Home >
UMTS
June 26, 2004
The GSM Association and the TD-SCDMA Forum signed an agreement to
co-ordinate the development of the two 3G standards. Through closer
co-operation, the two organisations will promote interoperability and
international roaming between the two technologies and so maximise economies
of scale for the benefit of end-users, operators and manufacturers.
The GSM Association is the global trade association representing more than
630 GSM and 3GSM mobile operators worldwide, while TD-SCDMA Forum was
established in China to promote the development and commercialisation of TD-SCDMA.
Chosen by 98% of operators who have been allocated radio spectrum in the
2GHz band identified by the International Telecommunications Union for 3G,
3GSM exploits "paired" spectrum, with users speaking or transmitting data on
one radio channel and hearing responses or receiving data on a second radio
channel. By contrast, TD-SCDMA transmits and receives data in different
time-slots on "unpaired" radio channels.
Both 3GSM and TD-SCDMA can be deployed on GSM core networks and both
technologies are now being standardised by 3GPP, a partnership of standards
bodies representing China, Korea, Japan, the United States and Europe.
"TD-SCDMA and 3GSM are compatible technologies, a factor recognised in the
decision to standardise TD-SCDMA through the 3GPP," said Rob Conway, CEO of
the GSM Association and Member of the Board. "The synergies mean
opportunities for TD-SCDMA to complement 3GSM not just within in China, but
on a global basis."
"3GSM is building on the seamless roaming, interoperability and economies of
scale that have created a global market of more than one billion GSM users.
Through co-operation with the GSM Association, we aim to extend these
world-beating values to TD-SCDMA," said Mr. Ling Haifeng, the Secretary-
General of TD-SCDMA forum.
hereafter is the"Joint Declaration":
WHEREAS, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA are both international third generation mobile
standards approved by ITU£»
WHEREAS, as 3GPP standards for FDD and TDD, WCDMA and TD-SCDMA share a
common core network;
WHEREAS, as 3G standards for FDD and TDD, there is no conflict in bandwidth
usage;
WHEREAS, as 3GPP standards for FDD and TDD, both WCDMA network and TD-SCDMA
network can be deployed independently.
THEREFORE, as trade associations representing WCDMA and TD-SCDMA
respectively, GSM Association and TD-SCDMA Forum are willing to join hands
and cooperate with each other to promote the development and prosperity of
the third generation mobile technology, WCDMA (FDD) and TD-SCDMA (TDD). The
parties hereto reached the following agreements:
1. GSM Association will make full use of its existing resources to assist
TD-SCDMA Forum in the promotion and the adoption of TD-SCDMA in the world
market.
2. The parties will cooperate actively in areas of common concern, including
the exchange of views as to how to best support operators, vendors in terms
of international roaming and interoperability as well as operating
strategies by way of organizing various seminars and paying visit to each
other etc.
3. The parties shall encourage vendors to support and develop common
platform for use by both WCDMA and TD-SCDMA and shall encourage the vendors
to support the development of WCDMA/TD-SCDMA dual mode terminals.
4. GSM Association and TD-SCDMA Forum are willing to cooperate closely and
use their joint efforts to deepen and strengthen their partnership and
create a win-win situation in the upcoming third generation mobile
communications era.
