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Vodafone, Belgacom and Cable & Wireless demonstrate dramatic cost reductions
Date:
Topic Mobile & Handheld Industry
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Vodafone, Belgacom and Cable & Wireless demonstrate dramatic cost reductions
TRIALS PROVE NEW STRUCTURE TO DELIVER FAST AND COST-EFFECTIVE CROSS-NETWORK MMS
3GSM World Congress Asia, Singapore -/28 September, 2004 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- In trials conducted as part of a GSM Association initiative, Vodafone, Belgacom and Cable & Wireless have demonstrated dramatic reductions in the cost, complexity and time involved in supporting cross-network MMS traffic.
The new standards-based system enables payment information to be cascaded through the various networks across which MMS messages travel, allowing multiple operators involved in the delivery of a message to be recognised. The trial establishes a multilateral ?hub? concept whereby operators will only have to connect once to reach all the networks connected to that hub, (and through interconnect arrangements between hubs, reach operators connected to other hubs). This combined solution offers mobile operators unrivalled levels of connectivity, security, billing and settlement, while maintaining the independence of each operator to determine its own pricing structures.
Alan Harper, Head of Strategy at Vodafone Group and champion of the Initiative on the GSM Association?s Board explained, ?As the system provides the ability to connect to many other operators with one connection and one agreement, we and any others that connect will be able to offer our customers seamless, global MMS services much more quickly. This is something that can benefit all mobile operators and their customers. We were looking for a global solution not just a system for Vodafone and that is why we worked with the GSMA to trial this system.?
?The MMS trial proves the concept of new structures for new data services and demonstrates that the operator community is leading the industry?s development for the benefit of all customers,? explained Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board, GSM Association.
The new standards-based system has been developed in direct response to a specific need amongst operators that were frustrated by the complexity of the existing processes. To date, network interconnection has been achieved bi-laterally which means, for example, that for a user on one network to have the ability to send an MMS messages to any GSM network, over 660 operators would have to create 650 bilateral connections and agreements. Without a hub, each connection would need to be implemented and tested to ensure technical interoperability and a commercial structure would need to be put in place for each.
In the trials, both Belgacom and Cable & Wireless added switching and billing functionality to their GRX networks to provide the hub function and cascade billing support and Vodafone subsequently connected a number of its member companies into the hubs. This additional capability, which builds on Belgacom and Cable & Wireless? existing products, has provided both GRX carriers with the ability to offer mobile operators a one-stop-shop for MMS connections amongst multiple networks.
Alan Whelan, Managing Director, Carrier Services, Cable & Wireless explained, "We're delighted to have contributed towards the establishment of a new standard for the mobile data industry. Our collaboration with the GSMA should help pave the way towards a viable one-stop-shop solution that allows mobile operators to connect into a single community, offering greater economies for operators, enhanced speed to market, and provides the mobile operators with a sustainable commercial model going forward."
Bridget P. Cosgrave, President of Belgacom International Carrier Services concluded, ?We are proud that we have succeeded to deliver the foundation for multimedia messaging inter-networking in conjunction with the GSMA and Vodafone group of operators. We are convinced that the ability to send and receive MMS, to and from other networks is key to stimulate take-up and deliver on high expectations for these new services.?
About the GSM Association:
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association that exists to promote, protect and enhance the interests of GSM mobile operators throughout the world. At the end of August 2004, it consisted of 660 second and third generation mobile operators and more than 140 manufacturers and suppliers. The Association's members provide mobile services to approaching 1.1 billion customers across more than 200 countries and territories around the world. The GSMA aims to accelerate the implementation of collectively identified, commercially prioritised operator requirements and to take leadership in representing the global GSM mobile operator community with one voice on a wide variety of issues nationally, regionally and globally.
The GSM family of wireless communications platforms, including GSM, GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and 3GSM (EDGE - Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution and W CDMA) account for 73 percent of the total digital wireless market today. The GSM Association is a unique organisation, with truly global reach, offering a full range of business, technical and public policy services to its members. For more information, visit the website at http://www.gsmworld.com.
The GSM Association's Board comprises the following operator companies and multinational groups: AT&T Wireless Group; China Mobile; China Unicom; Hutchison Group; KTF; Maxis Mobile; mmO2 Group; NTT DoCoMo, Inc.; Orange Group; Orascom Telecom Group; SFR Cegetel; SingTel Group; SUNDAY Communications Ltd; Taiwan Cellular; Telef?nica M?viles Group; Telenor Mobile Group; TeliaSonera Group; TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile) Group; T-Mobile Group; Turkcell and the Vodafone Group. The Board also includes the GSMA's CEO and Chairman of the Executive Management Committee.
About Belgacom Carrier & Wholesale
Belgacom Carrier & Wholesale, a business unit of Belgacom SA, is a major supplier of wholesale voice, data and capacity services worldwide. Given Belgacom?s continued growth in carrier traffic and solid financial rating, further network deployment is foreseen, as well as including an additional sale office in Dubai to reinforce our worldwide sales offices presence of Singapore and New York.
For further information visit: http://www.belgacom.be/intcarrier
About Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless is one of the world?s leading international communications companies. It provides voice, data and IP (Internet Protocol) services to business and residential customers, as well as services to other telecoms carriers, mobile operators and providers of content, applications and internet services.
Cable & Wireless? principal operations are in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Panama and the Middle East http://www.cw.com.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world?s largest mobile community with 139 million proportionate customers, equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 13 countries http://www.vodafone.com.
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