Vodafone rubbishes report of sluggish 3G

Vodafone has dismissed as "rubbish" a report that it warned analysts on Thursday that its 3G mobile phone services won't be up to speed when they are launched.

A report today in the Financial Times claims the operator admitted that its networks supporting initial 3G services will be configured to guarantee data rates of just 64K, rather than the 384K download speed expected.

Such speeds would not be sufficient to allow smooth downloading of audio and video clips, such as replays of football match highlights, touted as key services for the new phones.

Indeed, at 64K, the services could not even officially be called 3G, as the International Telecoms Union (ITU), which defines standards, says 3G services should offer at least 144K in all environments and up to 2Mb in certain situations.

But a spokesman for Vodafone told vnunet.com that its network will meet the required standard. He said: "When we launch in the second half of next year, we will deliver 3G exactly according to standard. The network will have the capability to serve customers at a range of 64K to 384K and will exceed 144K on average."

Being unable to smoothly supply audio and video images at launch would represent a major disappointment for operators, who have spent over £100bn in Europe on 3G licences.

They will have to lay out tens of billions more to build the new networks required to run them.

Vodafone alone has spent £13bn for licences in 10 countries in Europe.

See also:

Irish 3G auction attracts three bidders

Telcos show interest in five out of six licences  28 Mar 2002

Migration to 3G looks shaky

Paul Allen investigates the uncertainties surrounding GPRS technology that could seriously affect its take-up in the UK.  18 Sep 2001

Vodafone buys into Japanese market

Battle with NTT DoCoMo gains pace  17 Sep 2001

Mobile phone sales continue to fall

Analysts warn that the sector is close to saturation.  30 Aug 2001

Vodafone leadership goes as Gent targeted

Inactive users push former market leader into third place.  26 Jul 2001

3G on ice as operators cool down

Firms warned against basing mobile data strategies on third-generation services.  26 Jul 2001

Vodafone takes 3G off the hook

Next-generation handsets not ready for rollout.  20 Jul 2001

Vodafone enters the GPRS phone race

The UK's biggest telco launches its mass-market mobile data service.  06 Jun 2001

3G: Beyond the hype

The third-generation (3G) licence frenzy has left mobile operators with empty pockets and a head full of hype, wondering whether they can find a killer app to justify the billions spent on the licences.  01 May 2001

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