Peoples Telephone will launch an alternative to third-generation (3G) networks called enhanced data rate for global evolution (Edge) in the fourth quarter, although service speeds are expected to be less than half the promised rate.
Peoples chief executive Charles Henshaw said the company was also considering partnering with another alternative to 3G, PCCW's Wi-Fi hot spots, to offer greater value to its customers. But he said there was no Wi-Fi to Edge network-roaming solution yet.
The company will start trials of Edge, a higher-speed mobile network than general packet radio service (GPRS), in the third quarter. It will roll out new services such as Java games and video downloads in the fourth quarter.
'In theory, Edge is supposed to deliver at speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second,' Mr Henshaw said. 'In reality, it will probably be between 100Kbps to 120Kbps.'
Present GPRS networks in Hong Kong deliver speeds of 30Kbps to 40Kbps, compared with initially promised speeds of more than 100Kbps.
Analysts have cautioned that so-called higher-speed networks like 3G and Edge will also not deliver to 'textbook' speeds.
