Deputy Managing Director of NT Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai said that they were making final preparation to launch the service and test calls were completed successfully last week.[break]
China based Huawei had won the $ 30 million tender for the implementation of "2 million IP-CDMA project" under two different phases.
Based on Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) technology, NT is introducing Revision A (REV A) version that increase the peak data rate on the reverse and forward links enabling customers to send large files, high resolution photographs and videos from mobile devices. IP CDMA users will also be able to make VoIP calls, video telephony and others.
Bhattarai said, “The introduction of service will make wireless surfing easier and those living in rural areas can also have access to high speed internet.”
Under this project 70 percent of lines will be based on EV-DO and remaining will have Packet Data Servicing Node (PDSN) - the service which is also being used by some of the users of CDMA at present. The latest statistics show there are around 175,000 CDMA users using PDSN.
Customers will have to purchase RIM card worth Rs 300 and should have EV-DO enabled handsets which is not currently available in the market. According to NT official the price of the handset will be equivalent to 3G handset. Likewise, the price of EV-DO enabled smartphone could be more than Rs 10,000. Those who want to use IP-CDMA in their laptop will have to purchase a flash drive which NT plans to introduce in the price range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.
The operator is planning to complete the "make one million IP CDMA service" available in Eastern and Central Development region by the end of coming fiscal year. Similarly, the remaining one million IP CDMA lines will be distributed in Western, Mid-Western and Far Western Development region.
NT is targeting this modern wireless technology to customers of cities as well as suburb and rural areas. The service will also felicitate NT to accomplish its target to make broadband service available in all the VDCs.
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