NICTA and NEC Australia Sign MOU on 4G Mobile Wireless Technology
15/12/2005 14:20
| National ICT Australia (NICTA) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NEC Australia for the development of a collaborative research program focusing on Super 3G and 4G mobile wireless technology. 4th Generation mobile communications is an emerging market, and is expected to reach $19.9 billion by 2011 . Projected areas in which 4G technologies will improve on current 3G technology include faster data rates; larger coverage per cell; low cost terminals; reduced network deployment costs; and reduced operating costs. With 4G, it will be possible to achieve high speed internet access to the mobile. “This MOU is the first significant step in combining the efforts of two of Australia’s pre-eminent research and development organisations. Together, NICTA and NEC Australia will explore a series of research projects for the communications industry, particularly in the optical networking and interference cancellation arenas,” said Dr David Skellern, CEO of NICTA. Initially working with NEC Australia’s Mobile R&D division in Melbourne, NEC Australia sees the MOU as a positive first step towards driving mobile standards further. Established in 1990 to capitalise on the skill sets of Australian engineers, the Mobile division represents NEC Corporation in the standardisation process for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) – the standards body that develops and extends the standards that applies to all 3G handsets globally. NEC Australia’s Managing Director, Mr Toshiharu Iwasa commented that “given NICTA’s expertise and our unique experience in global 3G standards, we will together drive the mobile standardisation process. This will in turn speed up the rate at which consumers adopt new mobile technologies globally and allow us to develop new and unique 4G handsets.” As one of only five global R&D Centres, some of the technologies and solutions developed at NEC Australia are not only world class – but are also world first. There are currently over four million mobile handsets in use globally that incorporate technology developed at NEC Australia’s Mobile R&D Centre. In addition, more than 40 countries now import mobile communications products that include software developed at NEC Australia’s design centre. Mr Iwasa added that “the relationship with NICTA will further enhance the standing of NEC Australia’s global R&D Centre.” Dr Mark Reed Project leader for the Multi-User Detection (MUD) Algorithm project, part of NICTA’s Wireless Signal Processing research program said that “the MOU would support technical work aimed at providing solutions relating to in-building penetration, mobility, and coverage. The key focus of the NICTA technology is the ability to increase the data rates and at the same time, improve the end-user experience.” “The Interference Cancellation Technologies (ICT) at the core of the MUD project could create commercially viable solutions to emerging network capacity problems through more sensitive receivers and terminals. It would also enhance in-building access and general network coverage, and better manage interference when mobile, NEC’s commitment to research in Australia made them an ideal global partner to help explore this potential” said Dr Skellern. The relationship with NICTA will also extend to projects with NEC Australia’s Next Generation Broadband R&D Centre in Melbourne in the near future. | ||||
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| Contact: | Marijana Okanovic | |||
| Phone: | 02 8374 5489 | |||
| Email: | marijana.okanovic@nicta.com.au | |||
