All GSM calls under threat from hackers

UK: GSM call can be listened to by anyone with $500 and a laptop within six months!

At the recent Hacking at Random (HAR) conference, Karsten Nohl detailed plans for cracking standard GSM cell phone encryption, known as A5/1, and making the results available for anyone to use.

His presentation from the event is here -- https://har2009.org/program/attachments/119_GSM.A51.Cracking.Nohl.pdf

The implications for businesses, individuals and the mobile industry are enormous:

* Once complete it means anyone with a $500 radio card and a laptop will be able to listen in to GSM calls.
* It marks a lowering of the bar for criminals to be able to hack calls.
* It makes having someone listen to our calls a real-life threat for all of us

Stan Schatt, Vice President and Practice Director, Healthcare and Security at ABI Research, commented, “Potentially this news could have as profound an impact on the cell phone industry as the breaking of WEP encryption had on the wireless LAN industry.”

GL releases GSM-A and GSM-Abis emulation software

BANGALORE, INDIA: GL Communications Inc. has released GSM A and GSM Abis Emulation software for its T1/E1 platforms.

Vijay Kulkarni, CEO, said: “GSM is the global standard for mobile voice and data communications. The handheld mobile and the BTS communicate across the radio link. The BTS, BSC, and MSC communicate across Abis and A interfaces within the wireless infrastructure. GL has introduced solutions for the analysis and emulation of Abis and A interfaces."

He added: “Our Message Automation and Protocol Simulation (MAPS) has been enhanced to support GSM A and GSM Abis emulation. MAPS is a powerful Protocol Test platform - supporting a wide range of protocols such as ISDN, SS7, SIP, Megaco, MGCP, and many more.

"MAPS GSM A and Abis interfaces can simulate BSSMAP and DTAP messages and the signaling specification as defined by 3GPP standards. They support testing network elements MSC and BSS, Error tracking, regression testing, conformance testing, load testing/call generation, and generation of high volumes of GSM traffic.

"The MAPS GSM A and Abis emulation software can run pre-defined test scenarios against GSM A and Abis interface test objects in a controlled & deterministic manner, and supports powerful utilities like Message Editor, Script Editor and Profile Editor which allow new scenarios to be created from existing scenarios using BSSMAP and DTAP messages and parameters.

"GL also provides an independent GUI based GSM protocol analyzer and GUI based GSM Abis TRAU protocol analyzer (optional applications) for online capture and decode of the signaling in real-time both during tests and as a stand-alone tracer for live systems."

KORE Telematics launches international one-rate GSM service

RESTON, USA: KORE Telematics, the world’s largest digital wireless services provider specializing in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, announced the immediate availability of its International One-Rate GSM services. The new program is powered by leading carrier networks and is designed to help specialized Application Service Providers (ASPs) provide global M2M solutions more confidently via single, flat-rate GPRS/3G data services in more than 80 countries.

KORE International One-Rate GSM services are best suited for M2M solution providers requiring high-speed wireless data connectivity throughout Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East. M2M applications, including asset management and control, security, equipment maintenance and industrial telematics, will benefit from a single market tariff with no punitive roaming fees.

“Expanding the global reach of our advanced, real-time tracking solutions requires reliable wireless network support in multiple markets,” said Jerry Hunter, CEO, U.S. Fleet Tracking. “As a long-time KORE partner, we know that the International One-Rate GSM services will help streamline the process of taking our business beyond borders.”

KORE provides full market support in each international region and will monitor all network traffic from its established network operations centers in North America. Customers benefit from a single point of contact for all their network needs and gain simple, standardized usage rounding down to 1KB in all markets.

KORE also carries over its full network and device management package via the KORE PRISM gateway for all international services.

“M2M application adoption continues to proliferate in global markets and KORE is dedicated to helping our partners deliver reliable wireless data connectivity when and where it is needed,” said Alex Brisbourne, president and COO, KORE Telematics.

“KORE International One-Rate GSM carries forth our unique ‘pay for use’ model and ultimately enables KORE to provide GSM services at nearly half the cost of the general market. We take continual pride in making wireless data services completely cost effective and reliable for our partners and look forward to helping them deliver new applications across the globe.”

The International One-Rate GSM program complements the KORE domestic Direct Connect in-country GSM services already available through m2mGlobal Alliance partners in North America, Scandinavia, Australia and Europe, and sets KORE Telematics apart as the only true, single-source provider for all M2M communication needs.

“There is an increasingly large number of M2M applications that truly don’t have a ‘home’ market, including asset and supply chain management solutions. By developing this new service as a complement to our m2mGlobal Alliance solutions, our customers get the best of all worlds,” concluded Brisbourne.

