UMA – “Unlicensed Mobile Access” on the way to VoIP

UMA – “Unlicensed Mobile Access”on the way to VoIP Ilpo NivaNokia Mobile Phones 7.6.2006 Wireless Cities Conference

Contents • UMA in brief • End-user and Operator benefits • Market status • Nokia terminal implementation for UMA • Summary

UMA stands for Unlicensed Mobile Access • UMA technology … • Provides access to GSM and GPRS cellular services through an Unlicensed spectrum technology*. • Carries GSM voice or GPRS data over unlicensed spectrum technology & Broadband IP access to cellular network by IPsec tunneling; a similar security mechanism to VPN. • By using UMA enabled handset, the user… • Can get the same services through cellular network and unlicensed spectrum technology. • Experiences seamless handovers between cellular and unlicensed access, ensuring consistent user experience. * Unlicensed spectrum technology : WLAN 802.11 or Bluetooth.

UMA drivers and targets • Initial drivers • To improve indoor coverage and network capacity for cellular services in US. • Same end-user experience over cellular and alternative access : i.e. same services, seamless roaming. • Targets were later broadened to cover also : • To ensure continuation of current supplementary services at the same time, when gradually moving towards IP based traffic. • Joint system architecture and terminal implementation for cellular, fixed and integrated operators.

Base station controller Licensed air interface Base station A/Gb Interface A’’ interface Current cellular network TDM Network BSC Core Network PLMN/PSTN Network IP Network Network expansion Unlicensed air I/f Broadband with WLAN / Bluetooth UMA Controller A/Gb Interface A’’+ interface Basic concept of UMA • UMA target is to expand the availability of current GSM/GPRS services through complementary accesses which are WLAN and/or Bluetooth • Network architecture: • Utilizes 100% of the existing GSM/GPRS core (both CS and PS domains) • Introduces only 1 new network element: UMA controller (UNC) • Industry forum called UMA Consortium developed specifications, see http://www.umatechnology.org

Cellular Access UMA - Can be Utilised in Various Hotspots • Major part of phone calls and access to data services is made from homes and enterprises • Homes, enterprises and their potential extensions – public hotspots – have typically both cellular and broadband access • Unlicensed (WLAN/Bluetooth) access is logical thing to combine with broadband in local areas, while cellular is still used in wide area networks, “on the road”. ”On the road” Enterprises (Domain specific) services Cellular & Broadband Access Homes Public hotspots

Services supported by UMA technology • UMA technology supports all the current cellular services • Voice • Supplementary services (>100 existing, typically coupled with phone call), examples: messaging, voicemail, conference call, call transfer, etc • GPRS data – used for email , browsing, operator own service portals etc. • Access to internet through PS core network • SMS • MMS • Also if desired, first IP based person to person services that will gradually emerge, e.g. PoC can be offered through it. • Also seamless handovers between UMA and cellular are supported.

CPS UNC MSC MSC BSC/RNC BSC/RNC BSC/RNC BSC/RNC MSC MSC Two completely separate voice call e2e set-ups are required Voice Seamless handover comparisons - Currently 1. CS voice <–> UMA HOs: 802.11WiFi (@home/public) Voice ”non-moving leg” can be kept unchanged ISN(BRAS) DSLAM 2. CS voice <–> Current VoIP HOs: 802.11WiFi (@home/public) MGW IP BB ISN(BRAS) DSLAM

UMA benefits mobile user • No need to worry about bad reception or losing signal, especially when indoor. • GSM/GPRS services over WLAN and internet • Excellent indoor coverage both at office and at home • Fast service access and downloads indoors • Ease of use – one dual mode handset works everywhere • Converged fixed/mobile service - broadband in local areas, cellular in wide area networks • Seamless usage for end-users by automatic handover between GSM and WLAN and from WLAN to WLAN • One phone, One phone number, One phone bill • Save money (operator dependant) • Automatic selection of cheapest/best quality network • GSM voice, data and services over low cost broadband in local areas

Leverage the investments made in fixed or broadband access into new businesses Defend the fixed traffic and customer base Operator business case depends on the operator Cable & Fixed Operators , MVNOs • Boost fixed to mobile substitution • Enabled by pricing differentiation in UMA • Get customers interested into making mobile calls instead of traditional fixed telephony calls • Cost efficient method to improve indoor coverage for voice • Cost efficient method for improving indoor coverage for cellular data services  Improved indoor bitrates  better user experience Mobile Operators Fixed & Mobile Operators • Similar opportunities as mobile operators have • Defend the fixed traffic and customer base

