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Research: The realities of wireless working

Tags:
WiMax,
WiFi,
3G,
HSDPA

Rhetorik ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 24 Aug 2007 16:52 BST

Introduction, scope and methodology
The evolution of mobile network technologies is moving apace. Following the move to digital technology in the 1990s and with the ever-increasing data-transfer rates over the past few years, the applications possible across mobile networks and their cost effectiveness in use are developing rapidly.

It is perhaps worth summarising the key evolutionary stages in network development to put the subsequent analysis by network technology in this report into perspective.

Mobile radio telephone systems (sometimes now referred to as 0G technology) preceded mobile telephony technology. In commercial form, they date back to the 1940s. The first mobile telephony systems were introduced in the 1980s and growth took off from that time. These first-generation (1G) standards were based on analogue technology and required the use of a modem for data transmission. This technology was superseded in the 1990s by second-generation (2G) digital standards.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world, and is the standard 2G technology in Europe. It is based on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology and uses circuit switched data connections. The first GSM network was launched in Europe in 1991. However, applications usage is limited on the basic GSM network due to the relatively slow connection speeds (9.6Kbps (kilobits per second)). General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a mobile data service available to users of GSM and is based on packet switching technology. It can be considered as an overlay network on GSM. 2G systems combined with GPRS are often referred to as "2.5G", and offer intermediate data transfer rates between 2G and 3G (~60-80Kbps download and 20-40Kbps upload).

Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE or EDPRS) is a further evolution of GPRS and is based on more modern coding systems. It has been introduced into GSM networks around the world since 2003. Although technically a 3G network technology, it is generally classified as the unofficial standard "2.75G", due to its slower network speed. Data-transfer rates are typically around 177.6-236.8Kbps download and 59.2-118.4Kbps upload.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is one of the third-generation (3G) mobile phone technologies, and is the European answer to the ITU IMT-2000 requirements for 3G mobile telephony systems. Implementation of 3G networks across Europe was delayed in many countries during the early part of this decade by the high costs of additional spectrum licensing fees. The first European UMTS network was launched in the Isle of Man in 2001, but rollout across most European countries started to take place over the period 2003-2006. Typical transmission speeds for mobile systems are around 384Kbps.

Since 2006, UMTS networks in many countries have been in the process of upgrading to High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). Current HSDPA deployments support 1.8Mbps, 3.6Mbps, 7.2Mbps and 14.4Mbps download speeds. Work is also progressing on improving the uplink transfer speed with High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), which can theoretically offer up to 5.7Mbps upload speeds. HSDPA and HSUPA are commonly referred to as 3.5G technology.

In our research we set out to investigate the degree of implementation of the existing network technologies throughout the UK, as well as future plans for upgrades. Furthermore, we looked at the applications mobile users would wish to have available if bandwidth, cost and availability was no longer an issue. We also investigated the main drivers and barriers to adoption by user and potential-user enterprises of all types and sizes.

This research was carried out as part of a broader research study sponsored by Orange UK investigating the top mobile trends today and their impact on UK enterprises. The study was undertaken by ZDNet.co.uk in association with Rhetorik, a specialist market intelligence organisation that focuses specifically on European IT and telecommunications markets.

The survey used web-based survey techniques with a detailed questionnaire applied through the ZDNet.co.uk research panel, as well as a broad sample of knowledgeable respondents drawn from readership of specialist CNET technical publications.

The research was conducted with a significant sample of 371 organisations of all types and sizes with some degree of mobility within the workforce. A breakdown of these respondents by size of organisation is presented below.