CDMA data network performance has a distinct edge over GSM

MUMBAI, INDIA: The Nielsen Consumer Experience Mobile Test program, which measures wireless network performance of all national and select regional carriers, has successfully completed testing 39 markets for the Phase I of its program (2008-2009).

The Nielsen survey studied differences in Data Network performance between CDMA and GSM technologies. It was observed that CDMA technology has a distinct edge over GSM across all of the top six Data Network performance metrics. CDMA Operator network ranks #1 in HTTP Download Data Rate performance in seven out of the eight metros tested.

The second phase of Nielsen Consumer Experience Mobile Test program is scheduled to commence soon and will include an expanded scope of markets and features.

“The first phase of the survey found stark variation in Data network performance between Market Leader and Market Average, creating opportunities for differentiation particularly in Tier I markets.” said Shankari Panchapakesan, Executive Director, Telecom Practice Group, The Nielsen Company.

Nielsen has also completed the test of the data networks in the top eight metros in India, which reveals an even starker picture of Data network performance in the country. The variation in performance of Data network performance between the market leader and the market average in the Tier I markets creates a bigger and better opportunity for differentiation, especially given the upcoming roll out of 3G networks and the big effort from operators to increase revenues from VAS.

When the top eight metros were assessed for average performance against the six most important data network performance metrics, it was observed that Ahmedabad had some of the best average performance rates.

Consumer’s voice
According to the Nielsen Consumer Insight survey, conducted in the Top 41 Indian cities, which measures customer attitudes and behaviors towards mobile operators, three out of four mobile users (76 percent) in India cite ‘network’ or ‘price’ as the primary reason for choosing their service provider. The same is true for recent acquirers as well -– who have entered the category in the last six months.

“Nielsen’s Consumer Insights data showed that overall satisfaction is a function of, but not limited to network coverage. Markets show both positive and negative overhang of perception versus actual performance.” continued Panchapakesan.

Though CDMA technology has an edge over GSM in both Voice and Data network performance in India, only about 62 percent of new acquisitions (acquired in the last six months) among CDMA players are likely to consider their existing service provider as their next choice. More importantly, a third of them (33 percent) are likely to consider a GSM brand as their first choice as according to the respondents it delivers better on both network and price.

“This trend in perception between GSM and CDMA operators will have an implication on driving customer acquisition, retention and usage initiatives like VAS and 3G which will be used as a means of differentiation. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) will further catalyze this impending market sentiment. The CDMA operators should leverage their inherent network advantage to drive consumer perception of their network.” said Panchapakesan.

GSM/3G market update May 2009: GSA

UK: Key kacts from May 2009 GSM/3G market update, provided by theGlobal mobile Suppliers Association (GSA)!

Network commitments, deployments, launches
· 3G/WCDMA: 284 operators launched in 120 countries
· WCDMA has more than 72.8 percent market share of 390 commercially launched 3G networks
· 94 percent of commercial WCDMA operators have launched HSPA
· 306 HSPA network commitments in 126 countries
· 267 3G/HSDPA operators launched in 114 countries
· 125 HSDPA networks launched in Europe including in all 27 Member States of the European Union
· 196 HSDPA networks have launched 3.6 Mbps (peak) downlink service or higher = over 73 percent of commercial HSDPA operators, thus establishing the baseline for mobile broadband services
· 105 commercial HSDPA networks, i.e. over 39 percent, support 7.2 Mbps (peak) or higher
· 72 HSUPA networks launched in 42 countries, plus another 14 network commitments/deployments
· 10 commercial UMTS900 (i.e. WCDMA-HSPA operating at 900 MHz) networks launched, in Europe, APAC and Latin America
· 4 HSPA+ networks have launched commercial service (21 Mbps downlink peak)
· At least 25 additional HSPA+ operator commitments worldwide
· 31 LTE network operator commitments worldwide
· Up to 12 LTE networks are expected to enter commercial service by end 2010
· 441 GSM/EDGE network commitments in 184 countries; 413 networks launched in 177 countries
· Over 80 percent of commercial GPRS operators globally have committed to EDGE
· 172 of 267 commercially launched HSDPA operators (over 64 percent) also launched EDGE

