The Road Map

According to Kevin Holley, the chair for the GSM SMG4 committee, which develops GPRS standards, the first version of the GPRS standard is complete, while a next version of the standard that adds advanced features such as point-to-multipoint communications is in development. Most GSM vendors such as Alcatel, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel, and Siemens have been active in the standards process and many are developing the necessary infrastructure elements. Field trials are expected in 1999 and deployment will begin in the year 2000. Though the GPRS standard specifies support for both X.25 and IP, it is likely that vendors and operators will emphasize IP service. It is also likely that GPRS will first roll out in European countries. As of late 1998, no operators have announced when they will deploy GPRS service, but it is very likely that many will do so, especially since the infrastructure cost of deploying the service is relatively modest. At this time no cellphones or modems that support GPRS have been announced but it is possible that eventually all new GSM phones will support GPRS.Where does GPRS fit in with other GSM data developments, as well as data capabilities for other wireless networks? The first improvement with GSM data is increasing existing circuit-switched data speeds from 9600 bps to 14.4 kbps. The addition of V.42 bis compression over the airlink will further increase throughput by about a factor of two. After that, and before GPRS is available, some carriers will begin offering high speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD) which like GPRS combines multiple voice channels to offer higher data rates. SingTel in Singapore announced in May of 1998 that using HSCSD technology it will soon be offering data rates of up to 38.4 kbps. Click here for more information.Another development is referred to by some as "direct IP access". The user makes a circuit-switched data call, but rather than switching the call into the public switched telephone network, the carrier terminates it at a router that is connected to the Internet. From the user perspective, the carrier appears like an Internet service provider offering dial-up service. This hybrid circuit/packet type of service is a good stepping-stone to GPRS and will also work with HSCSD.

And GSM standards bodies are already defining data networking technologies that will build upon GPRS. One such technology is called Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) which will offer a maximum theoretical rate of 384 kbps, though normal operating speeds will be about half this rate. Beyond EDGE, third generation cellular systems will eventually offer data rates to 2 Mbps. The table below summarizes all these developments.