UMA: How Wireless Convergence Starts

A recent article in BCR (November 2005, pp. 12-13) presented "A Framework for Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC)." In the article, UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) was identified as a mobile-centric technology for converging cellular and fixed networks, but there were some misunderstandings that should

Now a 3GPP global standard, UMA was originally developed by major mobile and fixed/mobile operators and their primary vendors to create a cellular/Wi-Fi convergence solution to support all existing mobile voice and data services, easily integrate into existing mobile networks, support all WLAN environments, and be compatible with future network evolution plans, including IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem).

Uniquely, UMA is not a solution looking for a problem. Rather, mobile and fixed/mobile operators are using UMA to accelerate (or manage) fixed-to-mobile substitution and address the growing threat from new VOIP services.

Today there is strong commercial momentum behind the standard. By the end of 2005, most major mobile handset vendors-Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG-as well as infrastructure vendors-Ericsson, Nokia, Alcatel, Kineto-had announced their intention to deliver UMA products. These product plans are driven by major operators that have indicated their intent to deploy UMA as part of FMC initiatives, some announced (like British Telecom, TeliaSonera, Telecom Italia) and many not yet announced.