GPRS -- A new technology to put you on the fast track
GPRS -- A new technology to put you on the fast track
By Mila Day
JAKARTA (JP): What will happen in 2004? Some politicians
aren't prepared to wait that long to see a new president rule the
country. Some of us cannot wait that long to see many changes in
Indonesia.
If that year ever comes, global players in the
telecommunication and information technology (IT) industry will
be celebrating one billion subscribers of wireless phone
services. According to Hong Kong-based consultants Strategis
Group, this year alone wireless phone subscribers have reached
530 million worldwide.
Anticipating the trend, Telkomsel, one of the largest mobile
phone operators in Indonesia today, is planning to enhance its
telecommunications technology with general packet radio services
(GPRS). Through this initiative, Telkomsel will be able to offer
much improved services.
Service, or as IT people would call it QoS (Quality of
Service), will become a major concern for subscribers. Who would
want to have "network search" blinking on the phone screen all
the time? In its early days, GSM (Global System for Mobiles)
could also be called Geser Sedikit Mati or, move a little and the
phone is dead.
On the Internet and other networks, QoS is the idea that
transmission rates, error rates and other characteristics can be
measured, improved and, to some extent, guaranteed in advance.
With GPRS, Telkomsel is running in the fast lane. Based on GSM
communication, GPRS has higher data transmission rates which
allow users to take part in video conferences and interact with
multimedia web sites in any part of the world. GPRS promises data
rates from 56 kilobits per second (Kbps) up to 114 Kbps, and
continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and
computer users.
Today's plain flavored Internet dial-up connection in Jakarta
can reach as high as 8 Mbps (Indosat Net connection). Soon
enough, users of mobile devices will enjoy the comfort of
Internet in their palms at faster speeds. As the speed is
gradually improving, mobile Internet keeps its magnetic charm for
most of its users.
However, with the possibility of the value-added tax being
raised to 12.5% in July and the prices of consumer goods climbing
off the wall, apparently the mobile phone industry in Indonesia
will remain stable.
More on technology
Another trivia question: what will happen if an effective,
acceptable government is finally functioning in Indonesia?
Everything goes well according to market demand. Politicians and
economists are wearing smiles. Then we can talk about technology
advancement further.
Today's cellular systems are mainly circuit-switched, with
connections always dependent on circuit availability. Like that
used by Telkom's POTS (plain old telephone system), most cell
phones use a circuit-switched network, where no one else can use
the physical lines involved during a call.
In contrast, the next generation of GPRS is already coming. It
is called Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS). It offers a
consistent range of services to mobile computer and phone users
no matter where they are located in the world. As with any
evolving technology, worldwide deployment of UMTS may take some
time.
UMTS is one of the approved standards by the International
Telecommunications Union - Telecommunication Standardization
Sector (ITU-T). Located in Geneva, ITU-T is the main
international body that develops cooperative standards for
telecommunications equipment and systems.
UMTS meets with the requirement of providing transmission
rates of 144 Kbps when mobile, 384 Kbps when pedestrian speeds
outdoor, and 2 Mbps stationary indoors.
While it becomes a little faster at each new phase, wireless
technology will mature in time. Most European countries and Japan
already have the facilities to utilize UMTS, which will be in
service after 2002.
Something to ponder
Once UMTS is fully implemented, it will keep people connected
at all times and in all places. Phone and PDA (personal digital
assistant) users can be constantly connected to the Internet as
they travel and have the same set of capabilities no matter where
they are.
Privacy and security on the Net is something to consider. If
cell phones or PDAs stay online 24 hours a day, this could tempt
hackers. With fingerprint, retinal, or voice recognition systems,
security is also advancing.
Some of us would like to have time for ourselves; often
disconnecting the phone while on vacation. If not, the cell phone
in the pocket could be spotted thousands of miles away from where
we are. This is made possible by global positioning satellites.
Owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, but
available for general use around the world, the global
positioning system (GPS) is a constellation of 24 well-spaced
satellites that orbit the Earth.
It is possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint
their geographic location. These days, GPS receivers, which can
be attached to any electronic device, are becoming consumer
products.
Some experts say that technology, bit by bit, chips away at
our privacy. Is it possible to design a technology that could
conceal personal information? Once we live in borderless space,
expect the information explosion at any time. Make use of it, or
make the best defense from it.
--politicking@email.com