Aircom: Big Capex Savings Comes to Operators Who Deploy HSPA+ Now
By Lynnette Luna
Network planning firm Aircom International is arguing that HSPA+ technology makes better short-term commercial sense for UMTS/HSPA operators as they contemplate their strategies for migrating to the next generation of mobile broadband networks.
Based on its own analysis of network infrastructure requirements, Aircom said HSPA+ is a compelling alternative to Long Term Evolution (LTE) because the technology's deployment offers significantly reduced capital expenditure investment compared with LTE. For a US operator, for instance, that capex reduction for AT&T or T-Mobile could be as much as $1.19 billion. In the UK, that capex savings is about $500 million. Most importantly, Aircom said HSPA+ can meet the demand for faster data services and increased capacity--the reasons operators are moving to LTE.
HSPA+ technology offers up to 21Mbps without any additional antenna infrastructure or second carrier - allowing users to experience mobile broadband around five times faster than the current average of 3.6Mbps, Aircom said. HSPA+ also allows mobile operators to control service provisioning and prioritisation, delivering Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees.
"There is great pressure on operators to upgrade their networks and improve the level of service they deliver to consumers and enterprise customers," said Fabricio Martinez, services director with Aircom. "The so-called ‘iPhone effect' is piling pressure on to existing infrastructure. There is a real and immediate need for operators to upgrade their networks, but LTE is not the answer--today at least."
Aircom predicts HSPA+ will allow operators to see a return on investment in three years, which, by the way, offers the perfect time to upgrade to LTE, when the technology's ecosystem has matured, devices are in the market and the price of equipment has fallen.
T-Mobile USA recently announced it now covers 30 million potential subscribers with HSPA+ (the 21 Mbps version) with plans to cover 100 million by the end of 2010. AT&T (NYSE:T) recently announced that it now plans to roll out HSPA+ to more than 250 million potential subscribers by 2010. The move is a reversal of the plans it announced last September--that it had no intention of deploying HSPA+ but rather would accelerate its LTE plans. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Nokia Siemens Networks Gets Smartphone Friendly at CommunicAsia 2010
Solutions that offer vastly improved mobile broadband on show in Singapore
Nokia Siemens Networks is demonstrating its leadership in smart device-friendly networks at Crowne Plaza hotel, Changi Airport, during CommunicAsia 2010. On show is a combination of the best hardware, software and expert consulting that together help communication service providers (CSPs) gain an edge over their competitors by focusing on a superior experience for people using smartphones and other mobile devices. The new LTE and all-IP capability being demonstrated addresses the challenge of delivering profitable, reliable always-on mobile connectivity.
“With an estimated 600 million mobile broadband users globally in 2009, and sales of smart devices increasing across Asia, there is an urgent need for networks that support the surging consumer demand for ubiquitous connectivity to devices of all kinds,” said Ricky Corker, head of Asia-Pacific, Nokia Siemens Networks. “We are the only vendor with a complete ecosystem of LTE and all-IP solutions that bring together voice and data cost-effectively to deliver a faster, more seamless and individualized user experience, while making mobile broadband services profitable for operators.”
Nokia Siemens Networks is showcasing a range of solutions that demonstrate its LTE and all-IP capabilities. Key amongst them is its Self Organizing Network (SON) suite that improves network efficiency by making the most of existing network equipment and automates processes previously done by people, to reduce costs and improve the experience for people using mobile services. Nokia Siemens Networks SON suite for 4G – LTE - is being launched at the event.
Another key highlight is the launch of the Carrier IP Migration Index (CIMIX), which is the industry’s first independent methodology to evaluate a carrier’s position on the IP migration curve. Co-developed by Nokia Siemens Networks and Heavy Reading, CIMIX covers over 30 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure the degree of IP penetration and sophistication in the areas of connectivity, service control, operations and end-user services. CIMIX also captures business performance indicators such as network operating expenses and other areas strongly correlated with IP technology. Visitors to the Nokia Siemens Networks’ CIMIX booth can run a short CIMIX assessment on the spot.
