KEY POINTS:
The acronyms fly thick and fast during a discussion on mobile network technology, and it doesn't help that telco marketers throw their own terminology into the mix.
Telecom is ditching its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network in favour of a W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) platform.
W-CDMA is the 3G iteration of GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), the dominant international mobile technology platform. 3G (third generation) networks are those with the capacity to deliver advanced services - such as mobile broadband and video calling - as well as voice calls. Telecom intends using HSPA+ technology (Evolved High Speed Packet Access), an advanced version of HSPA, a 3G technology.
Telecom was criticised in 2004 when its marketing department devised the term "T3G" to promote its mobile network, which at the time was described as providing an inferior 2.5G service, rather than 3G. Another element to mobile networks is the radio spectrum band they operate on. Telecom is using 850 MegaHertz spectrum, so calls its new W-CDMA network "W850 technology," although it will also use 2100MHz spectrum.
Vodafone, meanwhile, has a W-CDMA network using the 900MHz band and HSDPA technology (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) - another variant from the HSPA family.
Telecom used to run the 1G (first generation) 025 network using AMPS technology (Advanced Mobile Phone System) but shut it down in March last year.