Rapid growth ? Mobile voice traffic Fixed voice traffic VoIP traffic -92 -93 -94 -95 -96 -97 -98 -99 -00 -01 -02 -03 -04 -05 e -06 e -07 e -08 e Source: Nokia 13.6.2005 Technology used to terminate the call Several operators already published plans for UMA • Already high interest among several operators to trial and evaluate UMA • Variety of press releases & articles stating plans for UMA service • TeliaSonera, Ny Teknik, 24 August 2005 • France Telecom, press release, 6th July 2005 • MVNO and Fixed operator Saunalahti from Finland • Orange, press release, 13th February 2006, stating to be the initial customer for the Nokia 6136 phone. • … • FMCA - Fixed Mobile Convergence Alliance - also lists UMA as one of the technologies for convergence • Operator consortium, working with existing technologies & specifications

First UMA service already launched by BT during 2005 • 1st UMA service, Fusion, launched by British Telecom in 2005 • June 2005, service launched for selected user group, September 2005, full commercial launch • Uses Vodafone’s mobile network as a MVNO for mobile access • The first commercial launch is based on Bluetooth UMA • Plans to go to WLAN UMA later on • Main target BT’s broadband customers • Leverage BT’s investments in broadband access • Defend its fixed traffic and customer base • Charging principles in Fusion- service • At home, calls routed through UMA, and charged at fixed line price. • Outside, calls made through GSM/GPRS, charged at mobile rates. Sources: 3G Mobile, 21 June 2005; Wireless Week, 15 July 2005

Operators Approaches Some examples of possible different views given below: Mobile Operators Operator with smaller customer base may have following view: • Any WLAN access point can be allowed for UMA. • Allowing access anywhere will attract more customers. While operator with already large customer base may think: • Allow only WLAN APs at customers’ homes for UMA access, to ensure that cellular revenues are also maintained. • Reason could be that UMA access pricing is defined lower than in cellular. Cable & Fixed Operators , MVNOs Similar views may exist as mentioned for mobile operators • The opinion depends on whether UMA is used for attracting new customers or for defending the old customer base. Fixed & Mobile Operators Here the view may depend on whether target is to have different or the same service portfolio for old fixed and mobile customers • Thus several opinions probably exist. Operators may have different views on where the WLAN APs are allowed to be used for UMA access

IP Mobile Devices and Networks UMA network solutions Several network vendors have already made announcements on offering UMA solutions Variety of handset vendors have published announcements on offering UMA handsets • Nokia • Alcatel • Ericsson • Motorola • … UMA enabled Mobile devices • Nokia • Motorola • LG • Samsung • … A wide selection of mobile devices and network infrastructure components will be available for UMA

1st Nokia UMA handset launched February ’06 • Nokia 6136 • GPRS/EDGE device • UMA based on WLAN 802.11b/g access • Nokia UMA client functionality made in-house • The bearer part of UMA client fully integrated to GSM/EDGE protocol stack, where Nokia is the industry leader • Market’s 1st in EDGE, 3GPP Rel4, DTM etc. • GSM voice and GPRS data services over UMA • Seamless mobility between GSM and UMA

10 cm 5 cm 0 cm Nokia 6136 – Summary UMA enabled GSM mobile phone A mobile phone combining the benefits of mobile & fixed landline through voice over WLAN Ease of use – one dual mode handset works everywhere • Converged fixed/mobile service • broadband in local areas enabling superior indoor coverage • cellular in wide area networks • Seamless usage for end-users by automatic handover between GSM and WLAN and from WLAN to WLAN Key insight of the core target user: • People are frustrated with network coverage. They want to preserve services available through mobile phone irrespective of their location. They want to avoid hassle of having two phone numbers (fixed and mobile) and reduce their phone bills

Evolution will gradually proceed towards WCDMA/EDGE devices supporting UMA • The specification of WCDMA/UMA handovers completed in March 2006, in 3GPP • Thus still expected to take time before WCDMA networks will support this handover functionality. • IOT testing against networks possible only after networks support it.

Summary • UMA – enabling access to cellular services through WLAN - is receiving significant interest by variety of operators • The first UMA service was already launched by British Telecom during 2005. • Many UMA service launches are expected to from 2006 onwards. • UMA is one of the fixed-mobile convergence evolution options • For improving indoor coverage for cellular services • Increasing capacity for cellular services • Extending service portfolio through several accesses • UMA is NOT VoIP • Not VoIP from technical approach but creates VoIP like experience to consumer • Evolution to VoIP • Extending service portfolio through several accesses

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UMA – “Unlicensed Mobile Access” on the way to VoIP