Communications Engineer
Volume 3, Issue 3, June 2005
Volume 3, Issue 3
June 2005
-
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 2 –2
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050310
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
2
(1)
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 4 –7
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050311
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
4
–7
(4)
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 10 –10
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050312
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
10
(1)
- Author(s): C. Dziadul
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 11 –11
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050313
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
11
(1)
With a small region in Wales already 'switched off', how will the rest of the UK cope with the transition from analogue to digital TV? - Author(s): R. Hallett
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 12 –12
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050314
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
12
(1)
As the worlds of IT and communications increasingly converge, establishing effective payment mechanisms will be crucial. - Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 13 –13
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050315
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
13
(1)
- Author(s): J. Walko
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 14 –17
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050301
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
14
–17
(4)
IMS, or IP multimedia subsystem, is at the heart of equipment suppliers' and operators' plans for converging fixed and mobile networks. Proponents suggest it is set to become the linchpin of all-IP multimedia, and thus the great revenue-generating hope for operators in the second half of this decade. A standards-based technology, IMS has been designed and developed to enable service providers to offer services based on the session initiation protocol (SIP), such as voice over IP, push-to-talk over cellular, and video messaging. A key factor is that these services could now be provided across multiple networks, regardless of their fixed or mobile nature. The article discusses how the system works the plans of different service providers. - Author(s): W. Webb
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 18 –21
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050302
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
18
–21
(4)
The author reassesses how right - or wrong - he was when, five years ago, along with a number of other contributors, he predicted how the wireless landscape would look in 2005 (Webb W., "The future of wireless communications" Artech House, 2001). Most major manufacturers and operators have seen their value decline considerably over the period 2000-2005 and, between them, they have contributed to some of the largest write-offs in history. These corporate difficulties were not generally foreseen in 2000. The impact that they would have on wireless development might be expected to be profound. In overall terms, little change of substance was predicted between 2000 and 2005, and that is exactly what transpired. This was not based on an expectation of hard times ahead for the wireless industry, but more on an understanding of how long it would take for technologies to be developed and reach mass-market penetration levels. While the downturn had traumatic effects for employees and shareholders in many companies, it actually made relatively little difference to the overall deployment of technology. Before the downturn many companies had unrealistic plans; after the downturn they became more realistic. The predictions made in the book for 2005-2010 are summarised and the author believes the still look reasonable. - Author(s): J.P. Conti
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 22 –24
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050303
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
22
–24
(3)
The article looks at the growing phenomenon of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and its impact on the cellular establishment. In the strange new world of MVNOs, the unconventional is practically the norm in more than one sense. One of the ways in which the MVNO concept breaks away from conventionalism is by allowing companies with little or no background in telecoms to become a telecoms supplier. As its name indicates, a "virtual" network operator does not own what for any other traditional operator is its most precious asset - a network. Whenever a new MVNO decides to start competing in a market generally dominated by a few established players, it has no choice but to partner with one of them in order to buy the airtime at wholesale rates that it then resells to its subscribers. The degree of success - or failure - awaiting every MVNO entrant depends, to a great extent, on how well the company negotiates the terms of its contract with the incumbent of choice. The article takes as an example the launch of the easyMobile MVNO. - Author(s): M. Ahlberg
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 25 –27
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050304
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
25
–27
(3)
The evolution of the portable data storage market has been rapid, lucrative and dangerous. Long gone are the days when you needed identical tape drives and software on both computers. The traditional floppy disk market and local tape markets were superseded by the super-floppy and zip drive. Now even they are disappearing as this market evolves. Thanks to its large capacity, portability and simplicity, removable media have become some of the most popular types of storage device around today. Because they are very cheap, memory sticks have become the obvious way to store information, business proposals, accounts, client's details, marketing plans and so on. The arrival of the MP3 music player has had a significant impact on this market. While Apple sees music as the only reason for owning an iPod, their competitors have simply created large USB stores with some built-in music software. An increasingly large number of people now view their MP3 player as both a data and entertainment tool. The danger here is that, as an entertainment device, it falls below the radar, and with storage capacities set to exceed 80 GB by the end of this year, there is a serious threat to data protection. The article considers some of security measures that can be taken. - Author(s): M. Williamson
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 28 –30
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050305
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
28
–30
(3)
