UMTS (3G) 

UMTS (3G) offers a vast performance improvement on GPRS and therefore tremendous opportunities for delivering innovative mobile applications, content and solutions to customers.

UMTS (3G, or W-CDMA) services have required a completely new communications technology to be deployed by GSM operators. To ensure that the services can be fully exploited, the larger spectrum 2GHz frequency band has been allocated. For example, one 5MHz UMTS carrier can handle mixed services, ranging in speed from 8kbps to 384kbps or faster, while UMTS terminals can access several different services simultaneously.

3G technology has introduced other improvements to the functionality of the overall system, primarily aimed at increasing capacity. These include:

 Support for adaptive antenna arrays, which optimises the antenna pattern for each individual mobile device
 Support for multi-user detection, which eliminates interference within a cell and improves quality

3G has been designed to support environments that employ a new handover method to allow 3G to inter-operate within existing 2G networks.

This particular feature provides users with an identical or similar user experience when they are roaming compared to when they are in their home network. There are handover mechanisms inherently available within the 3G specification which support handover between 2G and 3G networks.

Orange's UK 3G consumer offering includes:

 UK's broadest 2G/3G integrated network: 3G coverage available to 70% of the UK population with seamless 2G/3G handover
 Most comprehensive handset launch portfolio: Four available on day of launch, two more followed shortly after 
 Faster, personalised access to Orange World: exclusive video entertainment and information services, email and Internet access
 Dynamic new communications services: Orange Video Calling comes with Orange Video Answerphone
 'Early Adopter' tariffs: 12 month contracts start from just £30 per month which includes voice, text, Orange Video Calling, Orange World, Internet and email access
 Dedicated customer services support: Free 24-hour 3G customer services hotline and more than 2,000 phone trainers in Orange shops nationwide
 3G Roaming and UK network interoperability from launch: video call with friends and family regardless of 3G network provider

additional Orange 3G network information