7640 - motorola flyer

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Motorola pips competitors

to the UMTS post with

PA testing technologyWith the support of an engineering team from PA Consulting Group, Motorola

was able to demonstrate working UMTS technology ahead of the

competition. The two companies produced a convincing demonstration

of Motorola�s 3G (third generation) base station in time for one of the

earliest trade shows in this field � a joint achievement that helped to

assure Motorola a leading position in 3G infrastructure provision.

A high degree of determination on the part of both managers and engineers,

coupled with solid R&D backup, enabled PA to manage the uncertainties of

this new technical environment, and so to meet Motorola�s timescale � one

that had at first sight looked impossibly demanding.

In the event, this closely collaborative project achieved in three months what

both parties felt would normally take double that time.

Tackling the �impossible�

In late 1998, Motorola was in the process of developing a base station for 3G

mobile telephony. That project was going well, but because this technological

environment was completely new, there was a lack of equipment with which to

test the base station. The Motorola team anticipated that it would have to

develop its own test equipment, and had, in fact, begun to do so, but there

was a concern that this subsidiary project was consuming effort that could

better be devoted to the main project. In the meantime, PA had been carrying

out research in the same area, both internally and for a group of clients.

This early research had already delivered a demonstrator � a box that, while

bearing no physical resemblance to any mobile phone, accurately simulated

the behaviour of a 3G phone, and therefore aided understanding as to how

high bandwidth transmissions would work in practice.

�It was only

through the

outstanding

dedication of both

of our teams, and

their seamless

co-operation,

that we were

able to achieve

all we did.�

Ian Bartlett

Motorola



It was clear that this demonstrator could form the basis for a solution to satisfy

Motorola�s requirement for test equipment. PA approached Motorola with the

proposition, and the two companies agreed to work together. That decision

was taken in late 1998. There was a close fit between what Motorola needed

and what PA already had, but the complicating factor was that Motorola was

determined to show its product in action at the GSM World Conference in

Cannes. Scheduled for February 1999, that conference was only about three

months away by the time the joint project got underway. The two companies

were therefore confronted with a schedule that was hair-raising even by the

standards of the mobile communications industry � a schedule, indeed, that

some engineers believed would be impossible to meet. But senior

management within both Motorola and PA were committed to meeting the

deadline, and agreed to do whatever it took.

Top-down collaboration

In order to make the original demonstrator into a comprehensive test aid, PA

had to develop some additional hardware and software. But most of the effort

during the three months was spent in collaborating with Motorola to make sure

that the two pieces of equipment would work smoothly together across a radio

link. While some of the development was done in PA�s Cambridge laboratory,

the eight-strong PA team also spent a lot of time on site at Motorola�s

premises in Swindon.



Their task was complicated by the fact that, inevitably, both pieces of kit were

still under development. But by working shoulder to shoulder the teams were

able to keep their respective development projects in line, and so ensure that

the two pieces being developed in parallel would ultimately fit together.

Through a high level of personal commitment from both teams of engineers,

together with a clear focus on the project goal, Motorola and PA succeeded in

getting the combined system ready for demonstration at Cannes, beating the

deadline by a couple of days.

Establishing leadership in 3G

As a result of combining the fruits of PA�s R&D activities with its own,

Motorola achieved the first-ever UMTS demonstration � credit for which it

was happy to share with PA. The demonstration drew plaudits from even the

most sceptical exhibition-goers. Inevitably other products emerged shortly

afterwards, but by that time Motorola�s strength as a leader in 3G technology

was already proven.

Not only did adopting PA�s test mobile avoid the need for Motorola to develop

its own, it also provided an additional level of quality assurance. Motorola was

able to validate its interpretation of the new standards against the independent

interpretation that was embodied in PA�s equipment.



A win-win outcome

From start to finish this project turned out to be a �win-win� for the two

companies. Subsequently, Motorola ordered several more of PA�s test mobiles

to help with its ongoing development work. Meanwhile, the test mobile has

gone on to become an important product line for PA subsidiary UbiNetics, and

a de facto standard item for mobile technology vendors needing to prove

UMTS solutions.

Explaining the success of the original project, PA�s Phil White says, �Motorola�s

in-house team for this project was extremely strong. We were happy that we

could provide a high-calibre resource to complement theirs, and together meet

the vital delivery date.� For Motorola�s Ian Bartlett, effective collaboration and

sheer hard work were the secret. �It was only through the outstanding

dedication of both of our teams, and their seamless co-operation, that we were

able to achieve all we did.�

For further information call +44 1763 267492 or

e-mail: [email protected]

Principal national offices in

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan,

Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People�s Republic of China (offices in Beijing and Hong Kong),

Russian Federation, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

All rights reserved © PA Consulting Group, 2002

Lon~7640

Corporate headquarters

123 Buckingham Palace Road

London SW1W 9SR

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 7730 9000

Fax: +44 20 7333 5050

www.paconsulting.com

E-mail: [email protected]

PA Consulting Group is a leading management, systems and technology consulting firm,

operating worldwide from over 40 offices in more than 20 countries.

Cambridge Technology Centre

Melbourn

Herts SG8 6DP

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1763 261222

Fax: +44 1763 260023

7640 - motorola flyer

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