The article examines the transatlantic partnership that created the world's largest commercial satellite operator. SES Global was formed in 2001, when SES Astra bought US satellite giant GE Americom for Bn. The intention was to create a 'megaoperator' with global reach and the usual economies of scale attributed to multinational corporations. In creating a fleet of 29 satellites with the ability to deliver broadband satellite services to more than 90% of the world's population, the acquisition certainly achieved the first part The economic aspects of the arrangement are more open to interpretation. Nevertheless, a comparison of overall revenue figures places SES Global above Intelsat - created in 1964 to develop the first worldwide satellite communications network - and Eutelsat, the European equivalent which dates from 1977. - Author(s): L. Allen
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 31 –33
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050306
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
31
–33
(3)
If the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) was already important in the corporate networking space, the arrival of VOIP is taking it to a whole new level. The value of UPS devices, providing high-availability power protection for electrical equipment and systems, has been understood by businesses for many years. This article states that any existing arrangements must be looked at again if an IP system is introduced, particularly if it is to be merged with an existing data network. Of paramount importance to the business will be the highest possible availability of the IP telephone system, which is its portal to customers and the outside world. The role of UPS devices, in a total network context, is examined in detail. - Author(s): P. Medd
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 34 –37
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050307
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
34
–37
(4)
The phenomenal success of GSM carries with it extremely high expectations in terms of service quality and availability. However, the delivery of a flawless service is no mean feat, especially considering the complexity of handsets and networks. Much of the success of GSM in this respect lies in the detailing of the original specification. Essential operations, such as registration, require multiple transactions between the handset and the network. As calls proceed they need to communicate with one another to ensure that the call is maintained. Hand-off and other scenarios must be precisely defined and operate correctly. With UMTS now firmly entering the cellular picture, intersystem hand-off must be catered for so that handsets can revert to using 2G and 2.5G systems when no 3G network is available. The key to meeting subscriber expectations lies in the adoption of a thorough and vigorous conformance testing methodology for handsets to ensure that they operate properly on any network in any country. While the certification process may seem long and involved, it does ensure uniformity. Having already proven highly successful with GSM, a similar approach is being adopted for 3G UMTS or WCDMA, and there is no reason why a parallel degree of success should not follow in this new phase. - Author(s): J. Powell and D. Bannister
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 38 –39
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050308
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
38
–39
(2)
After 50 years of rapid progress, monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) operating at 1-2 GHz have become small and cheap enough to form the fundamental building blocks for the revolution in mobile communications. Continuing price pressures and the threat of declining revenues are forcing MMIC suppliers to seek out new markets for their products. Extending MMIC technology to millimetre-wave frequencies has emerged as a crucial strategy for suppliers looking to achieve better profit margins and ensure future business growth. Millimetre-wave (MM-wave) MMICs, which operate at frequencies of 20-100 GHz, have already been exploited in the space and defence sectors, but commercial end users are now driving demand for low-cost MMIC solutions at frequencies of up to 100 GHz. The challenge for the MMIC community is clear: to produce packaged MM-wave modules that deliver the right performance at the right price. - Author(s): B. Gillibrand
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 40 –43
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050309
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
40
–43
(4)
The article is aimed at those engineers working in the wireless markets mainly concerned with ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) applications. These cover a multitude of generally non mass-market products for which, as yet, there is no general protocol. Deciding when a wireless device would be better served by an RFIC and when by a module can be tricky. The apparent obvious option, which appears to offer the lowest cost, is the RFIC. However, there are usually several external parts required and these can increase cost considerably. If the application is for considerable volumes, in the consumer or automotive industries, then the RFIC route is probably favourable. However, in more modest volume areas, then a modular solution is going to be certainly quicker and, in the long run, more cost-effective. As a rough guide, any application using less than 20,000 units per year is going to be more cost effective using a module, especially an intelligent one. - Author(s): I. Poole
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 44 –45
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050316
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
44
–45
(2)
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, p. 46 –47
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050317
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
46
–47
(2)
- Source: Communications Engineer, Volume 3, Issue 3, page: 48 –48
- DOI: 10.1049/ce:20050318
- Type: Article
- + Show details - Hide details
-
p.
48
(1)
Editor's letter
News
High-tech factory (1)
Bye-bye, analogue
Real-time charging
High-tech factory (2)
No matter the network [IP multimedia subsystem]
The futurologist who looked back [wireless market trends]
Orange alert [mobile virtual network operators]
Beware the dangers of removable media
The chateau that rules the skies [SES Global]
Voice uninterrupted [UPS for VOIP]
Put to the (conformance) test [mobile telephony]
Making waves [MM-wave MMIC]
Radio dilemma [RF design]
What exactly are... DMB&DVB-H?
Latest Comms books
Hot silicon from the oven
Most viewed content for this Journal
Article
content/journals/ce
Journal
5
Most cited content for this Journal
We currently have no most cited data available for this content.