UMTS is a part of the International Telecommunications Union’s ’IMT-2000’
vision of a global family of ’third-generation’ (3G) mobile communications
systems.
UMTS will play a key role in creating the future mass market for high-quality
wireless multimedia communications that will approach 2 billion users worldwide
by the year 2010.
UMTS will enable tomorrow’s wireless Information Society, delivering high-value
broadband information, commerce and entertainment services to mobile users
via fixed, wireless and satellite networks.
UMTS will speed convergence between telecommunications, IT, media and content
industries to deliver new services and create fresh revenue-generating
oportunities.
UMTS will deliver low-cost, high-capacity mobile communications offering
data rates up to 2Mbit/sec with global roaming and other advanced capabilities
UMTS services will launch commercially from 2001
UMTS licenses have already been awarded in several European countries
UMTS experimental systems are now in field trial with leading vendors worldwide
UMTS builds on today’s significant investments in second generation mobile
systems
UMTS has the support of several hundred network operators, manufacturers
and equipment vendors worldwide
UMTS is one of the major new third generation mobile communications systems
being developed within the framework which has been defined by the ITU
and known as IMT-2000.
UMTS will deliver pictures, graphics, video communications and other wide-band
information as well as voice and data, direct to people who can be on the
move.
UMTS will build on and extend the capability of today’s mobile technologies
(like digital cellular and cordless) by providing increased capacity, data
capability and a far greater range of services using an innovative radio
access scheme and an enhanced, evolving core network.
The launch of UMTS services from the year 2001 will see the evolution
of a new, "open" communications universe, with players from many
sectors (including providers of information and entertainment services)
coming together harmoniously to deliver new communications services, characterised
by mobility and advanced multimedia capabilities. The successful deployment
of UMTS will require new technologies, new partnerships and the addressing
of many commercial and regulatory issues. |