Cingular Prepares 3G UMTS Trial In Atlanta

Cingular has officially announced a 3G UMTS FDD network trial in Atlanta using their 1900MHz spectrum. They will use Lucent gear, which is also the supplier of AT&TWS' 3G deployments (which are being made as part of an agreement with NTT DoCoMo, in the hopes of spreading DoCoMo's platforms internationally - note that this has run into snags with DoCoMo being snubbed by Hutch 3 in the UK, and also here in the US). The decision to use Lucent gear at 1900MHz means that the Cingular version of 3G will be compatible with the ATTWS version once those companies combine. It looks like, for the trial, they will focus on PCMCIA cards as the customer equipment, and test broadband wireless access as opposed to pure telephony. Addendum: It's unclear whether the Cingular frequency plan is consistent with the ITU and GSMA's global standards for 3G, which will be important for international roaming.

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