GPRS in a world premiere

• RadioMobil has made the most progress in GPRS technology implementation in the GSM network in the CR, and is among first four operators in the world
• The Paegas GSM network will become one of the largest internet access providers by the end of the year
• Introduction of GPRS based services to public at ComNet will be a world premiere

All visitors of the ComNet trade-fair can try out GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) transmission in real operation within the Paegas GSM network. Specialists from RadioMobil and Motorola, who implements GPRS, have several tens mobile phones supporting the new technology at their disposal. "We have chosen a supplier that has made the most progress in the world with GPRS, and this is also reflected by the readiness of the Paegas network for commercial launch, if we understand "commercial" as the moment when the services are commonly offered to all potential customers," the managing director of RadioMobil Klaus Tebbe said.

"The expert public knows the letters GPRS very well. However, we are the first in the world to introduce the services hidden behind this abbreviation at ComNet," Klaus Tebbe said. The new technology will bring fast data transmissions based on packet transmission, and on-line internet connection similar to local network connection. There will be no more waiting for call assembly since the phone is connected all the time. Thanks to channel sharing the data transmission is significantly more efficient than when using so-called switched circuits, i.e. regular data connection, where the user occupies the channel also at times of no transmission. This influences also the billing of the new service, because you pay for the volume of transferred data. Because of its characteristics is GPRS determined to become a competitor of fixed lines with the advantage of mobility, also when roaming. Thanks to GPRS you can access the internet and intranet, even through a secured, encrypted tunnel; as a matter of course you can send and receive e-mail as well as use WAP based applications. Furthermore there will be access to operators applications and real-time applications such as on-line transactions or interactive games. "The public is not interested in the technology itself, a fully functional product ready to use is crucial. Paegas offers many such products, without having to acquaint customers with technology," Klaus Tebbe added.

The first data transmission using GPRS was carried out by the British Cellnet on 8^th April last year, a successful transmission in the Paegas GSM network followed only four days after that. Since then there were many such transmissions, which tested various services including WAP. At the end of November (23^rd to be exact) the Austrian Mobilkom tried out a data transmission within GPRS and on 14^th February the Hungarian Westel 900 announced a successful WAP standard information transmission through GPRS. All three operators mentioned have chosen Motorola as a supplier. "Before we offer services to customers we have to be sure that the network is well prepared for their launch. We would not dare sell something that has not been tested according to our technicians, although another operator might not hesitate to do so," Klaus Tebbe remarked.

"If someone is the first in Central Europe in implementing GPRS today, then they must be about 9 months behind the rest of the world and probably live outside of Prague," the marketing director Robert Chvátal commented on the race in launching GPRS based services. First phones supporting the GPRS technology should appear on the market by the end of this year. At that time RadioMobil wants to start offering customers services based on the new technology. "The number of people having immediate internet access is relatively low in the Czech Republic. But from the moment we start offering GPRS based services, this number can multiply several times," the marketing director of RadioMobil Robert Chvátal added.

Brief time schedule of GPRS technology implementation in the Paegas network:

24^th April 1999
RadioMobil chose a supplier - the Motorola company

5^th May 1999
Contract on implementation of GPRS in the Paegas network signed

17th September 1999
The system installed in the exchange, laboratory tests start

13^th October 1999
The system is fully integrated, which allows a complete end-to-end connection through radio interface

12^th November 1999
The first "commercial" data transmission in the "live" network (an e-mail from the HavlíÄŤkĹŻv Brod woods sent to the management of RadioMobil and Motorola by a Motorola worker (who is RadioMobils standard customer)

15^th February 2000
A successful data transmission using GPRS within a WAP application March 2000 A load test - several hundreds of BTS with GPRS were put into operation in Prague and surroundings

 

RadioMobil Incorporated is the operator of the most dynamically growing GSM network in CR. During 1999 over 500 thousand new customers decided for its services, which is the highest number in the history of mobile communications in CR. The Paegas GSM network that RadioMobil operates belongs to the most technologically developed networks in the world and has no competitor in a whole range of services on the Czech market.

Only in the Paegas network really all customers, not excluding prepaid Paegas Twist card owners, can use the most modern services: free data and fax connection, GSM Banking, WAP based services, Paegas Asistent and others. So far only RadioMobil offers the possibility of ordering services via the internet or view the bill thanks to the Paegas Info Profil service. They can always be sure they chose the most effective operator on the Czech market.

The RadioMobil Company can fully rely on its shareholders: ÄŚeské radiokomunikace 51 % (after enforcing the option its share will decrease to 39.2 % during 2001) and the consortium CMobil - 49 % (60.8 % respectively). The consortium CMobil is: T-Mobil - a 100 % subsidiary company of Deutsche Telekom (84.55 %), TIM - Telecom Italia Mobile (12 %); other shareholders are SKS - SpoĹ?itelní kapitálová spoleÄŤnost a.s., TMP - TelekomunikaÄŤní montáže Praha a.s., PVT a.s.

The Paegas GSM network today covers over 99 % of the Czech population and 99.8 % of first-class roads. Customers can use a Paegas GSM mobile phone in networks of 171 operators from almost 80 countries of the whole world. In 1999 RadioMobil invested more than 5.5 billion crowns in its network, and for 2000 it plans investments exceeding 10 billion. At the end of March 2000 over 1 050 000 customers were using the Paegas services.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.