GPRS -> Timeline

When a new service is introduced, there are a number of stages before it becomes established. GPRS service developments will include standardization, infrastructure development, network trials, contracts placed, network roll out, availability of terminals, application development, and so on. These stages for GPRS are:

Like the GSM standard itself, GPRS will be introduced in phases. Phase 1 is expected to be available commercially in the year 2000/1. Point to Point GPRS (sending information to a single GPRS user) will be supported, but not Point to Multipoint (sending the same information to several GPRS users at the same time). GPRS Phase 2 is not yet fully defined, but is expected to support higher data rates through the possible incorporation of techniques such as EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), in addition to Point-to-Multipoint support.

Date Milestone

Throughout 1999 Network operators place trial and commercial contracts for GPRS infrastructure

2000 Incorporation of GPRS infrastructure into GSM networks

Summer of 2000 - First trial GPRS services become available. Typical single user throughput is likely to be 28 kbps.
- For example, T-Mobil is planning a GPRS trial at Expo2000 in Hanover in the Summer of 2000

Start of 2001 Basic GPRS capable terminals begin to be available in commercial quantities

Throughout 2001 - Network operators launch GPRS services commercially and roll out GPRS.
- Vertical market and executive GPRS early adopters begin using it regularly for nonvoice mobile communications

2001/2 - Typical single user throughput is likely to be 56 kbps.
- New GPRS specific applications, higher bitrates, greater network capacity solutions, more capable terminals become available, fuelling GPRS usage

2002 - Typical single user throughput is likely to be 112 kbps.
- GPRS Phase 2/ EDGE begins to emerge in practice

2002 GPRS is routinely incorporated into GSM mobile phones and has reached critical mass in terms of usage. (This is the equivalent to the status of SMS in 1999)

2002/3 UMTS arrives commercially

Source Mobile Lifestreams


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