GPRS or EDGE
GPRS and EDGE
You as Mero Mobile user, may have surfed the internet via your GPRS (Global Packet Radio Service) enabled mobile handsets. But have you wondered what GPRS is?
GPRS (Global Packet Radio Service) is a mobile data service available to users of GSM (Global System for Mobile) mobile phones. It is often described as "2.5G", that is, a technology between the second (2G) and third (3G) generations of mobile telephony. It provides moderate speed data transfer, by using unused TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) channels in the GSM network. GPRS is a mobile data service which utilizes packet switching. It means that multiple users share the same transmission channel, only transmitting when they have data to send. This means that the total available bandwidth can be immediately dedicated to those users who are actually sending at any given moment, providing higher utilization where users only send or receive data intermittently. Web browsing, receiving e-mails as they arrive and instant messaging are examples of uses that require intermittent data transfers, which benefit from sharing the available bandwidth. Usually, GPRS data are billed per kilobytes of information transceived. Mero mobile (Spice
GPRS is a connectivity solution based on Internet Protocols that supports a wide range of enterprise and consumer applications. With throughput rates of up to 40 kbit/s, users have a similar access speed to a dial-up modem, but with the convenience of being able to connect from anywhere. In addition to the IP (Internet Protocol), GPRS supports X.25, a packet-based protocol that is used mainly in Europe. GPRS is an evolutionary step toward EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Service). Almost all the new cell phone models support GPRS; some models that support GPRS are Nokia 6100, Sony Eriksson 300i, Samsung D500, LG D2100.
EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment), a faster version of the GSM wireless service, is designed to deliver data at rates up to 384 Kbps and enable the delivery of multimedia and other broadband applications to mobile phone. The EDGE standard is built on the existing GSM standard, using the same TDMA frame structure and existing cell arrangements. The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) states that, as of April 2006, there were 139 commercial GSM/EDGE networks in 78 countries, out of a total of 192 EDGE deployments in 102 countries. The regional breakdown of commercial EDGE networks is 59 in Europe, 45 in the Americas and Caribbean, 21 in Asia, and 14 in Africa and the Middle East. GPRS is the present and EDGE may be the future, let's hope we would also step up to EDGE some day.
By Geshan Manandhar
About 450 Words
This has been published in In Your Face Magazine July 06 Issue but I want it to be my 1st Contribution to this innovative blog.
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NT acquires bandwidth from Indian firms
Ending the practice of using expensive means such as satellites to transmit data, the country, for the first time, has procured Internet bandwidth using the optical fiber network laid along the East-West highway.
The use of the information superhighway for cross-country data transfer is expected to be a milestone in the history of the domestic IT sector as it will significantly reduce the price of Internet service in the near future, eventually making it more affordable and accessible.
Som Nath Bhattarai, chief of computer division of NT told that as per the agreement, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) formally opened the gateways located in Birgunj and Bhairahawa Friday morning, commencing transfer of data through optical fiber between Nepal and other foreign countries.
BSNL, a state owned telecom company of India, has used submarine optical cables to link its Internet backbone to networks of various other developed countries.
"In the initial phase, we have purchased 16 Mbps of symmetric bandwidth - 8 Mbps each from the two gateways - at a cost just one-fourth of the amount being paid by other Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country," Bhattarai said.
With this expansion of Internet link, NT now has upstream bandwidth capacity of 20 Mbps and downstream bandwidth capacity of 34 Mbps. Until now, the state owned telecom had allocated 4 Mbps of its bandwidth for uploading and 18 Mbps for downloading purpose.
"We believe the connectivity will not only be useful to companies requiring high-speed data connectivity and small ISPs, but the symmetric bandwidth that we have purchased will also benefit web hosting companies and other IT firms that have to upload huge amount of data," Bhattarai said.
According to him, BSNL has currently agreed to provide the connectivity at the cost of Rs 16 million per year, compared to up to Rs 64 million paid by other ISPs for similar service.
Following this, NT has already decided to reduce tariff rates of high-speed data service meant for business purpose by around two thirds.
"If we are able to procure more of bandwidth using optical fiber network, we will also reduce the price of Internet service meant for home users," he said adding - "NT is close to reaching an agreement with Bharti Airtel, another Indian telecom company, on procurement of additional 34 Mbps of bandwidth."
NT, which has been providing Internet service since May 2000, currently provides Internet service in 59 districts of the country.
Currently there are 46,201 Internet and e-mail users in the country and each user spends an average of Rs 1,227 per month on the service.
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