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Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), is a digital mobile phone technology that allows increased data transmission rates and improved data transmission reliability. Although technically a 3G network technology, it is generally classified as the unofficial standard 2.75G, due to its slower network speed. EDGE has been introduced into GSM networks around the world since 2003, initially in North America. EDGE can be used for any packet switched application, such as an Internet connection. High-speed data applications such as video services and other multimedia benefit from EGPRS' increased data capacity. EDGE Circuit Switched is a possible future development. EDGE Evolution continues in Release 7 of the 3GPP standard providing doubled performance e.g. to complement High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA).
Contents |
Technology
EDGE/EGPRS is implemented as a bolt-on enhancement 2G and 2.5G GSM and GPRS networks, making it easier for existing GSM carriers to upgrade to it. EDGE/EGPRS is a superset to GPRS and can function on any network with GPRS deployed on it, provided the carrier implements the necessary upgrade. Although EDGE requires no hardware or software changes to be made in GSM core networks, base stations must be modified. EDGE compatible transceiver units must be installed and the base station subsystem (BSS) needs to be upgraded to support EDGE. New mobile terminal hardware and software is also required to decode/encode the new modulation and coding schemes and carry the higher user data rates to implement new services.
Transmission techniques
In addition to Gaussian minimum-shift keying (GMSK), EDGE uses higher-order PSK/8 phase shift keying (8PSK) for the upper five of its nine modulation and coding schemes. EDGE produces a 3-bit word for every change in carrier phase. This effectively triples the gross data rate offered by GSM. EDGE, like GPRS, uses a rate adaptation algorithm that adapts the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) according to the quality of the radio channel, and thus the bit rate and robustness of data transmission. It introduces a new technology not found in GPRS, Incremental Redundancy, which, instead of retransmitting disturbed packets, sends more redundancy information to be combined in the receiver. This increases the probability of correct decoding. EDGE can carry data speeds up to 236.8 kbit/s for 4 timeslots (theoretical maximum is 473.6 kbit/s for 8 timeslots) in packet mode and will therefore meet the International Telecommunications Union's requirement for a 3G network, and has been accepted by the ITU as part of the IMT-2000 family of 3G standards. It also enhances the circuit data mode called HSCSD, increasing the data rate of this service.
EGPRS modulation and coding scheme (MCS)
-
Coding and modulation
scheme (MCS)Speed
(kbit/s/slot)Modulation MCS-1 8.80 GMSK MCS-2 11.2 GMSK MCS-3 14.8 GMSK MCS-4 17.6 GMSK MCS-5 22.4 8-PSK MCS-6 29.6 8-PSK MCS-7 44.8 8-PSK MCS-8 54.4 8-PSK MCS-9 59.2 8-PSK
Classification
Whether EDGE is 2G or 3G depends on implementation. While Class 3 and below EDGE devices clearly are not 3G, class 4 and above devices perform at a higher bandwidth than other technologies conventionally considered as 2G as 1xRTT). Because of the variability, EDGE is generally classified as 2.75G network technology.
EDGE Evolution
EDGE Evolution improves on EDGE in a number of ways. Latencies are reduced by lowering the Transmission Time Interval by half (from 20 ms to 10 ms). Bit rates are increased up to 1 MBit/s peak speed and latencies down to 100 ms using dual carriers, higher symbol rate and higher-order modulation (32QAM and 16QAM instead of 8-PSK), and turbo codes to improve error correction. And finally signal quality is improved using dual antennas. An EDGE Evolution terminal or network can support some of these improvements, or roll them out in stages.
Networks
EDGE is actively supported by GSM operators in North America. Some GSM operators elsewhere viewed UMTS as the ultimate upgrade path and either planned to skip EDGE altogether or use it outside the UMTS coverage area. However, the high cost and slow uptake of UMTS have resulted in fairly common support for EDGE in the global GSM/GPRS market. The following companies have EDGE networks in operation:
Europe and CIS
Multi-country operators:
- Orange has EDGE networks in Belgium, France, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK, Moldova (see Orange Moldova) and Switzerland.
- T-Mobile
- O2 (launched for UK iPhone release date of November 9th)
Single country operators:
- Austria: Mobilkom Austria provides an EDGE network [1]
- Armenia: VivaCell provides full EDGE network. [2]
- Azerbaijan: Azercell has EDGE network in Baku, the capital. Bakcell has EDGE network in Baku and some other major cities.
- Belarus: Velcom is constructing EDGE network and has partly opened it [3]
- Belgium: BASE (almost nationwide)
- Bulgaria: Mobiltel has EDGE coverage in the South part and will gradually expand it in the North part of the country in 2007.