Nokia Siemens Networks provides in-depth demonstrations of today's most compelling solutions for enhancing end-user experience including:
- Smart Services for the smart device experience: Network optimization services and quality measures to address network congestion caused by always-on devices and apps.
- All-IP mobile backhaul for 2G, 3G and LTE that enable end-to-end services, excellent quality of service and easier rollout of differentiated service packages.
- Customer Insight and Experience: It offers real-time insights into smart device users’ individual needs, quality of experience and satisfaction, to help carriers boost ARPU by delivering an individually targeted experience. It gives CSPs the ability to differentiate their smart device offerings from the competition by utilizing the wealth of subscriber information, instead of merely competing on price.
- Multi-screen TV: A holistic approach combining fixed and mobile world to enable TV service convergence across different types of IP networks and devices. /Siemens
Nearly Two Billion Bluetooth Chipsets to Ship in 2014
Nearly two billion Bluetooth chipsets are forecast to ship in 2014 alone, according to new market data released by ABI Research. More than half will be found in wireless handsets. In the same year, almost 1.5 billion Wi-Fi chipsets are expected to ship and again, more than one third of that total will be used in handsets.
“Several factors are driving the strong growth in Bluetooth and even more in Wi-Fi chipset markets,” notes practice director Philip Solis. “Average selling prices for both technologies continue to fall. Wi-Fi will get a big boost from Wi-Fi Direct, which allows direct peer-to-peer communication between devices at short range. Finally, the ubiquitous Bluetooth is increasingly found in combination with a variety of other technologies, including FM radio, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
"Combining Bluetooth with other technologies in a single chipset helps reduce costs,” says Solis. “It also saves space in devices such as handsets where that may be a precious commodity. In 2014, Bluetooth will be found in 70% of all handsets and 83% of all netbooks.”
Bluetooth will also increasingly be supplemented by the newer “BLE” or Bluetooth Low-Energy. [ABI Research]
Almost Two Million Mobile WiMAX Subscribers Expected by End of 2009
Over the last several years, mobile WiMAX has moved through standardization, productization, and interoperability testing and certification. Larger-scale network deployments are finally becoming a reality. Clearwire in the United States has already declared 173,000 subscribers, Yota in Russia has been growing at a decent rate reaching 100,000 subscribers in August and 200,000 in October, and PacketOne in Malaysia has reached 130,000 subscribers.
UQ Communications once expected to reach 300,000 subscribers by the end of 2009, but is behind schedule in its rollout and will fall short of that initial target. South Korea has seen KT’s and SKT's subscriber numbers remain fairly stagnant, while these service providers prepare for another big push as a third WiMAX service provider comes to South Korea.
This handful of WiMAX service providers alone will account for a significant minority of the nearly two million mobile WiMAX subscribers expected by the end of 2009.
"Mobile WiMAX service providers around the world find themselves in very different situations," comments ABI Research practice director Philip Solis. "Some are mainly focused on fixed services for homes and businesses, while others are jumping feet first into mobile WiMAX, offering a variety of external modems, laptops, netbooks and even handsets tied into HD multimedia services, as with Yota in Russia. Some have little fixed or mobile broadband competition, while others are competing directly against fixed and mobile broadband services.
"Some, such as Japan's UQ Communications, are behind their buildout schedules and subscriber expectations, while others such are Clearwire are increasing the pace of their deployments because of more-than-adequate funding. Still others such as Yota in Russia are exceeding all expectations. Some are remaining local, while others, such as Clearwire and Yota, are building networks in more than one country.”
And just as the mobile WiMAX market is starting to bloom, LTE networks from early movers such as Verizon Wireless and NTT DoCoMo are targeting the same potential customers. The LTE ecosystem will eventually be vastly larger than the mobile WiMAX ecosystem, but just as LTE deployments start picking up in 2011 and 2012, some 802.16e service providers will begin upgrading their networks to 802.16m. [ABIResearch]
Chip Vendor Predicts 'Millions' of LTE Handsets by 2012
By Phil Goldstein
LTE chip maker Altair Semiconductor is predicting that the first LTE handsets will be commercial in the second half of next year, but that the devices will not gain mass market appeal until 2012. Once they do reach a mass audience, the company said there will be "millions" of units on the market.
