In this new architecture, the terminal doesn't have an RF module which an ordinary terminal has. We call this terminal without RF module as a "Simple PDA". It makes it easy for manufacturers of various industries to promote "Simple PDA" PHS is expected to be deployed in India in the future and Indian industries can also grow by manufacturing these "Simple PDAs" as well.
    Users of the ordinary terminal are requested to pay for the whole terminal costs when purchasing a new one. And the operators are also subsidizing the cost of terminals as well. However, no new RF module but only "Simple PDA" is necessary to buy the separated type terminal. This is beneficial to the cost reduction, especially for the low-priced terminals because the RF module is more than 50% of the total cost of the terminals.
    One of the other applications based on this architecture would be the dual-mode type terminal with GSM. Some of the high-end GSM terminals have an SD card slot in addition to the advanced features such as WAP, GPRS, IrDA, etc. By adding a PHS RF module and a simple application software to such GSM terminals, dual-mode type terminals can easily be realized. It is a great opportunity for the GSM vendors since the GSM penetration rate is high, and without a modification of the PHS RF module, GSM terminals could become the latest trends and such terminals are suitable for international roaming.
    As for an initial cost, separated type PHS terminal is costlier than the ordinary one, however, in the long term it becomes much more economical. Furthermore, it has superiority in terminal versatility, localization in each country, easy realization of the dual-mode type with the GSM.
    "PHS module for Everything" meaning not only to use PHS module as a data communication tool simply for PC and PDA but also to insert it into every kind of terminals.



2)  A Winning BSS can help PHS win the Business
      (the presentation material is here.)
       - Mr. Everett Chang: Comware C&C International Corp. -

Mr.Everett Chang

    We have more than 12 years experience in the BSS (Business Support System). I'd like to share our experience and thoughts about the BSS with you.
    We can divide telecom operations into two categories. One is a network elements system and the other is a business support system. Generally speaking, all systems besides the network elements can be categorized into a group of BSS. The BSS interfaces customers, network providers, contents providers and so on. It includes custom care and billing, customer service, fraud management, decision support system and many other functions.


    I'll talk about what a winning BSS model is and how it can help PHS operators win the business. There are 4 main characteristics that a BSS has. First, all the BSS should provide a total solution to support operators to serve their customers. The BSS should be convergent. For example, the customer care and billing for both post-paid and pre-paid customers should be only one system. For multiple services, there should be only one service window and one bill. The BSS should have an integrated platform for enterprise application to integrate all systems together. Thus, the interface between the systems can be independent from the application. The change of application will not affect the interface. The related information provided by different system should be synchronized and consistent. How can this factor help PHS operators to win business?. A harmonized and high quality BSS can help an operator to serve its customers effectively, efficiently and accurately.
    Secondary, an operator either needs to own the systems or can have the system vendor work for him as his IT department. In this way, an operator doesn't have to rely on vendor's policy and schedule. In most cases, operators always don't have the control over the system modification if they choose a brand name vendor. Those operators need to develop new coding or module by themselves to meet the new business requirement. It's not a good BSS. When unexpected event happened, there is no time to waste, such as system crash, virus attack, disaster, etc. The operator needs to fix or recover the systems right away. It is also a winning factor how operators can shorten the time to market for new product, new service, new package or new promotion. Time to market is a critical factor for operators to grab the market.
    Third, low cost factor is absolutely critical. If a PHS operator can pay less money to build a right BSS, he has already been ahead of his competitor. We have to decrease the cost for operators.
    Fourth, a BSS provider has to be an experienced and considerate system provider, developer and integrator. Because providing BSS to operator is a service business, not only a technology business. The system provider not only provides the solution to operator, but also needs to serve the operator. He has to consider operator's business as his own business. He has to respect the operator's business and solve the problem for operator. Of course, vice versa, the operator also needs to respect the system provider. Unfortunately, nowadays most solution vendors are experienced, professional and strong in technology, but are lack of service and consideration mind.
    Comware meets all of these 4 requirements. We have 8 years of experience in the industry and 8 operators serving record. We know and care PHS business. We are an experienced and considerate BSS provider, developer and integrator.

    Our track record is as follows. In 1995 a convergent system for fixed line, mobile phone and paging for China Telecom, Harbin. In 1996 and 1997 China Unicom, for GSM. In 1997 China Guandong Mobile Communication for AMPS and Taiwan Infinity Telecom for CT-2 and Taiwan Formosa Telecom for CT-2. In 1998 Taiwan Cellular Corp. for GSM. And in 2000 Taiwan FITEL( First International Telecom Corp.) for PHS. Currently we are developing the PHS prepaid system for UTStarcom.



