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Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

« Great on-line wireless dictionary | | The Imperial Engineer »

October 24, 2004

Posted by Tom Farley & Mark van der Hoek at 04:42 PM

I warned you

UMTS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (external link) is the grand name for upgraded GSM networks. (internal link). More services, faster data speeds. But unlike upgrading your computer by adding more memory or a larger hard drive, UMTS changes GSM's operating system. GSM's old TDMA scheme gives way, at last, to modern CDMA. And therein lies a big problem. Engineers and overeducated theoreticians steeped in TDMA thought and culture (representative example, (internal link) now guide American UMTS networks to an uncertain, rocky rollout.

Poor service, bad coverage, slow data rates, and unhappy customers, will all result from poor network upgrade decisions being made now. Like cutting costs by using some present base station equipment incompatible with CDMA and in general ignoring CDMA principles. Is there hope? Yes. If the TDMA people choose to learn from the CDMA people. That won't happen at first. And it may be like asking a Mac owner to use a PC.

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