While the full spectrum of third generation technology has yet to be realised in the Asia-Pacific, North Asia has already been earmarked to lead the race in 4G. Analyst groups cite Japan’s and South Korea’s proactive stance in research and development (R&D) and standards development as part of the reason for the leadership. According to June Liang, industry manager, Frost & Sullivan (Asia-Pacific technology practice), Japan and Korea were the first to initiate R&D in the region on 4G technology and services in 2001, followed by China. These countries’ active participation in R&D in emerging mobile technologies is due to their vested interest in mobile equipment and devices, she says. Significant government support is also evident in these countries. “The governments of Japan and Korea have been very focused on growing the national economy in the direction of knowledge-based economies, and they have been very committed to that strategy,” observes Bjarne Munch, senior research analyst at Meta Group. “They have already identified which specific technologies and standards to develop and create products and experience within, with the aim of competing globally within those markets.” Liang says when Japan and Korea announced their initiatives to undertake R&D in 4G in 2001, it seemed like an effort by academic R&D laboratories to move beyond the limitations in 3G, which is facing much uncertainty in deployment and promised performance. “Japan and Korea currently house the largest critical mass of mobile data users, where usage patterns have evolved at the most rapid pace in the region. All these factors provide an added incentive to further improve on existing mobile technologies and networks exportable to the rest of the region,” she says.
Services
Migration towards IPv6 (Internet protocol version 6) is also high on the agenda as leading countries realise its importance to 4G. IPv6 has 128-bit addressing capability which solves the problem of depleting addresses, Munch explains.
It also offers an improved routing efficiency and quality of service, network auto-configuration with plug-and-play functionality, built-in end-to-end security extensions, and mobility support, he says.
Most 3G services offered in both Japan and Korea are consumer-based, with users sending mainly pictures and photos or even playing games. The new services based on 4G are likely to become enhancements on this concept, Munch says. “The promise is speed of up to 100 megabits per second as opposed to the theoretical 3G speed of 2Mbps.”
Still long way for 4g
Will 4G take some of the focus away from 3G? “It might influence operators to delay deployment of 3G, and instead extend the life and capabilities of existing 2G systems through GPRS (general packet radio service) upgrades,” says Liang.
Globally, 3G deployment is still in a waiting position because most carriers have problems identifying new services that can make a foundation for a business case.
“In those countries where 3G has been deployed, the take-up rate has been slow as the key incentive for the subscribers is still on discounted call rates and not new services,” explains Munch. “For this reason, it will be a number of years before we see extensive and ubiquitous 3G services, not to mention 4G which is at least five to 10 years away from the global scene.”
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