User devices
· 1,470 HSDPA devices launched by 171 suppliers
· 944 devices support 3.6 Mbps peak or higher (excluding notebooks)
· 514 devices support 7.2 Mbps peak or higher (excluding notebooks)
· 260 HSUPA devices launched (compared to 75 in July 2008) (excl. notebooks)
· 1,068 HSPA devices (over 93 percent) operate in 2100 MHz band (excl. notebooks)
· 512 HSPA devices (over 44 percent) operate in 850 MHz band (excl. notebooks)
· 365 tri-band HSPA devices 850/1900/2100 MHz (excl. notebooks)
· 130 HSPA devices operate in 900 MHz band (UMTS900) (excl. notebooks)
· 212 HSPA phones (including smartphones) incorporate 802.11 WiFi
· 248 HSPA phones (including smartphones) incorporate GPS/positioning functionality
· Over 83 percent of HSDPA devices also support GSM/EDGE

Subscriptions
· 3.72 billion GSM, WCDMA-HSPA subscriptions (Q1 09)
· GSM/WCDMA has 89.4 percent worldwide market share
· Over 329 million WCDMA subs including HSPA worldwide (Q1 09)
· WCDMA now has 8% share of global mobile subscriptions
· 103.8 million HSPA subscriptions (Q4 08) included in the WCDMA subs total
· WCDMA has over 72.3 percent market share of global 3G subscriptions
· APAC has almost 1.6 billion GSM, WCDMA-HSPA subscriptions (Q1 09)
· The BRIC countries –- Brazil, Russia, India, and China together account for over 1.25 billion GSM Subscriptions (Q1 09)
· China and India have a combined total of 907.3 million GSM subs (Q1 09)
· India is estimated to have passed 300 million GSM subs during May 2009
· Western Europe has 576 million GSM, WCDMA-HSPA subscriptions (Q1 09)
· The Western Hemisphere exceeds 554 million GSM, WCDMA-HSPA subscriptions (Q1 09)
· MEA has 541 million GSM subscribers (Q1 09)
· GSA estimates that there are approaching 2 billion GSM, WCDMA and HSPA subscriptions in commercial HSPA-enabled networks worldwide.

Shipment of Taiwan's basic/feature phones exceeds forecasts in 1Q '09

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: According to research of the Taipei-based Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) conducted as part of the ITIS project, shipment volume of the Taiwanese basic/feature phone industry in the first quarter of 2009 is estimated at 10.21 million units.

Even though shipment volume declined sequentially in the first quarter, it was still higher than the 9.42 million units originally forecast. Taiwanese shipment volume did not experience the steep declines which were forecast, and instead rebounded somewhat.

This also caused supply of upstream basic/feature phone component manufacturers to become tight. Meanwhile, ASP (Average Selling Price) of the Taiwanese industry increased from US$43 in the fourth quarter of 2008 to US$45 in the first quarter of 2009. This was caused by the increasing shipment share of EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) products and the fact that some ultra value-line models reached EOL (End of Life).

In the first quarter the Taiwanese basic/feature phone industry obtained rush orders, with companies such as CCI and Arima receiving orders from emerging markets including China, Brazil, Russia and India.

According to MIC Industry Analyst Eddie Tsai: "At the end of November 2008, international vendors significantly reduced orders for the Taiwanese industry, causing a large-scale decline of Taiwanese basic/feature phone shipments; at the beginning of 2009. However, international vendors discovered that channel inventories started to decline. They released orders to their Taiwanese production partners to replenish inventories."

Regarding different system technologies, the EDGE shipment share in the first quarter increased to 5.4 percent as Motorola gradually focused on EDGE in new basic/feature phone outsourcing. As for CDMA products, due to weakening demand, Nokia became more conservative in outsourcing products, causing the CDMA shipment share in Taiwan's
industry to fall 3.5 percentage points to 13.5 percent in the first quarter.

This CDMA decline was not related to the fact that Foxconn previously lost some Nokia engine board orders. WCDMA shipment share fell to 0.4 percent in the first quarter as some Qisda WCDMA models reached EOL. The GSM/GPRS shipment share increased slightly in the first quarter as the CDMA shipment share declined.

Telecom enhances globalization in every possible way!

Is it any other way, apart from this? I was quite surprised on being asked whether telecom growth somehow blocked globalization! Quite the opposite!!

Take the Indian telecom industry for instance! Those who have followed the Indian telecom closely -- right from the days of C-DoT developing 256-switch RAX, down to the introduction of mobile phones -- after massive overbidding by folks such as HFCL in 1994, to the introduction of the Internet in India -- on the eve of India's independence day in 1994 -- the growth of satellite communications in the country in the mid and late nineties -- remember DAMA? -- to, to the introduction of CDMA in the early 2000s, to the great proliferation of mobile phones that we see around us now!

Does any of this indicate India has not been able to globalize?

