ARTICLE ON MOBILE NETWORKS GSM AND MOBILE BROADBAND

USEFUL INFORMATION ON MOBILE NETWORKS GSM AND MOBILE BROADBAND:
GSM stands for ‘Global System for Mobile communications’. GSM Cellular Technology is a very famous technology & is used Worldwide. GSM is an evolving wireless communications standard that already offers an extensive and feature-rich 'family' of voice and data services. The GSM family of technologies consists of today's GSM, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and third generation GSM services (3GSM) based on W-CDMA and HSDPA access technologies. Together these technologies underpin the GSM platform.

In Pakistan, most of the cellular networks are GSM based i.e. Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid, Zong.

The GSM Association (GSMA) is a global trade association representing more than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 territories and countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as associate members.

The number of mobile broadband subscribers using 3G HSPA has increased by 850% worldwide in the past year, according to the GSM Association.

HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) is an advanced form of 3G deployed by cellular operators that use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology. Worldwide, GSM is the most widely-used cellular technology. HSPA currently offers speeds ranging from 1.8Mbit/sec. to 7.2Mbit/sec.

There are now more than 32 million HSPA connections worldwide, compared with 3 million a year ago, according to the GSM Associaton.

There are several reasons for mobile broadband's increased popularity. Lower pricing, improved ease of use and the convenience of being able to surf the Internet almost everywhere have played a role.

But with enormous success come new problems. For operators a big concern is capacity, both in mobile networks and backhaul -- the links that attach base stations to the rest of the world, according to Newman.

As the subscriber numbers increase, operators will have to upgrade networks, or users will see performance decrease and start to complain.

The installed base of HSPA subscribers isn't the only area of growth. The number of networks and devices has also exploded. The number of devices has increased by more than 265% since January of last year, according to the GSM Association.

Users can choose from about 467 USB modems, mobile handsets, notebook PCs, data cards and wireless routers, compared with 128 devices in January last year.

The number of networks currently supporting mobile broadband using HSPA is 166, in 73 countries. In May last year, the number of networks was 73, according to the GSM Association.

The growth on all fronts is creating a so-called virtuous circle in which mobile broadband is achieving greater economies of scale, driving down the cost of devices and attracting even more users, said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association.