Eran Eshed, Altair's co-founder and vice president of marketing and business development, said the company will debut its first LTE radio modem this November. In an interview with Unstrung, he said phones using Altair chips could get on the market later in 2010. "You'll see real handsets in real trials in the second half of 2010," he said. After that, Eshed said he expects volumes to rise in 2011, and then reach a mass market level by 2012. "That means millions of units," he said.
At least 12 separate operators are launching LTE networks around the world in 2010, according to ABI Research. The network deployments are expected to outpace the availability of LTE phones, and the first devices are expected to be laptop cards.
However, Eshed's prediction may not be that far off. A research report from Forward Concepts in July predicted that there will be 56 million LTE phones on the market by 2013. Other chip makers, including Qualcomm, have started playing in the LTE chipset field. [FierceWireless]
Semantics Confuse Ericsson's LTE Plans in South Korea
By Lynnette Luna
Confusion surrounds Ericsson's recently announced investment in Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in South Korea as Ericsson and South Korea appear to be at odds over just how much Ericsson is investing.
Earlier this week, South Korean President Lee Myung-back's office issued a statement indicating Ericsson would invest $1.5 billion in the country during the next five years on LTE research and development. But Ericsson's president in Korea, Bjorn Allden, told the Financial Times it was "premature" to talk about an exact dollar amount.
Still, the presidential office, known as the Blue House, reiterated to Bloomberg that incoming Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg told officials at the Korea Communications Commission July 11 that the gear maker may invest between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in the country.
The confusion was still not cleared up when Ericsson talked to Bloomberg following the FT report. "The investment will start now and exact time and size are dependent on the progress in coming projects," Allden said in an emailed statement, according to Bloomberg. He said the company and the South Korean government were in full agreement on the investment plan.
Ericsson plans to open a research and development center in South Korea and increase its staff in the country to some 1,000 workers, according to a July 12 Blue House statement. According to the FT, even the characterization of the center as a "research and development center" was off; Ericsson said it preferred to call it a "competence center." [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Nortel sells off CDMA, LTE Businesses to Nokia Siemens Networks
By Lynnette Luna
Nortel Networks may not be emerging from bankruptcy. The company announced it is selling off virtually all of its CDMA and Long Term Evolution (LTE) evolution assets through a "stalking horse" asset sale agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks. Nokia is getting its hands on the valuable businesses for a steal: $650 million.
This appears to be the first of many fire sales as Nortel announced it is in discussions with external parties to sell its other businesses. Nortel said it will assess other restructuring alternatives for these businesses in the event it is unable to maximize value through sales. In addition, Nortel will apply to delist its common shares and the NNL preferred shares from trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and expects that the creditor protection proceedings will ultimately result in the cancellation of these equity interests.
NSN is getting its hands on a CDMA business that is the second largest in the world and an LTE business that has strong potential. Nortel said Verizon Wireless was happy with its gear but was concerned about Nortel's bankruptcy. NSN has no CDMA networks business.
The agreement with NSN specifies that at least 2,500 employees would have the opportunity to continue with NSN. This represents a significant portion of the employees associated with the assets being sold. [FierceWireless]
Huawei Unveils World’s First Packet-Based MSTP Evolution Solution
Operators can now have seamless, cost-effective network upgrades
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, today launched the world‟s first packet-based MSTP (Multi-Service Transport Platform) evolution solution which enables operators for the first-time to move seamlessly from TDM (Time-Division Multiplexing) services to fully packet-based services without the usual cost burden that is associated with such a network upgrade.
MSTP evolution, which can be easily upgraded from existing MSTP network, will be able to meet the operators‟ increasing demands of high-efficiency mobile transport networks. The new solution is backward compatible and future-oriented to support enhanced 3G and LTE technologies.
