ETSI and type approval activities for UMTS

The name UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) has been given to the ETS (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) activities towards a future third generation public mobile communications system. The author looks at the activities of ETSI on UMTS and also considers the future requirements for UMTS type approval. The experience gained with the GSM type approval activities is reviewed and this is considered in relation to the potential requirements for type approval of UMTS mobile terminals. Finally some consideration is given on the future activities which are likely to be required on a European wide basis to accommodate UMTS as a world wide system. The aim of the author is to provide an overview of the role of ETSI in the development of third generation systems and to consider the type approval issues which also impact on ETSI activities