Zynetix to offer scalable softswitch solution to new GSM operators
Ofcom has announced the results of the low-power GSM auction.
The successful bidders are British Telecommunications PLC, Cable & Wireless, COLT Mobile Telecommunications Ltd , Cyberpress Ltd, FMS Solutions Ltd, Mapesbury Communications Ltd, O2 (UK) Ltd, Opal Telecom Ltd, PLDT (UK) Ltd, Shyam Telecom UK Ltd, Spring Mobil AB and Private Mobile Networks (Teleware PLC).
With the auction, the UK regulator is claimed to have enabled a world first, by auctioning a small prime piece of GSM spectrum for concurrent use in a technology neutral way. The Spectrum is 3.3MHz at the top end of the GSM 1800MHz band and with the vast majority of handsets capable of working in this spectrum, the opportunity to offer niche (and mass market) mobile services is ‘open wide’.
Although auctioned as technology neutral, it is envisioned that new GSM mobile services will be offered through these new entrants. Applications envisaged for this spectrum include:
* Local government (hospitals, government offices)
* Campus environments (university sites, large office complexes)
* Data infill for mobile networks (anybody using a PDA or blackberry –
especially indoors)
* Fixed-mobile convergence (wireless office environment)
* Remote deployments (oil refineries, pharmaceutical sites or perhaps remote
small villages)
* GSM hotspots (airports, coffee shops, internet cafés)
* Closed community groups (museums, clubs, sport stadiums etc)
“There are a variety of products on the market for GSM networks”, Sandra Gilligan, Mobile200 commented, “but only a limited number offer scalability and a good fit for the various applications that will enable the new mobile operators to be successful.”