"The long-awaited packet-based MSTP evolution solution has arrived and we are thrilled that Huawei‟s customers will be the first to take advantage of it," said Mr. Christian Chua, President of Huawei Transport Network Product Line. "The new and future-proofed packet-based MSTP evolution solution presents significant opportunities for operators who are currently using TDM-based mobile transport networks and are now looking to upgrade to the exciting next-generation packet services of the future."
This latest packet-based MSTP platform enables mutual conversion and seamless operation among „pure TDM transport‟, „hybrid TDM and packet transport‟ and „pure packet transport‟ networks. The solution also supports unified end-to-end management, protects existing operator assets and investments, and substantially minimizes the costs for upgrading an MSTP network. /Insa/PR
Report: 12 operators launching LTE in 2010
By Phil Goldstein
At least a dozen wireless operators will launch LTE networks in 2010, according to a new report from ABI Research. The research firm said that 34 million people worldwide are expected to have access to LTE in 2010. However, the group cautioned that additional LTE deployments hinge on governments freeing up the necessary spectrum.
"Spectrum availability is the primary factor impacting deployment plans," said senior ABI analyst Nadine Manjaro in a release. "In countries where telecommunications regulators are making appropriate spectrum available, many operators have announced plans to launch LTE. These include the U.S., Sweden China and others. Where no such spectrum allocations exist, operators are postponing LTE plans."
Among the first to deploy LTE will be Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS and U.S. Cellular in the United States, DoCoMo and KDDI in Japan and TeliaSonera, Tele2 and Telenor in Europe. AT&T has indicated it will launch its LTE network in the United States in 2011, and China Mobile has said it will launch LTE in China that year as well. The buildouts represent potentially billions of dollars up for grabs for the world's equipment vendors, ABI said, and Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Huawei are among the early winners.
In the United States, one of the main stumbling blocks to deploying LTE has now been cleared. On Friday the country transitioned to digital television, freeing up spectrum in the 700 MHz band for use on LTE networks. Apparently moving full-steam ahead, Verizon said it will begin LTE testing immediately following the switchover. [FierceWireless]
Andrew Unveils Strategies for The Next Generation Network
CommunicAsia 2009, Singapore, June 15, 2009—Despite ongoing global economic struggles, wireless technologies, networks and business opportunities continue to evolve at a good pace.
As wireless operators and global OEMs look toward HSPA+ and next generation network technologies such as LTE and WiMAX, they are faced with three critical challenges today that can be helped solved by Andrew Solutions, the CommScope, Inc. division that is a global leader in wireless communication systems and products.
Andrew Fuels OpEx Savings with Network Growth
Especially today, reducing operating costs is critical to an operator’s business health. Andrew offers a suite of network optimization solutions that work together to help limit site maintenance and manpower needs while managing and optimizing the network. For example, the remote cell site control and monitoring solution, OneBase InSite™, remotely audits network performance, sends alerts, and provides operators unprecedented control over remote electrical tilt antennas, amplifiers, thermostats, batteries and power levels. And Andrew’s SmartBeam® antenna systems continuously re-balance traffic across all sectors, reducing energy consumption.
“Andrew knows its customers face intense cost pressures and is devising innovative technologies to help manage such concerns,” said Ben Cardwell, vice president of Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific, Andrew. “Andrew’s solutions are not just for enabling wireless communications but for making them better and more profitable.”
Going Green Benefits Environment and Bottom LineLike most companies and global citizens today, wireless operators are looking at ways to “go green” and decrease their environmental impact. One major place to start is energy consumption and backup power. Andrew recognized this early on, which led to the development of its EcoPower™ hydrogen fuel cell cabinet solution that eliminates the need for lead acid batteries and diesel generators. Andrew’s integrated cabinets for wireless networks include high-efficiency cooling technologies, which drastically reduces energy consumption. And the company’s high efficiency power amplifiers almost double the efficiency levels of previously designed models, meaning more energy gets used by the network instead of being lost as heat.
“Energy saving historically has not been top priority during network design, but the drive toward lowering operating costs is changing that mindset,” said Anil Trehan, chief technology officer, Carrier Solutions, Andrew. “Fortunately for operators, energy efficiency products and design techniques generally lead to operating cost savings in addition to decreasing environmental impact.”