3)  Future Development of PHS
      (the presentation material is here.)
       - Mr. Kazuhiro Yamamoto: Kyocera Corporation -

    PHS services have started in Japan in 1995, and in quite a few countries. Especially in Asia, PHS service has been adopted with considerable growth of the subscribers. Among those countries, China has been keeping a rapid growth.

Mr.Kazuhiro Yamamoto

     Kyocera has been developing and supplying PHS Cell Stations as well as PHS handsets since the commencement of the PHS service in Japan. One of the remarkable topics in our activities is to start supplying the Generation Three Cell Station featuring Adaptive Array Antenna technology from 1998, and the Generation Three plus One Cell Station with Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) technology in 2001.
    Following the recent internet booming, mobile communications industries are also expected to support not only voice services, but also data communications. PHS was not an exception to this demand in Japan, and has been developing as a data communications tool. PHS started its data service as 32kbps PIAFS data service and has now reached to 128kbps packet data service.
    Under such business climate, based on our various technical knowledge of PHS and high data rate communications, we have been pursuing and developing high data rate wireless data communications. Then we have reached to our i-BURST system being capable of providing 1Mbps-up, real broadband wireless packet data service.  In Australia, we have started the field trial with CKW Wireless, targeting to launch its service from July this year.
    Next, I would like to explain about basic product concepts of our i-BURST system. There are four major basic product concepts or benefits with our i-BURST system. Those are, High Speed Wireless Internet System, Freedom to move, Always ON and IP based infrastructure, less investment. The first one is "High speed wireless internet system". The i-BURST system provides with asymmetric data rate for uplink and downlink. The downlink data rate is 1,061kbps maximum, and the effective rate is more than 850kbps. For the uplink, 346kbps and 250kbps respectively. Those data rates can be available in 90% of the covered area. With such a data rate exceeding 700kbps, a video streaming with equivalent quality to normal mode VHS video on a regular-sized screen can be performed.The first one is "High speed wireless internet system". The i-BURST system provides with asymmetric data rate for uplink and downlink. The downlink data rate is 1,061kbps maximum, and the effective rate is more than 850kbps. For the uplink, 346kbps and 250kbps respectively. Those data rates can be available in 90% of the covered area. With such a data rate exceeding 700kbps, a video streaming with equivalent quality to normal mode VHS video on a regular-sized screen can be performed.
    The second is "Freedom to Move". In the wired access system, thanks to ADSL and fiber optical, high data rate communications can be available indoors. However, this benefit is limited to fixed use without mobility. The 3G services have an advantage in terms of mobility. Apart from that, the 3G services should also function as a basic voice service cellular phone, which needs to make more investment to cover more areas for voice service. We would like to express a benefit from our i-BURST system as "Transportable Wireless ADSL". This means that the i-BURST system can provide with moderate mobility or "transportability" within daily life areas where people want to make wireless internet access, but giving more freedom of movement compared to wireless LAN services. As far as data rate is concerned, the i-BURST system is superior to the 3G systems. We may say that our i-BURST system is well balanced in terms of both mobility and data rate.
    The third point is "Always ON". The i-BURST can support hand-over capability between base stations, maintaining the connectivity of PPP session.
    The fourth point is "IP based infrastructure, requiring less investment". The i-BURST system can be configured in all IP networks, which can facilitate the connection to existing IP network. Less investment can be achieved by adding base stations as well as tunnel switches to the IP network.
    Next is about the basic technologies used in our i-BURST system.
The i-BURST is a TDD/TDMA system, featuring multi-carrier. This TDD/TDMA system is a good matching with the Adaptive Array Antenna technology, and can provide with high frequency reuse, as well as facilitate the use of spatial channel or SDMA technology. Approximately three times more data can be carried in our i-BURST system compared with EV-DO system. Asymmetric slot configuration is used in the i-BURST system. With this, a higher data rate through down link becomes available. New modulation methods, such as 24QAM and 12QAM, and error coding are used to improve link budget.
    The system is provided with Adaptive Array Antenna technology which has been upgraded from the one used in the PHS Cell Stations, featuring twelve pieces of antennas and up to three duplex of SDMA. The system can meet 1.9GHz and 2.3GHz at the moment.
    The user terminals will be prepared for PCMCIA shape and USB connection shape. We also plan to supply Compact Flash type user terminal.
    We hope the i-BURST system will be one of the PHS future developments.