The trial, expected to last two years, aims to evaluate and understand the performance and service capabilities of the experimental W-CDMA system in Singapore. It will also test the compatibility of W-CDMA with local, on-line broadband multimedia services such as SingTel Magix and the SingaporeOne network.

A third generation W-CDMA system is capable of providing high-resolution video and high-speed Internet connections as well as voice and fax transmissions at a speed of up to 2 Mbps over the air interface. Customers will not be restricted to just voice communications as in the past but are also able to enjoy increased options like information and entertainment services that can be delivered via wireless terminals.

"Today, many of us use the mobile phone just as a talking device. In future, users will want to be able to use their mobile phones to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail and gain access to multimedia applications," said Brigadier-General Lee Hsien Yang, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Telecom Group. "SingTel believes in taking the lead in meeting our customers’ needs for mobile multimedia services in the years ahead."

Professor Hang Chang Chieh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of National University of Singapore, said, "I am very happy to witness today this collaboration between industry and public organisation across nations on a project of such significance that will, I am sure, contribute much towards further enhancing Singapore as a telecommunications hub."

Mr Kouji Ohboshi, Chairman of NTT DoCoMo, said that to carry out the joint experiment in Singapore is "of great significance as the first step to the next generation mobile communication technology towards the 21^st century is starting right here in Asia, by the hands of Asians".

SingTel Mobile is the project leader for the trial in Singapore, providing the test bed and necessary infrastructure for the experiments such as leased lines and the connection to the local telephone and SingaporeOne networks. NTT DoCoMo is responsible for the design, delivery and setting up of the W-CDMA experimental system in Singapore. The Centre for Wireless Communications provides the space and facilities for the simulator and the base stations. It will also perform system experiments along with research and development activities on W-CDMA.

Information about the companies

SingTel Mobile

SingTel Mobile, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Telecom, is the pioneer mobile phone service provider in Singapore. It currently has more than 700,000 customers on its AMPS and GSM networks and prepaid services. It is also one of the world’s first to offer the DualBand GSM/GSM1800 service which allows customers to enjoy mobile phone service on both networks using one handphone and a SIM card. SingTel Mobile is the only operator in Asia to offer the most extensive roaming services to more than 10,000 cities in 84 countries worldwide.

Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC)

The CWC of the National University of Singapore is a national R&D centre funded by the Singapore National Science and Technology Board (NSTB). CWC’s primary activities are centred on conducting strategic and industry-relevant R&D in telecommunications and the training of suitable R&D manpower for the Singapore telecommunications industry.

NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (NTT DoCoMo)

NTT DoCoMo is an integrated mobile communications operator, which provides cellular phone, paging, satellite mobile communication, maritime telephone and in-flight telephone services in Japan. These services are provided throughout the nation by nine regionally operated companies. The number of cellular phone subscribers for the whole group exceeded 22 million at the end of December 1998 and consolidated sales reached 2,600 billion yen for fiscal year 1997, ended March 1998.