Andrew Leads into the Next Generation Networks
Andrew has already been awarded multiple LTE and WiMAX product development projects by operators and OEMs around the world to help in answering the question of how to deploy these technologies. Andrew’s skills move beyond products into conceptualizing and implementing overall network designs.
The company’s engineers and skilled field technicians helped wireless operators overlay third generation networks on previous standards, which they will continue to do for LTE. Managing the challenges of intermodulation distortion, signal interference, and coverage and capacity constraints requires a holistic approach that accounts for the entire access network site. With a comprehensive product portfolio, years of field experience, close customer relationships, expert engineers and designers, and a stable, global presence, fixing such problems is exactly what Andrew does.
“Andrew has supported every wireless technology since AMPS and will continue to do so with LTE, WiMAX and beyond,” said Cardwell. “More importantly, our team of experts knows how to design, rollout, optimize, and manage a network that satisfies customer demands and operator needs. We solve problems for our customers.” Insa/PR
Public Safety Groups Endorse LTE as Broadband Solution
By Phil Goldstein
Three public safety organizations have endorsed LTE over the last few days as the preferred technology for a proposed national broadband network for first responders in the 700 MHz spectrum band.The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) issued a press release Tuesday endorsing LTE, the 4G standard chosen by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility.
On Wednesday, the National Public-Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) also endorsed LTE, but said that those supporting competing technologies, such as WiMAX, would have 30 days to convince the organization that LTE isn't the best choice. All of this comes in the wake of eight major public safety organizations asking Congress to give the 700 MHz D Block directly to public safety.
Such a move likely would further lower the cost of LTE in the 700 MHz band by creating a larger pool of buyers, as long as LTE devices support the bands used by all the players.
In April, Steve Zipperstein, Verizon's vice president for legal and external affairs and the carrier's general counsel, said the government should not rehash a process that has already failed (D-Block bids during last year's 700 MHz auction did not pass the required $1.3 billion reserve).
In a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., he called for allocating the D-Block spectrum directly to public safety organizations on a state, local and regional basis. Zipperstein also said the public safety organizations should be free to choose the commercial partners of their choice. [FierceWireless]
Inside The World’s First LTE Network
As part of the world’s first commercial LTE contract – awarded by TeliaSonera earlier this year – Huawei Technologies will be building a LTE network in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
According to head of Huawei’s wireless network branding, Lu Xingang, the company will deliver the network to the Scandinavian and Baltic operator later this year. TeliaSonera officials have indicated they will launch commercial LTE services by 2010.
So what will the world’s first LTE network look like? The network will be built using the Huawei’s multi-standard base station platform and IP core network. Huawei is not the operator’s 3G network supplier, so despite the fact that the term LTE infers evolution, the Huawei LTE network is not an evolved version of the operator’s existing infrastructure.
“This is a completely new network,” Lu said.
While he did not disclose the exact configuration of the TeliaSonera network, Lu revealed to CommsDay that Huawei has conducted extensive trials of LTE technologies.
“Huawei has conducted LTE trials in Europe, North America and Japan with several global leading operators. We have also completed field tests including throughput, latency, MIMO, high-speed multi-user access, cell hand-off and multi-service QoS,” he said.
“Huawei is also one of the main contributors to LTE standardization in 3GPP, NGWN, and LSTI organization. Since 2006, Huawei has delivered 900+ LTE contributions and 550+ SAE contributions to 3GPP, and has achieved great progress in developing key technologies, including MIMO, 64QAM, SON and QoS mechanism, etc.”
The initial Huawei LTE equipment will support the FDD version of LTE at 2.6GHz and 700MHz spectrum bands. The company is also developing TDD-LTE at 2.6GHz, Lu said. TeliaSonera acquired 2 x 20MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum back last year. The spectrum would allow the operator to deploy LTE at its maximum configuration using the maximum 20MHz carrier size.
The final configuration has not been revealed but Lu added that Huawei has achieved peak download data rates of 173 Mbps, and peak upload data rate of 84 Mbps in its trials.
