Corporate, business and industrial data communication networks

June 2004 IT infrastructure

Mobile voice communication has been the original intended use for various technologies, inclusive of radio, satellite and cellular technologies.

The rapidly increasing need for mobile data solutions has forced technologies like this to evolve into the state-of-the-art infrastructures we find ourselves depending on for day-to-day living. The peace of mind of knowing that your car is where you left it, and your parcel is safely on its way to its intended destination, on a truck you can be sure is being driven properly, are just a few examples of where mobile data transfer becomes fundamental components of business function.

Merging of various components, designed for ease of living, has provided data applications, a foundation on which new technologies have emerged. A perfect example of this is the 'intelligent home', where an Internet-enabled refrigerator can automatically order milk after detecting a shortage. Other technologies are also implemented to provide the user transparent control over the security, comfort and general running of a household.

The voice market has imposed itself into the data transfer market, through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Although bandwidth providers do not look upon this method of conversation favourably, it remains the most cost-effective medium for voice communication. Cellular network service providers particularly disapprove of this voice communication method, largely because of the potential loss in revenue resulting from this, although the 'push-to-talk' concept has reared its head in some European GPRS carriers.

GPRS is one of the first steps to true 3G cellular telecommunication, originally designed to empower mainstream handset markets, with the ability to send multimedia messages, audio streaming and other features including faster WAP applications. Various formats of GSM/GPRS modems, with their functional user interfaces, allow the mobile office to become a reality. These technological wonders have given mobility to Internet connections, e-mail and fax over and above the general functions available through a cellular handset.

The most difficult obstacle to overcome when porting a circuit switched data application to GPRS, besides the need for implementation of TCP/IP protocol stacks, is the dynamic assignment of IP addresses by the network operators. For certain protocols over TCP/IP, like FTP, this is of no consequence, but continues to be a serious obstacle in the way of peer-to-peer communication between GPRS devices. It is possible to obtain fixed IP addresses for the devices and private access points within the network operator infrastructure, but at a cost, making it an unattractive solution for small-to-medium enterprises. Until IP6 becomes a commercial solution for Internet users, GPRS peer-to-peer communication will remain a developer's nemesis in the machine-to-machine data transfer industry.

Keeping abreast, at the rate at which communication networks are merging, has become an increasingly difficult task. GSM/GPRS handsets are Bluetooth and infrared enabled, capable of accessing the Internet backbone and ultimately communicating with devices on LANs, ISDN, industrial and process control networks and so forth. Furthermore, devices used for data transfer in vehicle and asset tracking and management systems are now available with onboard satellite positioning hardware and software components, allowing a complete product in one package (like the Wavecom's GPRS class10, automotive approved Q2501B module).

The future of the mobile communication market with regards to 3G technologies has yet to be decided. Wideband CDMA and UMTS are still going head-to-head for the preferred technology, although UMTS has started appearing in certain European countries, with bandwidth available for mobile video streaming - the video phone featured in James Bond and other Sci-Fi movies of the '80s - becoming a reality. The burning question still remains, where to from here?

For more information contact Trinity Telecomms, 011 465 7377, [email protected]



Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

The future of innovative business lies at the edge
IT infrastructure
Connectivity issues previously limited Edge's potential, but innovations like 5G and IoT have made it seamless. The data generated by connected devices enhances analytics, and AI improves customer experiences.

Read more...
AI-powered cyber protection for consumers
IT infrastructure Cyber Security
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is designed for the evolving landscape of cyber threats by integrating Acronis' cyber protection and secure backup solutions, combining AI-powered defence mechanisms, robust data backup, remote management tools, and mobile device protection.

Read more...
Paratus signs re-seller agreement with Starlink for Africa
News IT infrastructure
Pan-African telco and network services provider Paratus Group announced it has entered an agreement as a distributor for Starlink’s high-speed services across the African continent, available immediately in Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria.

Read more...
What is the 3-2-1 rule
IT infrastructure
Data corruption is a bit like a car accident. It does not happen often to a person, but when it does, even a minor fender bender can create inconvenience, and a major smash can cause months, even years, of problems.

Read more...
Undersea cable incidents highlight need for network resilience
IT infrastructure
South Africa's undersea cable network is an indispensable digital lifeline, tethering the country to the global digital community. Daily, these cables process terabytes of data, underpinning near every local sector.

Read more...
Secure backup strategies imperative for business continuity
IT infrastructure Cyber Security
Cybercrime is on the rise, and businesses need to adjust how they manage their data to fend off attackers, or risk irreparable damage, writes Lisa Strydom, Senior Manager Channel and Alliance for Africa at Veeam Software.

Read more...
The state of edge security report
News IT infrastructure
Edge computing has grown from being a niche use case in a handful of industries to offering a major opportunity for enterprises across industries to spread computing power around the world.

Read more...
Managing the allure of Azure (without the costs)
IT infrastructure
Microsoft Azure has proven an appealing digital solution for organisations wanting to embed digital and embrace digital transformation, but the cost has to be carefully managed.

Read more...
Migrating to the cloud? Beware the many hurdles
IT infrastructure Security Services & Risk Management
While there are undoubtedly many benefits, there are also numerous hurdles to cloud adoption. Some of the biggest challenges revolve around managing cloud spend, understanding the cost components of cloud infrastructure, and how those costs can scale.

Read more...
How managed services keep the edge ecosystem afloat
IT infrastructure
A survey by the Uptime Institute found that the impact of data centre downtime has grown in severity, making the availability (of data centres), at the core and at the edge, a key concern for organisations.

Read more...