Telecom New Zealand Upgrades Its Network To CDMA2000

Costa Mesa, CA - The CDMA Development Group (CDG) reported recently that Telecom New Zealand is on track to upgrade its network to CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO Revision A, starting in December 2006. Rev. A enables operators around the world to deliver average data throughput speeds of 800 kbps over the downlink and 400 kbps over the uplink, with peak speeds reaching 3.1 Mbps and 1.8 Mbps, respectively, on a dedicated 1.25 MHz data carrier. In comparison, WCDMA operators, using more than three times the amount of spectrum, will be able to provide similar speeds on a shared 5 MHz voice and data carrier, with voice communications retaining the priority when using the carrier. Historically, TNZ was the first to bring 3G wireless mobile broadband data services to the country with 1xEV-DO Release 0. Now, with Rev. A, TNZ will be one of the first in the world and the first in New Zealand to seamlessly offer advanced broadband data services to its valued clients.

Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG, commented, "Subscribers want instant access to the Internet, their e-mail and corporate VPN accounts wherever they are, and at any time. Since TNZ launched EV-DO, the positive response received from their subscribers has led the market to shift to 3G broadband data services in New Zealand. With EV-DO, users can access their value-added data services anytime and anywhere, within TNZ's EV-DO coverage area, regardless of whether they are sitting at a desk inside of a building using their laptop, or traveling in a taxi, bus or train using their PDA. Whenever they leave the EV-DO coverage area, they can continue to seamlessly access their data across the existing CDMA2000 1X network."

Rev. A, the next evolution of CDMA2000, is believed to be changing the rules within the wireless industry again by offering lower latencies to support delay-sensitive applications such as carrier grade voice over IP (VoIP) and push-to-talk (PTT). According to TNZ, it also supports faster upload speeds so users can send photographs, personal videos and emails with large attachments from their mobile device.

Starting in December 2006, TNZ will begin offering Rev. A-enabled services in Auckland. By mid 2007, these services will be offered in key cities across New Zealand such as Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin. All remaining EV-DO cell sites throughout New Zealand will be upgraded to Rev. A by December 2007. More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG web site at www.cdg.org.

SOURCE: CDG News Bureau