Page 5 - DECT Today - Issue 1 - April 2014

DECT FORUM The DECT Forum today Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunica- tions (DECT) technology was launched in 1987 and has since then developed into one of the most reliable and flexible ULE Alliance digital radio access standards for cordless communication. DECT is installed in over Other technologies and features are making 245 million households worldwide and use of DECT's solid foundations, such as Ultra- features in more than 80 million new Low-Energy (ULE), which was created based on systems for the home sold annually. the proven and established DECT standard and so benefits from years of industry support. As a consequence of its longevity, The DECT Forum has formed a DECT ULE continuous development and use of protected working group to improve the time-to-market radio spectrum, DECT enjoys interference-free of this technology. According to Zipp: "Its job reception, with no need for licences, and with is to promote the usage of ULE for home high levels of security. The global standard is connectivity." A consortium of the frontrunner designed to support both applications at a companies involved with ULE has been cost that encourages widespread adoption. awarded Eurostar funding by the EU, which DECT provides personal telecommunication will also speed up standardisation and services in residential, neighbourhoods and improve time-to-market. business environments. The DECT Forum's role is to support DECT content even more useful. We will go forward Interoperability industry partners working together and to with many innovations into 2014." develop the technology by campaigning, ULE works. In recent months, the Forum This is part of the DECT Forum's wider protecting and expanding the spectrum, being concluded the sixth ULE Interoperability (IOP) mission, to support a collaborative actively involved with standards bodies such test event, with the main focus being to test environment within the DECT industry and as ETSI, and running certification programmes. all functions defined in the ETSI standard drive programmes to develop and improve released in April 2013. DECT wireless technology in order to exceed The IOP event was fully successful in wireless communications expectations and New DECT technologies – CAT-iq proving the interoperability of ULE devices meet the needs of a technology-shifting across different hardware and software world. DECT is a continuously evolving technology and implementations, with all three major chipset This means the Forum will campaign for new versions such as Cordless Advanced vendors (Dialog Semiconductors, DSP Group DECT technology, will protect and expand the Technology - Internet & Quality (CAT-iq) have and Lantiq) participating. They successfully allocation of DECT frequencies worldwide, and already been developed. CAT-iq has added to interoperated their devices across all layers as will encourage its members to take part in the the standard DECT protocol features such as HD defined in the ETSI standard for ULE. This will enhancement of the DECT standards and voice, VoIP and other Internet-based services. help towards the ULE Alliance's aim of applications through active participation in The first CAT-iq 2.0 certified handsets from growing the home automation market the standardisation bodies and interoperability full members Sagemcom (D49HD) and through the deployment of ULE based and certification programmes. Swissvoice (IH250) carry the HD Voice logo of solutions, lifting it out of the niche of The overall aim of these activities is for the GSMA. Andreas Zipp, chairman of the proprietary and non-interoperable systems consumers to gain confidence in a mature and DECT Forum said: "The DECT Forum has into a mass market with a broad selection of reliable technology that meets customer needs recently entered into a cooperation agreement vendors and solutions working together. and increases personal satisfaction, while with the GSMA, where CAT-iq 2.0 certified After this successful event, the focus has members benefit from a collaborative industry devices will be able to benefit from the use of now shifted towards enabling certification of initiative that widely promotes, enhances, and the GSMA HD Voice logo. I am confident that ULE-based products. secures DECT technology. many CAT-iq 2.0 handsets carrying the HD There can be no doubt that the DECT Forum Voice logo will follow soon." is heading in the right direction. As Zipp said: The bigger picture "This is a significant step forward in "DECT technology is successful. There are recognizing the quality aspects of HD Voice On a wider level, the DECT Forum has made hundreds of millions of connections enjoying across different service provisions“, says big strides in keeping itself at the top of the interference-free, secure, cost-effective Ahmed Selmani, deputy chief executive officer, news, including a brand refresh of the DECT connections, and you can see the value as it Sagemcom Broadband SAS. "The logo is an Forum logo which now represents the Forum took just two years to switch the cordless important quality mark for consumers who in a more modern way. Chairman Zipp said: voice market onto DECT in the USA. This work seek to enjoy brilliant wideband audio "With the new branding, the website of the will continue." communication in their homes," said Sébastien DECT Forum has also experienced a refresh de la Bastie, CEO of Swissvoice. and received new features, which make the www.dect.org DECT Today - The Success Story Continues · www.dect.org 5