- Croatia: VIPnet has full EDGE coverage [4]
- Czech Republic: Vodafone has large EDGE coverage, including all the main cities, O2 Czech Republic uses EDGE at new cells. T-Mobile uses EDGE in main cities and surrounding areas.
- Denmark: Telia has EDGE coverage in 98.7% of the country
- Finland: TeliaSonera and Elisa Oyj have large EDGE coverage including all the main cities; also Dna Finland is constructing a large EDGE/UMTS network and has partly opened it
- France: Bouygues Télécom has now an EDGE Network that covers 95% of the population; it is the largest EDGE implementation in France [5]
- Georgia: Beeline (communications) has full EDGE MSC9 network [6], Geocell has EDGE networks [7]
- Germany: Vodafone are currently upgrading to EDGE in regions with no UMTS coverage, T-Mobile finished upgrading in spring 2007
- Hungary: Pannon GSM have a wide coverage of EDGE, even in some rural areas in addition to major cities and motorways
- Iceland: Siminn has EDGE coverage
- Ireland: Meteor Mobile Communciations, is upgrading its existing 2.5G Network to EDGE throughout the country in 2006/07; also Vodafone Ireland, has an EDGE network where GPRS is supported. O2 Ireland now have upgraded to EDGE
- Italy: TIM supports EDGE wherever GPRS is already supported; also Wind is upgrading the existing network to EDGE, while it is already available in several cities
- Jersey: Jersey Telecom has EDGE coverage
- Latvia: LMT has an EDGE network since 2005
- Malta: GO has an EDGE network [8] as of 2006 [9]
- Lithuania: Bite Lietuva has a nationwide EDGE network in the country, and was one of the first to launch it in Europe (December 2003)
- Moldova: Moldcell has EDGE networks in large cities [10]
- Netherlands: Telfort had full EDGE coverage, however this was phased out as of July 2007.
- Norway: Telenor and Netcom both operate separate, nation-wide networks. Both have complete EDGE coverage.
- Poland: Era andPlus have EDGE coverage.
- Romania: Orange Romania
- Russia: MegaFon, Mobile TeleSystems, Beeline (telecommunications) have partial EDGE coverage. So such regional GSM operators as BWC in Irkutsk Oblast,VNTC in Primorsky Krai and ETK also have partial EDGE coverage.
- Serbia: Telenor Serbia has partial EDGE coverage
- Slovenia: Si.mobil - Vodafone has EDGE 90% coverage, all major settlements are covered [11]
- Sweden: Telia/TeliaSonera has EDGE coverage
- Switzerland: Sunrise a subsidiary of TDC has EDGE that cover 99% of the population and was first with EDGE in the country; also Swisscom thru Swisscom Mobile's EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network has EDGE networks that cover 99% of the population.
- Turkey: Turkcell and Avea have EDGE coverage.
- Ukraine: UMC was the first mobile operator in the country and today provides for more than 16 millions of subscribers an opportunity to communicate using EDGE; also Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile operator with more than 20 million subscribers, offers EDGE in selected cities and plans to extend coverage nationwide in 2007; Life:) third largest mobile operator in Ukraine with more than 6 million subscribers having 80% coverage of inhabited territories with EDGE enabled network.
- United Kingdom: Telefónica O2 are in the process of upgrading their network to support EDGE, in order to support the iPhone. [1] [2] [3] Orange UK already have EDGE deployed across parts of their network.
Africa
- Botswana: Mascom has rolled out EDGE country wide.
- Egypt: Mobinil was willing to implement EDGE technology, However, The Egyptian National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority NTRA has forbidden Mobinil to conduct EDGE deployments. The NTRA considered this technology part of 3G and not 2G, Mobinil has not yet acquired a license to operate 3G therefore stopped all EDGE deployments.
- Kenya: Safaricom has introduced this service to enhance the Mobile Internet speeds that subscribers currently experience on their GPRS network; also Celtel has launched EDGE in Nairobi and GPRS countrywide
- South Africa: Cell C has EDGE coverage; MTN and Vodacom has EDGE coverage for large areas
- Mozambique: Vodacom has EDGE coverage for large areas
- Tunisia: Tunisiana
- Zambia: Celtel has launched EDGE in Lusaka and GPRS countrywide
- Tanzania: Vodacom has introduced 3G and EDGE technology
- Mauritius: Cellplus(Mauritius Telecom) and Emtel has introduced 3G and EDGE technology countrywide
Middle East
- Bahrain: Zain (formerly MTC) has 3.5G and EDGE coverage
- Israel: Cellcom has EDGE coverage
- Palestine: Jawal has EDGE coverage over a 2G network
- Iran: MTN Irancell has EDGE in every cities which has MTN Irancell coverage.
