Vodafone
From Tribewanted
Summary from the Tech Tikina
Vodafone is primarily a cellular telephone service provider. Voice and data are transmitted using cellular towers with a range of approximately 20 miles. Currently, cellular Internet access is fairly slow (slightly slower than a dial-up modem.) A newer technology called 3G offers higher connection speed (up to 384 kbps), but this technology is just now in its roll-out phase.
Vodafone is the exclusive mobile telephone service provider under license in Fiji with a customer base of over 200,000. Other mobile telecom companies are attempting to enter the Fijian market. In December 2005, Vodafone Fiji issued proceedings to prevent the government from issuing a second licence in breach of Vodafone’s exclusivity rights.
Review of Vodafone's annual report shows no mention of satellite based systems. They are primarialy a mobile telecommunications company. Should Internet access be provided by Vodafone, it is likely to be low-speed cellular service, suitable for email and low-bandwith Internet access.
Note that this information is preliminary. Ben is currently on the ground in Fiji and may have a substantial update for the tribe soon.
The following information is from Vodafone's 2006 annual report:
Background
Vodafone Group Plc is the world’s leading mobile telecommunications company, with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States through the Company’s subsidiary undertakings, joint ventures, associated undertakings and investments.
Vodafone (the Group) provides a wide range of voice and data mobile telecommunications services, including text messages (“SMS”), picture messages (“MMS”) and other data services, and is continually developing and enhancing service offerings, particularly through third generation (“3G”) mobile technology which is being deployed in the majority of the Group’s operations. Services are provided to both consumers and corporate customers, through a variety of both prepaid and contract tariff arrangements.
At 31 March 2006, based on the registered customers of mobile telecommunications ventures in which it had equity interests at that date, the Group had approximately 170.6 million customers, calculated on a proportionate basis in accordance with the Group’s percentage interest in these ventures, and 518.0 million registered venture customers.
Network Infrastructure
When a voice call or data transmission is made on a mobile device, voice or data is sent from the device and transmitted by low powered radio signals to the nearest base station, which in turn is connected to the Group’s network. Each base station provides coverage over a given geographic area, often referred to as a cell. Cells can be as small as an individual building or as large as 20 miles across. Each cell is equipped with its own radio transmitter and receiver antenna. This network of cells provides, within certain limitations, coverage over the service area. When a customer using a mobile device approaches the boundary of one cell, the mobile network senses that the signal is becoming weak and automatically hands over the call to the transmission unit in the next cell into which the device is moving.
2G
Vodafone operates 2G networks in all its mobile operating subsidiaries, principally through GSM networks, offering customers services such as voice, text messaging and basic data services. In addition, all of the Group’s controlled networks, with the exception of Albania, operate GPRS, often referred to as 2.5G. GPRS allows mobile devices to be used for sending and receiving data over an internet protocol (“IP”) based network, enabling wireless access to data networks like the internet. The GPRS data service offering includes internet and e-mail access allowing the customer to be always connected at download speeds slightly below a dial-up modem. Vodafone also offers a great variety of services on its Vodafone live! portal, such as picture and video messaging, download of ringtones, news and many other services.
3G
Vodafone’s 3G networks, operating the W-CDMA standard, provide customers with mobile broadband data access, allowing data download speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second (“kbps”), which is up to seven times faster than a dial-up modem. Vodafone has expanded its service offering on 3G networks with high speed internet and e-mail access, video telephony, full track music downloads, mobile TV and other data services in addition to existing voice and data services.
