WiMAX Wi-fi on steroids, the technology allows for access speeds up to 70 megabits per second (Mbps). Base stations provide 'hot zones' of coverage with a radius of 50km, but Hong Kong's population density means stations are likely to be deployed closer together. By year-end, 'nomadic' services for portable devices could be available, with fully mobile services with cellular-like handoff available by 2007. HSDPA High-speed download packet access is a much-needed upgrade for 3G operators. Theoretical speed is 14.4Mbps, although equipment vendors are initially promising 1.8Mbps by year-end. Still, this is much faster than the current 384 kilobits per second. Although it is characterised as a 'software upgrade', 3G operators will need to deploy additional base stations to provide access speeds greater than 1.8Mbps. Fixed-mobile convergence The meshing of fixed-line and mobile networks. Industry players envision offering content and services across networks, wherever users are, using any device. Watching Sex and the City at home on broadband TV? Viewers will be able to take the show on the road using multiple devices in a seamless transition, without worrying whether they are accessing a Wi-fi, WiMAX, 3G or fixed-line network. Ultra-wideband Your plasma TV is in the living room, while your computer, which acts as a multimedia server, is in the study. How do you get massive video files from your computer to your TV without running unsightly cables across your flat? The answer is ultra-wideband. Initial transfer rates are promised at 60Mbps, within a range of one to five metres. The technology could be here by 2007. Digital video broadcasting for handhelds DVB-H for short, this European technology is similar to terrestrial digital video broadcasting, except viewers can use portable devices to pick up TV signals. South Korea is developing a similar technology called the terrestrial-digital multimedia broadcast system. Hong Kong has yet to embrace terrestrial digital video broadcasting, let alone a mobile version.