- Saudi Arabia: Mobily has EDGE technology as the base for all of the telecomunication towers but in the cities it has 3G also in their network.
- Saudi Arabia: Aljawal.STC has EDGE technology about 10% only in his network
- United Arab Emirates: ETISALAT has a wide EDGE coverage that covers most of the seven emirates.
- Egypt: the three operators (Mobinil, Vodafone Egypt & Etisalat-Masr) offer EDGE technology for their clients.
Asia
| Operator | Country |
| GrameenPhone | Bangladesh (Covers all part of Bangladesh) |
| Warid Telecom | Bangladesh (Covers all part of Bangladesh) |
| China Mobile | China (In Major cities) |
| Airtel | India (In Major cities) |
| Bsnl | India (In Major cities) |
| MTNL | India |
| !dea | India |
| Vodafone | India (In Major cities) |
| Telkomsel | Indonesia |
| Excelcom | Indonesia |
| Indosat | Indonesia |
| CELCOM | Malaysia |
| DiGi | Malaysia |
| Maxis Mobile | Malaysia |
| Mero Mobile | Nepal |
| Mobilink | Pakistan (Available in Islamabad) |
| Telenor (Pakistan) | Pakistan (Acros Pakistan but not entirely) |
| Warid Telecom Pakistan | Pakistan (Working on it) |
| SMART | Philippines |
| StarHub | Singapore |
| Dialog GSM | Sri Lanka |
| DTAC | Thailand |
| True Move | Thailand |
| AIS | Thailand |
Asia and Far East
- Bangladesh: Grameenphone have launched EDGE services and covers all part of the country and the service is much better than any other broadband operators in Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh: Warid Telecom have launched EDGE services recently.
- China: China Mobile launched EDGE services in Guangdong province in 2005. Shanghai has good EDGE coverage through China Mobile (2007)
- India: Bharti Airtel, MTNL, !dea and Vodafone under the brand Hutch have launched EDGE services. As of July 2007, BSNL's plans for introducing the service are pending since year 2003.district headquarters are currently under the reach of EDGE of BSNL[4][12] [13] [14]
- Indonesia: Telkomsel, Excelcom, and Indosat provide EDGE network
- Malaysia: DiGi has reasonable EDGE coverage, particularly in West Malaysia. Coverage in East Malaysia is currently limited to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and several main town centres. DiGi streams its MobileTV service over its EDGE network; also Maxis Mobile provides an EDGE network
- Nepal: Spice Nepal "Mero Mobile" has EDGE coverage in major cities
- Pakistan: Mobilink and Warid Telecom are testing EDGE services in major cities. Telenor (Pakistan) provides EDGE coverage throughout Pakistan and is the only operator in Pakistan currently providing Mobile TV over its EDGE network.
- Philippines: SMART has a wide EDGE coverage over the Philippine archipelago. PLDT, the parent company of SMART, also offers the PLDT WeRoam GPRS/EDGE wireless internet service
- Sri Lanka: Dialog GSM offers EDGE Coverage in Major Cities.
- Thailand: DTAC provides nationwide EDGE coverage[15]. Advanced Info Service (AIS) also has a nationwide EDGE coverage. The third largest mobile operator, True Move, has deployed EDGE in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
Australasia
- Australia: Telstra has nationwide EDGE coverage (approximately 96% of population).
- New Zealand: Nationwide EDGE coverage across main metropolitan areas on Vodafone NZ's mobilize network, for corporate and industrial use only. New Zealand's public use only available via Australia's Telstra network.
- Samoa: Digicel Pacific (previously Telecom NZ) is still under initiation.
- Fiji: Vodafone (Fiji) and Digicel Pacific has no EDGE service.
See also
References
- ^ O2 confesses to EDGE support - The Inquirer (Sept 18, 2007).
- ^ O2 wins iPhone contract in the UK - BBC News Online (Sept 18, 2007).
- ^ O2 takes it to the EDGE - The Register (Sept 14, 2007).
- ^ http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=128832 BSNL Expansion Delayed Yet Again] - Light Reading (July 11, 2007).
External links
- GSM World: EDGE Platform
- 3g-generation.com: GPRS and EDGE
- Ericsson.com: EDGE Description (PDF file - White Paper explains EGPRS)
- Moldcell: brief comparison of EDGE vs GPRS and other benefits.
- 3GPP Vocabulary
- Teledict:EDGE
