UK: The latest survey of GSM/EDGE network deployments by the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) highlights the continuing globalization of GSM/EDGE.
The new EDGE Fact Sheet published by GSA confirms that 443 EDGE networks are now commercially launched in 181 countries, compared to 313 commercial networks in 147 countries reported by GSA one year ago.
Operators in all regions have made significant investments to enhance the capacity and coverage of existing networks, often extending EDGE capabilities to their full GSM coverage area. The commercial availability of EDGE-enabled services was expanded to an additional 34 countries/territories in the past year, and to an additional 68 countries/territories in the past 2 years.
This latest GSA survey identified 478 EDGE network operator commitments in 189 countries (compared to 363 commitments in 165 countries a year ago). The number of operators committing to EDGE network deployments has increased 66 percent over two years. EDGE became commercially available on almost twice the number of networks over the same period (there were 223 commercial EDGE networks in May 2007)
GSM/EDGE, a software enhancement to GPRS networks, is a mature global technology which is supported by a well developed ecosystem. There are a huge range and many thousands of EDGE-capable user devices in the market today, extending to all but the lowest cost segments.
Mobile broadband WCDMA-HSPA user devices usually also combine with quad band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) capabilities. Over 83 percent of WCDMA-HSPA user devices, including USB modems, modules for PCs, Mobile Internet Devices, PC card modems, phones, routers, etc. also support EDGE, with new products arriving every month.
The first commercial EDGE network was launched in June 2003. GSA estimates that around 80 percent of GPRS operators have since committed to the EDGE enhancement, delivering significant data traffic and revenue growth.
A major driver for EDGE deployments is the capability provided to network operators to offer high speed Internet access to their customers. Around two-thirds of HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network operators have also deployed EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience of mobile broadband services.
EDGE network capabilities are evolving as part of completed 3GPP Release 7 specifications. EDGE Evolution promises to deliver benefits including higher peak downlink and uplink speeds, and reduced latency for an improved user experience.
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