Wireless Industry Sets Its Own Standards

Resolving a troublesome impasse, cellular operators and manufacturers have reached a preliminary consensus on part of the proposed harmonized standard IMT 2000 for third-generation wireless systems. Rather than impose a single specification, however, the proposed wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) standard leaves developers the flexibility to choose from among three competitive approaches.

The good news for the industry comes somewhat at the expense of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which had originally hoped to create a unified standard. Instead, industry opposition forced a capitulation in the form of three radio interfaces: CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and TDMA. The proposed specifications, put forward by the Operators Harmonization Group (OHG) at the latest ITU meeting in Beijing, reportedly combine the first two approaches, with provisions for the last in the final IMT-2000 standard.

Understandably, the move was applauded by industry representatives around the world, who will presumably not have to alter their core development efforts to any great extent. The industry has grown up around two primary networks. The first is the GSM-MAP, based on GSM (global system for mobile communication) and its cousin TDMA (time division multiple access), and the second is the ANSI-41 protocol, based on CDMA (code division multiple access). The new specification holds provisions for them both. GSM is the de facto standard in Europe, although China Telecom reportedly operates the largest GSM network in the world.

The interests of the GSM camp have been represented by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), while the interests of the CDMA supporters have been represented by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2). The OHG proposal is said to bridge the gap between the two, allowing easy migration from existing networks. The proposed specification provides for a direct-sequence or frequency-division-duplex mode (for wideband CDMA), a multicarrier mode (to support CDMA2000), and a time-division-duplex CDMA mode. All three will be handled by a single chip. Under the direct-sequence mode, the chip will operate at 3.84 Mchips/sec with both synchronous and asynchronous capability. The time-division-duplex mode will also operate at 3.84 Mchips/sec. The multicarrier mode will function at 3.6864 Mchips/sec and will support synchronous operation.

The new specification should allow manufacturers to maintain their economies of scale. The standard will also allow operators to select appropriate radio access methods and core networks based on the market dynamics or regulatory climate in different regions or countries. Coexistence with second-generation systems was also taken into account. Some operators, for example, might choose to use new spectrum for IMT-2000 services, while others will overlay IMT-2000 within spectrum already used, maximizing flexibility and facilitating customers upgrades. As for the users, it is expected that they will be able to roam among different networks using intelligent dual-band or multimode handsets that would detect the radio environment and select the appropriate mode automatically. One possible scenario posits a broad CDMA coverage with pockets of TDMA. Multimode and multiband mobile units are already reaching market, and the standard is designed to minimize impact in terms of power consumption, size, or cost of future models.

Both the 3GPPs still must accept the proposals, although the OHG is asking the two groups to merge by December 2000 to expedite further harmonization efforts. If the ITU adopts the proposal as expected, it will be sent on to the appropriate working groups and standards development organizations. The OHG does not anticipate any difficulties in advancing the IMT-2000 specification.

In fact, the OHG is hopeful that the IMT-2000 standard could be adopted by the end of the year, although further harmonization efforts will still be required. These will concentrate on time-division duplex schemes using unpaired frequency bands and other aspects of IMT-2000. China Telecom, for example, is reportedly submitting a proposal to the ITU for a TD-SCDMA protocol using a single-frequency band on a time-shared basis for transmission and reception. The specification is currently being harmonized with the TDD mode of UTRA in the 3GPP.

The OHG's efforts were buttressed by the formal declarations issued by Ericsson and Qualcomm resolving their intellectual property disputes concerning CDMA2000 and W-CDMA. The OHG proposal boasts the support of 30 operators and 12 manufacturers, including AirTouch, Bell Atlantic Mobile, British Telecommunications, GTE Wireless, France Telecom, Korea Telecom, Japan Telecom, Ericsson, Qualcomm, Lucent, Siemens, Nokia, and Motorola. It is also supported by the ITU IMT-2000 Joint Experts Meeting of network and radio experts.

Report Issued Following U.S.-EU MRA Workshop

At an April 26 meeting, the US EMC and telecom sector agreed to prepare a proposal to the US-EU MRA joint committee to accelerate the transition period for EMC conformity assessment bodies (CABs). The proposal is limited to accelerating the transition period for CABs operating under the sectoral annex for electromagnetic compatibility from 24 months to the time when the EMC CAB is accredited by the appropriated designating authority and recognized by the other party.

The proposal comes on the heels of several changes in telecommunications conformity assessment procedures. Some of these changes sparked a series of industry meetings this past spring in Washington, DC.

A number of U.S. labs are currently evaluating equipment for compliance under the terms of the EMC directive. Conversely, there are a number of EU labs currently performing measurements on equipment subject to Parts 15 and 18 of the FCC Rules. Until this portion of the MRA goes into effect, EU labs must submit the data for approval to the FCC or a U.S.-accredited lab under the FCC Declaration of Conformity procedure. Because there appear to be competent CABs in the territories of both parties, it is believed that there is no need for a transition period to build confidence.

In an effort to eliminate some of the confusion regarding OSHA's position on the NRTL program, Jennifer Silk, acting deputy director, OSHA/Directorate of Technical Support, issued a statement. In particular, the European Commission is concerned about the lack of progress in the designation of European laboratories. According to Silk, the MRA establishes reciprocity for laboratories applying from EU member states. A country-by-country determination is not necessary. The MRA states that the OSHA regulations and associated procedures will apply to the EU laboratories. OSHA is ready to process any complete applications it receives from the EU through the MRA process. Although several such applications have been received, they were not complete, according to Silk's report.

