded by unusable service.

I think I'm going to make my New Year's resolution to switch cell phone providers.

So what use is it?

[Captain Kirk]

I worked for a wireless Interent start-up. The problem was not the technology itself. Its that there are no real uses. I mean, who cares that you can stream video on your mobile phone? Who is dumb enough to pay for it?

IMO, Wi-fi has removed all the need for umts. The mobile phone operators should concentrate on making voice work better, especially in the US where coverage and incompatible networks are a joke.

Re:So what use is it?

[Yokaze]

> IMO, Wi-fi has removed all the need for umts

Really?
How do you do location based services with WiFi?
How do you realise payment, how identification?
How does roaming between different WiFi providers work?
How do you connect to the mobile partner, considering that IPv6 is still not widely deployed?
WiFi doesn't work when you move a little bit faster than walking.
How do you achieve a good WiFi coverage, especially in more rural areas. (Without prohibitive costs)
How many people are taking a notebook/laptop/pda with them and how many carry a mobile?

Once more, I'd say 3G and WiFi are orthogonal. They serve different needs.

What it really means...

[Zigurd]

The article is all about scaling back the requirement to deploy WCDMA UMTS to, basically, trial deployment.

It also, very significantly, allows AT&T to choose a technology other than WCDMA. For example, they could choose TD-SCDMA.

AT&T... always on top of the game

[rcs1000]

When AT&T Wireless first rolled out digital cellular they went with TDMA, the logical 3Gish extension to which is Rx1TT (as used in Korea).

Then, about two years ago they announced they were migrating their network (building an overlay) to GSM, the logical 3G extension to which is WCDMA (European version).

Now they look like they are going down the Japanese WCDMA route, which is based on an earlier standard tham European WCDMA (although it does actually work, which is a plus!)

It seems to me that they really need to sit down and decide exactly what system they want to use. There are numerous issues with cell planning, roaming, etc. affected by their choices. If they continue to mess around like this, who knows when a decent 3G service will be available to Americans.

Re:AT&T... always on top of the game

[Anonymous Coward]

They actually do have a plan. I work for AT&T and here is part of the corporate "newsletter" that gets sent to us every couple of days (notice the second section about aligning strategy):

AT&T Wireless and NTT DoCoMo outline plans for targeted rollout of W-CDMA services
[Source: AT&T Wireless company press release, December 26, 2002] -- AT&T Wireless today announced the four major U.S. markets in which they will first deploy and launch W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple band access), the most widely adopted global standard for next generation wireless technology. The company said this will be the first deployment of true wideband third generation (3G) wireless data services in the Western Hemisphere. By the end of December 2004 the company plans a commercial launch in sections of four U.S. cities that have a high concentration of mobile professionals.

As part of a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, AT&T Wireless and DoCoMo said they plan to launch the communications cores of San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and Dallas as the first four U.S. markets for W-CDMA deployment. The announced 3G build and launch will follow a planned deployment of high data speed EDGE technology (enhanced data rates evolution) by AT&T Wireless later next year. This is the next step in AT&T Wireless' planned global-standard technology evolution, which will enable it to offer customers the most advanced voice, data, messages, music, information, and video services as it progresses from GSM and GPRS technology to EDGE and then to W-CDMA. [Editor's Note: To review the full press release, click on http://www.attwireless.com/press/.]

Aligning our next generation strategy
[Contributors: Rod Nelson, Product & Technology Development, and Greg Slemons, Wireless Network Services] -- You may have read stories in newspapers or heard reports on the radio concerning AT&T Wireless' plans to delay offering true 3G services using W-CDMA, also known as UMTS, and that we will limit the availability of service to four markets (see press release above). While both those statements are true, this is not a drastic change from the plans we laid out in October 2000. At that time, we announced that we'd deploy a national GSM/GPRS network by the end of 2002, upgrade to EDGE by 2003, and offer W-CDMA service in 13 cities by mid-2004.

Thanks to your hard work, our report card shows that we completed the GSM/GPRS network on budget and ahead of schedule. We're also on target for completing the TeleCorp markets by mid-2003. And, we're well on our way to have EDGE deployed in all these markets by the second half of next year. We believe the faster speeds, devices, and applications both GPRS and EDGE deliver can meet our customers wireless data needs for the next few years. This is one of the reasons we decided to roll out W-CDMA in a more targeted way.

Additionally, as you have heard John Zeglis say, one of our major goals in 2003 is to become cash flow positive. This means investing capital and operational dollars in a way that maximizes the profitability of our business. Our decision to carefully target the introduction of W-CDMA and tie it closely to customer demand will help us meet those financial goals.

Finally, we are committed to our technology path and believe our agreement with DoCoMo will help us deliver shareholder value while continuing to satisfy our customers needs for faster data speeds. Most of all, it keeps us on course toward a successful future.