Vodafone has made the first 3G phone call from a real UK network.
Mobile operator Vodafone on Monday made the first mobile phone call using a real 3G network in the UK. While other operators have made calls using test networks, this call used the actual base stations that Vodafone will use when its network launches. It now has 30 operational base stations near its Newbury, UK headquarters.
Obviously, it’s good news. Had the call failed, Vodafone’s chances of delivering 3G on time would have looked weaker. But it’s hardly earth shattering. 30 stations covering one small area of the UK is a long way from the license obligation to cover 80% of the population. It will still be very hard for Vodafone to complete its network by its scheduled time of late 2002.
The task isn’t as doomed as some commentators fear. The rumored threat to rollout from rural movement restrictions due to foot and mouth disease is in reality negligible, given how heavily urbanized the UK is. Nor is Vodafone likely to run out of money. So the firm still stands a good chance of getting its network operational by early 2003, at least.
The biggest problem won’t be with networks, but with handsets. This has already been seen with 2.5G GPRS services: many European operators have built GPRS networks, but handset manufacturers just can’t supply enough product. Vodafone doesn’t expect significant numbers of GPRS users before the end of this year. Worse, the lack of handsets has meant that operators have been unable to test their networks enough to offer a commercial service.
The same problem looks likely to recur for 3G. Out of the eleven firms contracted to supply trailblazer NTT DoCoMo with handsets, only two will have devices ready for the launch next month. And DoCoMo has been much more proactive in building relationships with manufacturers than other European or Asian operators. Operators such as Vodafone run the risk of building out their multi-billion dollar networks, only to find there aren’t enough phones to use them.