OSHA has issued guidelines on preparing the applications, including a list of required documents. A copy of the guidelines can obtained at http://www.osha.gov.

Silk stressed that the EU community is free to follow whatever process it deems necessary to select labs in Europe to designate to OSHA under the MRA. However, OSHA will apply its regulations and procedures when processing applications.

Silk also pointed out that while the NRTL requirements are consistent with ISO 45000, they are not identical. The NRTL Program has additional requirements, including those for complete independence, that must be met. Therefore, prior accreditation to ISO 45000 does not mean that a laboratory meets all of the NRTL program requirements. The EU community must take deviations for US standards into consideration when conducting product testing in order for EU testing laboratories to be recognized and for products to be sold in the United States, she stated.

The FCC is expected to soon release designation criteria for the Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) program. The next step will be to conduct training for accreditation assessors. FCC and industry members are in the planning stages for this training. The program is expected to be up and running the first of next year.

NVLAP Issues Directory of Accredited Labs

The 1999 NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) directory, listing more than 700 accredited testing and calibration facilities, is available. The directory lists laboratories around the globe that offer 850 services that satisfy internationally accepted competency requirements.

Laboratories are indexed by accreditation field, name, location, and NVLAP identifier code. Entries list street addresses, contacts, field, and scope of accreditation. To receive a copy of the directory, visit NVLAP's Web site, http://ts.nist.gov/nvlap, or contact NVLAP at 301/975-4016; nvlap@nist.gov.

TÜV and BABT Join Forces

A joint venture between TÜV Suddeutschland and BABT has resulted in the formation of BABT Product Service, a global telecommunications and radio testing, conformance, certification, and compliance-management provider. The goal of the new venture is to better prepare designers and manufacturers to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing telecommunications marketplace.

BABT Product Service, an independent commercial organization, plans to offer clients efficient, integrated services to help them ensure that their products are safe, reliable, and comply with local requirements, for more rapid market introduction.

According to Gunter Mikes, chief executive of BABT Product Service's operating company in Germany, BABT has acquired the latest multiband GSM mobile phone testing system, a satellite phone testing facility, and specialized equipment to test a range of DECT products.

BABT Product Service's worldwide offices staff 150 telecommunications, radio, and testing specialists. The company is accredited by UKAS, RvA, and DAR, has a designation by EU Governments as Notified and Competent bodies, and is recognized as a Radio Equipment Conformity Assessment Body. For further information, visit http://www.babt.com.

BSI Joins Pilot Program for New TL 9000 Standard

BSI Inc. (Atlanta) has joined a pilot program for the new TL 9000 standard developed by the telecommunications industry. The TL 9000 standard was developed by the Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications (QuEST) Leadership Forum to enable network providers and their suppliers to improve the overall quality of products and services while realizing considerable returns on investment. Participation in the program will position BSI to be among the first group of registrars to be accredited to register companies to TL 9000.

The idea behind the standard is to reduce the amount of time and money the telecommunications industry spends addressing service and product failures. "Poor quality incurs an enormous cost to the industry and is the fundamental reason for development of the standard," said Reg Blake, regulatory affairs manager for BSI and representative of the Independent Association of Accredited Registrars on QuEST committees.

Major industry stakeholders united to create the QuEST Forum and develop a standard to address quality concerns, Blake said. Recently, QuEST published the first of two handbooks on new quality-management standard TL 9000, based on ISO 9001. The pilot program in which BSI is participating was developed to validate the TL 9000 handbooks, the accreditation and registration process, and the training courses and supporting material.

Blake believes TL 9000 will be of particular interest to network suppliers who are dependent upon their supplier base. "If those suppliers let them down, then they in turn are a let down in the eyes of the customer," he said. A quality management system such as TL 9000 will give suppliers an opportunity to "be ahead of the game" and differentiate themselves from their competition, Blake added.

Harmonization

WTO Symposium Addresses Conformity Assessment Procedures

With the goal of clarifying Conformity Assessment Procedures (CAPs)—provisions aimed at avoiding unnecessary obstacles to international trade—a WTO symposium on the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) was held last June in Geneva.

The committee worked to understand issues such as relevant international guides and recommendations of conformity assessment; the types of CAPs and the conditions for their application; the various approaches for the recognition of the results of CAPs; and the role of international and regional systems for conformity assessment. Each topic was addressed in a separate session.

The committee's findings included the following:

• International trade could benefit from CAPs that are transparent, impartial, and based on international standards.
• There is a need for consistent accreditation procedures and a code of good practice for conformity assessment bodies.
• Mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) need to be evaluated for cost-effectiveness. Whether or not an MRA is always the correct option for addressing recognition issues and the discriminatory effect of governmental MRAs was also discussed.
• The role of international and regional systems for conformity assessment were discussed, leading the committee to conclude that these systems play a useful role in coordinating conformity assessment bodies; that they provide a conduit for technical assistance and know how to be delivered to developing countries; that regional systems could be tailored to address particular situations in different regions; and that there is a need to avoid duplication of work at all levels among different systems.

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