4G Now

Korean Government Secures Frequency Band for 4G

The Ministry of Information and Communication will get the microwave bands ready for next generation telecom services such as high-speed multimedia service. Microwave bands are appropriate for high-speed transmission of huge data, currently being used in multilateral communication or TV rebroadcasting.

The information ministry will gradually reallocate microwave bands and divert them for the use of 4G in some areas from 2010 when 4th generation service will be introduced. With the rising demands for radio-signal resources, the frequency bands below 3? is rapidly being depleted, according to the ministry. Against this backdrop, the MIC decided to reserve 3 to 5Ghz bands for 4G services, reallocating frequency bands of 5 to 10? for microwave-relay, over 10 ? for short-range relay service.  

The reallocation will advance the introduction of 4G and diverse broadband services by reserving 1? bandwidth, almost three times the bandwidth of 2G and 3G, according to the ministry.

Currently, the allocation of 3 to 5 ? partly for 4G is under discus at the ITU, with mobile communications being expected to require 1.2 to 1.7? bandwidth in 2020.

Korean Government to Facilitate WiBro

The Korean government decided to take the lead in facilitating WiBro service. The Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (MIC) announced today the “WiBro industry facilitation measures.” The ministry said that, thorough the measures, it will provide WiBro service to 23 major cities in Korea within this year and to other smaller cities by 2008.

In addition, the ministry announced three major policy goals such as global market share increase, technology and product competitiveness improvement and facilitation of domestic demands.

In order to pave the way for the Korean technology to take on the global market, the MIC plans to hold overseas road shows, showcases, and technology demonstrations.

Also, the MIC plans to work on the next version of the technology and get intellectual property rights of them to keep the lead in the industry. The technology will also be made adaptable to serve military purposes by joint research with the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Defense plans to build strategic mobile communication networks by 2011 and put them into use from the next year.

An internationally recognized certification test of WiBro devices will be offered for local developers to help them shorten development period and save costs, too. The Telecommunications Technology Association, funded by the MIC, starts the first test service for WiBro certification in the first half of this year.

While building nationwide WiBro networks, the MIC decided to check out WiBro service providers, KT and SK Telecom twice a year to see whether they executed investment pledges.
 
Regulations on bundling WiBro service with mobile phones or broadband service will also be eased.

ITU-R Approves WiBro as International Reference Standard

Radio Research Laboratory under the Ministry of Information and Communication of Korea announced on Wednesday ITU Radio-communication sector, the UN standard institute approved WiBro as the international reference standard for mobile-broadband wireless access at the organization’s SG8 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. 

As WiBro’s interoperability with IEEE 802.16, WiMAX standard established by the US IEEE was confirmed, WiBro will get greater opportunity to be selected by the countries that apply Mobile BWA.

The decision of ITU-R is expected to open the way for Korean WiBro companies to the global arena.

In December 2005, IEEE announced the official approval of Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) international standard that is based on WiBro.

Korea's Lead in Mobile WiMAX Gains Momentum

As the government funded Telecommunications Technology Association(TTA) becomes the official certificate laboratory of WiMAX Forum, domestic companies could cut the time and money they had to spend on taking tests for international standards.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) said that the decision would make Korea remain at the forefront not only in developing WiBro technologies and services but also in testing the technologies. It would give the chance the homegrown WiBro to spread rapidly around the world, the MIC said. Mobile WiMAX (IEEE8.2.16e) is a 3.5G technology just like WiBro and demand for the technologies are expected to surge in the near future.

About 360 companies around the world are now participating in WiMAX Forum to develop standards and certification processes of wireless service of high-speed Internet. Samsung Electronics and KT are serving as directors while ETRI, Innowireless, LG Electronics, POSDATA, SK Telecom and TTA are participating as ordinary members.

Mobile WiMax Became an International Standard

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that the IEEE ratified the mobile WiMAX, known as 802.16e, as a standard.

Samsung said that the ratification gives a significant momentum for WiBro to be the pillar of next generations’ mobile service. In particular, Korean companies will have a head start in getting patents of the technology, Samsung said.

Samsung plans to gear up for WiBro business starting next year. It will supply WiBro equipment and terminals to KT that starts world’s first commercial service of WiBro next April. Outside the country, the company will supply test equipment to the US, UK, Japan, Latin American nations and Italy. Next year, more than ten nations will be using WiBro, Samsung said.

WiBro offers a maximum downlink speed of 20 Mbps and uplink spped of 6Mbps, which is 1.4 to three times faster than HSDPA.

WiBro Confirmed as International Standard

WiBro, Korea’s homegrown portable Internet, was adopted as an international standard.

The Ministry of Information and Communication announced that WiBro got the final approval as an international standard at IEEE 802.16e conference held in Taiwan in September and the finalized standard will be published in early December.

The MIC said that there would be no more discussion about change of standard. WiMAX forum is working on mobile WiMAX profile that defines the minimum requirements for IEEE 802.16e standards to ensure compatibility among equipment manufactured by different makers.

KT, SK Telecom and Hanaro Win WiBro License

The Ministry of Information and Communication decided Thursday to award portable Internet business (WiBro) licenses to all the three candidates, KT, SK Telecom and Hanaro Telecom.

According to MIC, KT ranked first getting a score of 82.356 followed by SKT and Hanaro who earned 82.356 and 79.962 respectively.

Each operator will be awarded with 27? in 2.3? bandwidth divided into Band A(2.300~2.327?), Band B(2.3315~2.3 585?) and Band C(2.363~2.390?). KT, which recorded the highest score, is given the right to choose which band it will use.

KT plans to launch the commercial service of WiBro in April 2006 while SKT and Hanaro are scheduled to start in June 2006.