Ericsson has been awarded a contract by FarEasTone to deploy HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), while expanding its existing share of the 3G/WCDMA radio footprint from Northern Region to Central Region. Ericsson will also provide related support services.

The HSPA network Ericsson is building for FarEasTone will be the fastest of its kind in Taiwan, supporting initial download speeds of up to 3.6Mbps; nine times faster than today’s 3G network.

Jan Nilsson, President of FarEasTone, says: “We are delighted to be able to provide consumers with first-class services using Ericsson’s world-leading 3G, HSPA, and IMS solutions. Our subscribers will enjoy a whole new 3G experience, and FarEasTone’s competitive advantage will be boosted. The focus of the new IMS system is to deliver new IP multimedia-services, and drive revenue growth.

FarEasTone will also become the first operator in Taiwan to implement IMS. Ericsson IMS makes it possible for FarEasTone to combine today’s and tomorrow’s applications and create an integrated services offering for the Taiwanese market. IMS will enable FarEasTone to offer an attractive and convenient communications experience; utilizing one common system for all broadband services users will have the freedom to access any service with the most convenient device at any given moment.

The upgrade and expansion of FarEasTone’s existing 3G network will provide significant improvement in both transmission speed and overall system performances and pave the way to all-IP.

SeГЎn Gowran, President of Ericsson Taiwan, says: “As the prime driver in an all communicating world, Ericsson is determined to excel in network infrastructure and services while being perceived as the most innovative and responsive business partner. The FarEasTone contract further highlights our leading position in HSPA and IMS, as well as our strong services offering in evolving networks to all-IP.”

This contract award follows the 2005 collaboration between Ericsson and FarEasTone to launch FarEasTone’s initial 3G service.

Seven Asian operators today announced the formation of an alliance to enhance competitiveness in the international roaming market and deliver corporate services across the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia Pacific Mobile Alliance boasts a combined customer base of about 100 million subscribers over eight countries and regions, but plans to expand its members over time.

The founding members are: Far EasTone (Taiwan), Hutchison Essar (India), Hutchison Telecommunications Limited (Hong Kong and Macau), KTF (South Korea), NTT DoCoMo (Japan), PT Indosat (Indonesia) and StarHub (Singapore).

The alliance will promote voice, video and data roaming via members’ GSM/GPRS/WCDMA networks, with an intention to launch roaming via HSDPA once the market is ready. These initiatives are targeted for launch in the latter half of 2006.

The alliance also aims to create a Virtual Home Environment amongst customers of member operators, so that they are able to experience seamless, convenient mobile-related services when they roam. Such services include caller ID and short codes to allow quick and easy connection to their home country operator’s voice mail and customer support.

The formation of the Asia Pacific Mobile Alliance marks the arrival of the region’s second such partnership. Last year the Bridge Mobile Alliance launched its first services – seamless GPRS and MMS roaming and a common prepaid roaming top up service.

The Bridge Alliance’s founding operator members are Airtel in India, CSL in Hong Kong, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, Maxis in Malaysia, SingTel Mobile in Singapore, SingTel Optus in Australia, Taiwan Mobile in Taiwan and Telkomsel in Indonesia. But the organisation has now opened its doors to the vendor community, with the inclusion of Chinese vendor ZTE, Sweden’s Ericsson and US manufacturer Motorola.