UMB : Entertainment Unlimited

All innovations lead to end-user satisfaction. All communication technologies
compete with one another to achieve faster data transfer rate, more spectral
efficiency, more scalability, and lowest possible power consumption, among other
things, to enable the use of various data-intensive applications that have
previously been impossible. UMB or Ultra Mobile Broadband is no different from
these virtues. In a bid to upgrade the CDMA2000 mobile phone standard for
advanced services toward 4G standard, the 3GPP2 (3rd Generation Partnership
Project 2) developed the UMB standard, is expected to be made public for
commercial use in the first quarter of this year.

UMB is a next generation communication technology, which incorporates the
benefits of CDMA, TDM, LS-OFDM, OFDM, and OFDMA in single air interface. UMB,
with its multiple radio and advanced antenna techniques like MIMO and SDMA, is
capable of achieving very high data rates of 288 Mbps (2x20 MHz FDD, 4x4 MIMO)
downstream and 75 Mbps (2x20 MHz FDD, 1x2 MIMO) upstream; ultra-low network
latency with an average of 16 msec (32-byte, RTT) end-to-end network latency;
and high spectral efficiency. With its flexible spectrum allocations, UMB makes
possible scalable, non-contiguous, and dynamic channel (bandwidth) allocations;
support for incremental bandwidth allocations from 1.25-20 MHz; and support of
multi-carrier operations, facilitating, spectrum allocation as needed for
variety of user applications and activities. Its enhanced VoIP capacity allows
up to 1,000 simultaneous VoIP users, while scalable IP-based flat or
hierarchical architecture facilitates greater flexibility in service deployment,
enhanced performance, and cost saving. Apart from these key features, the UMB
technology uses power optimally, leading to enhanced-battery life, which is very
essential for smart handsets as they perform various functions simultaneously.
All this means achieving the ITU's vision for next generation standard mobile
services with data intensive applications like Mobile TV, videoconferencing,
mobile wallet, mobile gaming, etc.

Attractions Aplenty

UMB is one of the technologies forming the 4G standard and ready to offer
advanced, never-before-seen mobile services for communication as well as
entertainment purposes. It enables the convergence of telecommunications,
information technology, consumer electronics, and data intensive multimedia
services. With its key features like multiple radio and advanced antenna
techniques, OFDMA-based air interface, very high data transfer rates, and
ultra-low network latency, it is capable of optimizing delivery of
high-performance multimedia services. UMB makes it possible for consumers to
have a wide range of interactive services. So, using mobile multimedia services
becomes an enjoyable experience for the consumer, and, in turn, it generates
revenue opportunities for network operators. And, with its higher bandwidth,
spectrum and dynamic band options, and scalable IP-based flat or hierarchical
architecture, service providers can benefit from greater margins for mobile
broadband services. Its substantial performance advantages, will pose greater
challenges to other wireless broadband technologies.

India has not even seen the rollout of 3G services. It might not be a long
way for 4G service standards to be released by the ITU. Once it is released, the
user experience will certainly change big time. These advanced services will get
traction first in urban areas, while they will reach rural areas in a slow pace,
as majority of rural Indians use mobile phones primarily for making and
receiving calls.

Kannan K

kannan@cybermedia.co.in