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.

Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (CHT) has awarded a turnkey network expansion contract to Nokia. The deal expands CHT’s WCDMA 3G and HSDPA network coverage and paves the way for smooth network evolution. Deliveries and deployment will start immediately.

Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy WCDMA 3G radio and core networks. Nokia will also provide turnkey services including network planning, other support services, deployment and optimization of Nokia HSDPA that was provided earlier. The deal brings Nokia’s managed services references to 40 contracts in 31 countries. The network will be supported by, Nokia NetAct(TM) network and service management system.

“This expansion is an important step forward for CHT, as the Taiwanese market is extremely competitive. We need to improve our network capability constantly and keep abreast of mobile technology developments for offering high-quality services to our subscribers,” says Mr. Chang Shaio-Tung, Mobile Business Group President, Chunghwa Telecom. “Nokia’s complete solutions will enhance our network, improve coverage and enable faster communications services. We are excited about the extensive support that Nokia has provided to make this happen.”

“We are proud of winning CHT’s expansion contract. It extends the collaboration between Nokia and CHT at a time when 3G services are taking off in Taiwan,” says Mike Wang, General Manager, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Networks, Nokia. “This further underlines our leadership in WCDMA networks.”

Nokia has been working with Chunghwa Telecom since 1999, and in addition to the WCDMA networks it has supplied the operator’s GPRS core network, MMS (Multimedia Messaging) Solution and ADSL for high-speed fixed Internet access. Nokia is the sole supplier for Chunghwa Telecom, providing 3G core and radio network equipment as well as an extensive range of delivery and care services. In 2003, Chunghwa was the first customer in the world to implement Nokia’s 3GPP Rel’4 architecture based on IP technology.

Smart Communications unveiled new and expanded 3G service offerings and announced the commercial rates for its Third Generation cellular service which is now supported by an extensive nationwide network ready for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology.

Starting May 1st, Smart postpaid and prepaid subscribers with 3G-capable handsets will enjoy enhanced applications and extensive rich media content on a commercial basis. These include live TV streaming of two major television networks and 3G downloads of full music tracks and video clips.

Smart 3G users can now make video calls not only within the country but also to 3G subscribers of eight mobile phone operators in six countries that include Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Austria and Germany.

“With 800 cellsites covering 119 key cities and municipalities, Smart offers genuine nationwide 3G coverage. We’ve made the service very affordable to encourage usage. To pave the way for continuous improvement in the service, we’ve made our 3G network HSDPA-ready” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, SMART.

Smart is not only the first mobile operator in the country to commercially launch 3G services but also the first to use a 3G network with HSDPA technology.

High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) allows data calls with transfer rates exceeding one megabit per second. HSDPA will allow better quality video streaming as well as enhance user experience of Web browsing and file downloads. As Smart’s 3G cellsites are already HSDPA-ready, subscribers can enjoy the service once the devices are available in the market. Last March, Smart became the first operator in the country to successfully conduct HSDPA test calls.

When Smart 3G was launched February 14, 3G services such as video-streaming, video calls, high-speed internet browsing and downloading of special 3G content were offered on a free-trial basis.

Under the introductory pricing scheme that takes effect May 1st, Smart 3G rates are aligned with existing 2G rates while some services will remain free of charge.

:: Video calling. Smart-to-Smart local 3G video calls remain free of charge. Smart’s 3G customers can also make international video calls for the price of a regular IDD call (at US$0.40 per minute) to eight 3G operators in six countries. These include NTT DoCoMo in Japan, CSL, Smartone and Hutchison in Hong Kong, Starhub in Singapore, Chunghwa in Taiwan, Vodafone in Germany and Mobilkom in Austria – with many more being added in the coming months. Meanwhile, video calling on international roaming will remain the same as international roaming voice rates for both outbound and inbound roamers.

:: Video and audio streaming. All Smart 3G video and audio streaming applications – including live TV viewing – will be charged a P15 access fee for every 30 minutes based on running time that starts when a subscriber clicks on a streaming link regardless of the number of videos viewed. Aside from the access charge, there will be a separate fee for content. Smart 3G subscribers can watch GMA7 and ABS-CBN Channel 2 live via video streaming. Subscription fee for each network is P20 per day. 3G streaming of audio and video clips will be charged P5 per hit. However, streaming of movie trailers, live traffic and summer hotspots cameras and music videos will be free of charge.

:: Multimedia Messaging. Rates for multimedia messaging or MMS across all Smart subscribers have been set at P1 per message for Smart-to-Smart messages and P2 per MMS for Smart to other operators. Before, the rate for MMS was P5 per send.

:: Internet browsing. Internet and WAP browsing using GPRS and 3G will be at P10 for every 30 minutes, regardless of the file size downloaded. The charge applies to browsing Internet sites outside of the free Smart WAP site whether connected via GPRS or 3G.

:: Downloads. For Smart 3G content such as video clips, ringtones, visual ringers, and games, the introductory rates range from P20 for a video clip download to P50 for a full music track and a premium game. Downloading of preview clips will be free of charge.

For postpaid subscribers, all introductory 3G rates are part of their consumable plans. Corporate accounts have the option to avail of the introductory pricing or retain their current data consumption rate based on their contracts.

Smart currently has approximately a quarter of a million subscribers with 3G capable handsets.

The commercial launch of Smart 3G is a culmination of significant milestones and firsts. In December 2005, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awarded SMART its 3G license after the telco garnered the only perfect score of 30 based on the regulatory body’s grading system designed to gauge the capability of operators to massively and effectively provide 3G services.

This was followed two months after by the launch of Smart 3G on free trial basis, making Smart the first telco to offer 3G to the public. In March, the company also successfully made the country’s first data test call on HSDPA, with registered data throughputs at speeds exceeding one megabit per second (Mbps).

The company started preparations for a seamless transition to 3G as early as five years ago. In December 2000, SMART in cooperation with Nokia conducted the first successful experimental 3G video call trials in the country in the presence of NTC officials.