The Thai mobile phone operator AIS has selected Ericsson as sole supplier for their EDGE system in the Bangkok metropolitan area.
EDGE stands for Enhanced Data for Global Evolution and is a technology that gives GSM the capacity to handle services for the third generation mobile telephony.
It provides three times the data capacity of GPRS, which is the current mode of data transmission in AIS network. Thus, with EDGE operators can handle three times more subscribers than GPRS, triple their data rate per subscriber, or add extra capacity to their voice communications.
EDGE uses the same TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) frame structure, logic channel and 200kHz carrier bandwidth as today’s GSM networks, which allows existing cell plans to remain intact.
According to the contract Ericsson will also expand the present AIS GSM system for a fully integrated GSM/GPRS/EDGE solution. The contract is initially valued at USD 10 million.
The agreement with AIS covers the core and radio access network expansions, including the EDGE live network with a selected group of users. Ericsson will also provide EDGE network integration. Ericsson and AIS will work together to bring new value added services to AIS customers.
