A total of 223 networks, i.e. over three quarters of deployments, have launched commercial services. This compares with 151 commercial networks in May 2006, i.e. almost 50% increase. Commercial EDGE-enabled services are now available in 113 countries in the Americas (59 networks), Asia Pacific (31 networks), Europe (97 networks) and the Middle East and Africa (36 networks). The footprint of GSM/EDGE-enabled services extended to 25 more countries in the last 12 months

EDGE is a mature global technology which gives GSM/GPRS operators the capabilities to deliver 3G-like services. Most of the world’s 450+ commercial GPRS operators have committed to EDGE, which allows operators to handle 3 times more subscribers than with GPRS, either by tripling the user data rate to typically 120 to 160kbps or more, or adding voice capacity. EDGE uses the same TDMA frame structure, logic channel and 200kHz carrier bandwidth as GSM, allowing existing cell plans to be used. No change is needed in the core network. No new spectrum or operating license are required. Operators report significant increase in data traffic and ARPU from EDGE device users compared to GPRS device users.

EDGE and 3G/WCDMA are complementary technologies. The GSA survey shows that 116 3G/WCDMA operators have deployed, or are currently deploying, combined WCDMA-EDGE networks for lower capital expense, optimum flexibility and efficiencies, with 80 WCDMA-EDGE networks in commercial service. This trend continues with High Speed Packet Access - HSPA. The majority of WCDMA operators evolving to HSPA also use EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience of mobile broadband services.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: “This new GSA survey underlines the success of GSM/EDGE globally. The winning combination of EDGE and 3G/WCDMA-HSPA networks is a key point, which is important for newly-emerging 3G markets in Africa, China, India, Latin America, and Russia where GSM/EDGE is widely deployed.”

Related GSA surveys confirm over 500 EDGE-capable user devices launched in the market. A growing number of WCDMA devices also incorporate EDGE capabilities, and the majority of HSDPA devices, estimated in the range 70-80%, also support EDGE. The growing trend is for products supporting a combination of tri-band WCDMA/HSDPA (850/1900/2100 MHz) and quad band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz).

The capabilities of EDGE are also evolving, to improve service performance in general, and to facilitate conversational multimedia services. A number of enhancements are being standardized in 3GPP, known collectively as EDGE Evolution, and are included in 3GPP Release 7 for completion in 2007, and will deliver 2–3 times increase in bit rates, improved spectral efficiency, and reduced latency. EDGE Evolution users will experience mobile broadband similar to a 500 kbps ADSL service, and commercial solutions incorporating EDGE Evolution are expected by 2009. More about EDGE Evolution is available in the GSA Information Paper “EDGE Evolution” at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/info_papers.php4