GSM operators weigh EDGE deployment

 Alan Hadden, president, global mobile suppliers association (GSA), said EDGE technology will lead to a three-fold improvement in speed of data transmission over the current GPRS data.

 Moreover, it also provides advanced services such as video streaming on the handsets.

 EDGE is a 3G radio technology which is built on the existing GSM/GPRS network with minor changes relating to the air interface.

 The technology can easily upgrade the existing GSM/GPRS networks using appropriate hardware and software programmes. EDGE and WCDMA allow transmission of wireless data such as an MMS message.

 EDGE is becoming popular with operators across the globe as it is the next step for 3G which can be deployed with the existing infrastructure and cell sites at a marginal cost.

 Over 57 operators across the globe have committed to deploy EDGE in their GSM networks.

 While software for the technology will be available free to the service operators, the hardware would come for a nominal price.

 Hadden pointed out that the equipment /hardware could