Richard Lalande rounds up the UMTS laboratory in Monaco

Next month, in Monaco, it will be possible to have television quality image services on mobiles.

The UMTS under way in Monaco: during the last session of the Data Base Forum at the CICA of Sophia Antipolis, Richard Lalande, the CEO of Monaco Telecom, has rounded up the activity of the third generation mobile telephony European laboratory.- What about the UMTS experimentation in the Principality ? "We are collaborating with Siemens to set up a UMTS network in Monaco to learn the UMTS technology and especially to test services, to set the good concepts, the right ergonomics. This technical starting-up has been done in June with fifty test mobiles, seven basic stations and five basic capabilities. Those capabilities are voice of course and the data transmission which opens out on four new services: location based services (original with the UMTS), streaming (online broadband access for music and video), videoconference and quick Internet access.Here are some hey-dates to keep in mind. The UMTS network has started out in June for voice applications. In October 2001, we have a 64 Kbps circuit mode. The 2 Mo are not yet achieved but it's much higher than what the GSM can do with 9.6 Kbps and it provides the Internet access. In November, we will integrate this package mode, which means a price that corresponds to the transfer rate and not to the connection length any more, which will allow providers to offer services for a reasonable cost. As well, we will increase the transfer rate to 384 kbps that is necessary to watch VCR quality films. Next month, in Monaco, it will be possible to have television quality image services on mobiles".To test new services linked to the UMTS. "But this is not only a technical challenge. It 's also about services that we will provide to our customers. It is necessary to set up ergonomic services that correspond to the needs. In the same time as the network development, we needed means to test the new service models. That's why we find the Cegetel Foundation and the MBDS (Mastère en Base de Données Spécialisées) of Sophia Antipolis with the HOC project (Heart Of Com).We have begun to test several applications. First, the location services (the City on Air case). When the mobile will be location based, it will possible to set up many new services which are not yet completely understood today. Then, the videoconference. This is one of the objectives which has never been reached because, until now, videoconferences were made as a specific service, what made them expensive. From now on, as the UMTS can transfer images, it will be a basic service. One of Blake and Mortimer's great dreams will be achieved.Third application, the audio and the video streaming. As far as the audio is concerned, the system will transfer on line a sufficient information to have a hi-fi quality. As for films, it will still be an expensive service. But I think that we will rather find live postcards applications or short film spots. This will be up to service providers and to the company to choose the video and audio applications they want. Fourth application: the local content with Monaco Interactive. Fifth one: broadband and wireless Internet particularly for mobile PCs which will no longer have to be linked to a wire telephone jack. All of the other applications are also for mobile PCs and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) connected to UMTS machines. Not to mention a principal application: voice."