GPRS networks lose 43 per cent of data

Up to 43 per cent of data gets lost on GPRS networks, making it almost impossible to run conventional internet applications across them, according to the first independent trials of networks.

The new high-speed GPRS data networks are just starting to be launched in volume for consumers and businesses, but they're not as efficient as had first been hoped, according to trials from mobile software company FlyingSPARK.

Their surveys of radio networks showed that while GPRS coverage is almost universal, the performance of the networks is not always perfect.

Up to 43 per cent of data packets got lost on the way from the radio terminal to the mast, and the latency - or the delay between a request and a response - was up to five seconds.

Conventional applications based on the TCP protocol that underlies wireline internet can't cope with these tough wireless conditions. Most TCP connections will have timed out after five seconds.

Most wireless applications, such as those used by travelling salesmen and field service professionals, are built on TCP.

The TCP applications we have seen, namely WAP over GPRS, have had serious reliability problems.

FlyingSPARK has developed its own alternative protocol, based on the much simpler UPD standard, which helps wireless networks cope much better with the rigours of the wireless environment.

Keith Day of FlyingSPARK said: "TCP involves a hell of a lot of toing and froing which is fine in a wireline environment but hopeless for wireless. In a wireless environment all that has to be paid for.

"We've built a protocol that cuts most of that toing and froing out by managing the connection intelligently at either end."

FlyingSPARK expects to announce a deal with one of the major UK wireless operators shortly.