When C-DoT had introduced RAX in the late 1980s, it really brought about a telecom revolution. Today, we don't talk of C-DoT in the glowing terms that it really deserves. Who would have ever imagined that mobile phones would take off the way they have done now! And well, we just can't survive without the email and the Internet!

Let's trace the global telecom history from the late 1980s. When AMPS gave way to GSM, you had the feature called roaming! People wondered what they would do with this feature? Today, we complain, if we can't roam!

ARIB, Japan, had visited India in early 1994, to try and sell PHS. In those days, PHS and DECT were the hot WiLL technologies. Later, Japan, thanks to Takeshi Natsuno and NTT DoCoMO, saw the advent of i-mode, and well, it indicated the first signs of what mobile Internet would really do!

Pages and pages were rolled out screaming "WAP is CRAP"! Now, all phones are WAP enabled and no one says a word! We love to surf on the mobile phone now, isn't it? What about all those MMS messages, including the sleazy ones? You can do mobile blogging now, can't you? Also, update your Twitter!

In optical networking, in the early nineties, PDH gave way to SDH! We later saw the advent of DWDM and also VCSELs. With the advent of 3G in the late nineties, we discovered W-CDMA. China came up with TD-SCDMA, another 3G technology. For some time, LAS-CDMA tried to make its mark, then I don't know what happened to it!

How many of you know that a simple SMS led to the famous second people power revolution in the Phillipines in early 2001, a peaceful revolution that overthrew Philippine President Joseph (Erap) Estrada!

Why, I still remember, during a spot survey at a Frost & Sullivan's telecom conference in Singapore in 2001, I was one among the three who used the mobile phone to check my Yahoo mails. I received such stares Today, we can't stop talking about Blackberry and iPhone! In Hong Kong, in the early 2000s, I used my Siemens WAP phone to locate Indian restaurants! When Nokia added GPS via HS-CSD in Hong Kong's Citybus in 2000, it was sensational! Today, we talk about LBS and GPS, and all that!

I can go on and on with such anecdotes! If there was no telecom, the world would not have progressed in the manner it has done now. Still having doubts?

NXP India achieves RF CMOS in single chip

NXP Semiconductors India has developed the PNX4902, an ultra low-cost GSM/GPRS single chip, which was announced this February. The highlight -- the entire analog and RF work done has been in Bangalore! You might wonder what's so unique about this!

Well, let's start with what is tough about RF CMOS in single chip! CMOS is primarily a digital process. The analog circuit design in CMOS is tough, and the RF circuit design in CMOS is even tougher. Now, the co-existence of RF CMOS circuits with noisy digital in a single chip was (and is) considered the holy grail of chip design.

Next, cellular standards (such as GSM, EDGE) and specs are much tougher than other comparable standards like FM, Bluetooth, etc. Also, some key cellular parameters like RX sensitivity become tougher for single chips aimed at emerging markets. Especially, we all know that base stations are sparse in rural areas. Taking all of these as a whole -- RF design in presence of digital noise is the biggest challenge in a single chip!

Factors enabling single chip design
There are said to be three factors. One, RF CMOS is the high quality analog/RF design in CMOS. The high-performance RF blocks like LNA, mixers, etc., used to be the domain of BiCMOS, a higher cost technology. Next, fine-line CMOS (0.18mm and lower) provide high fT and lower noise.

Two, there are new architectures that minimize analog signal processing. Chip designers to convert the analog signal to digital -- so they might as well do it early -- analog-to-digital conversion at the IF, instead of at DC. There's also a need to move the final down-conversion and filtering into digital domain.

Three, the use of DSP to calibrate the analog performance. Things like temperature and process sensitivities in analog circuits need adjustments. Also, the digital engines can provide the ability to 'lock-in' the performance. Finally, a strong 'engineering culture' is a MUST to execute on complex chips.

Factors enabling AeroFone single chip design
NXP had acquired Silicon Labs Wireless group in 2007. Silicon Labs was a leader in RF CMOS, and so it also acquired numerous patents and trade secrets. Trade secrets for integration of RF CMOS circuits with noisy digital provide an edge over competitors as the integration intensifies.

Thereafter, NXP went on to form the NXP India single-chip design team. As single chip products are designed for emerging economies, NXP India invested heavily to develop the design expertise in Bangalore. The seed group of chip leads and system leads relocated from USA to India to start an analog/RF competency center for developing highly integrated chips.

The NXP India single chip design team has the vision to be the best center of competence in architecture and design of highly integrated circuits (ICs) for emerging market products. It is building the best analog/RF group in India.