At the same time, TeliaSonera awarded a LTE contract to Ericsson to build a network in the Swedish capital of Stockholm. Ericsson will deliver to TeliaSonera an end-to-end LTE system, includ- ing LTE radio base stations, an Evolved Packet Core network and mobile backhaul solution including Redback’s SmartEdge 1200 routers and the latest EDA multi-access aggregation switch, Ericsson said.
Ericsson says that it has already started the roll out of the network and is readying the network for a 2010 launch. - Tony Chan, Commsday
2008 Year in Review: The new Clearwire
The news: The rumors began intensifying in February that Intel would be investing $2 billion in the combination between Sprint's WiMAX business, Xohm, and Clearwire. The move would give WiMAX some much-needed support as a mobile broadband standard, but some looked at the possibility with skepticism.
Ultimately, the deal to create the "new" Clearwire was a lot more complex and substantial than was initially thought. The final deal included $3.2 billion in investments from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners.
On Nov. 4, the FCC gave regulatory approval for the deal. On Nov. 20, Clearwire shareholders gave their assent, and on Dec. 1, Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff said that the Xohm brand name would be set aside in favor of "Clear."
Why it was significant: The deal, with backing from major industry players, was a shot in the arm for the mobile WiMAX industry. With Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology emerging as the 4G standard of choice by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility, and with more aggressive rollouts than had been expected planned for LTE, WiMAX needed all the help it could get to get off the ground. With the launch of Xohm in Baltimore in September, and an official celebration of it in October, WiMAX was off-and-running. The successful completion of the merger, and hopeful prospects about its national deployment over the next few years certainly indicated to the wireless community, especially those backing LTE, that yes, WiMAX is here, and it's here to stay. [FierceWireless]
Qualcomm Announces Aggressive Plans for LTE
By Lynnette Luna
Qualcomm has issued an aggressive timeline for releasing engineering samples of its LTE/HSPA+ device modem. It is trying for the second quarter of 2009. The company, however, cautioned commercial availability of of the MDM9000 "still depends on a number of very uncertain factors, many of which are dependent on mobile network operators' plans and investment priorities about how and when to roll out this next stage of wireless technology," said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice president and general manager for Qualcomm Europe, speaking at the company's inaugural European Innovation Summit last week.
Salvatori noted many uncertainties exist concerning the timelines for HSPA+, "almost all of which are pretty much out of our control." While the LTE standard is close to finalization, there still is uncertainty about in which spectrum ranges LTE would be deployed. Salvatori said decisions still have to be made on network topology. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
NTT DoCoMo Outlines New Mobile Directions
By Jason Ankeny
Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo announced it will shift the direction of its business and focus on personalization of services as well as the development of converged services, with an emphasis on mobile video.
According to NTT DoCoMo, which presently serves over 53 million customers, the Japanese market has reached maturity, minimizing prospects for future subscriber growth unless operators make significant leaps forward via services spotlighting real-time immediacy, personal authentication and locating capabilities.
DoCoMo said it will respond by reviewing its operational structure, promoting customer-focused marketing and improving customer satisfaction response--plans call for personalized services and functions catering to different lifestyles and subscriber needs, converged services tailored to specific usage scenarios and value-added mobile video efforts launched in collaboration with content providers.
In addition, NTT DoCoMo said it will provide handsets and devices geared to specific consumer needs, vowing to adopt open platforms in addition to enhancing hardware and software functions and diversifying designs and user interfaces. Also on tap: LTE-based mobile broadband services and new businesses in fields such as ecology, safety, security and health management. DoCoMo added it will expand its international businesses and create new domestic investments and alliances.
Mobile WiMAX Versus LTE: Can They Co-Exist?
By Jim Barthold
Mobile WiMAX is the first out of the gate, but LTE is often considered the more evolutionary technology. The question probably isn't whether they can co-exist--they have enough common elements that it's feasible--it's whether there are enough reasons for them too. "They're not going to merge," Peter Jarich, research director of Current Analysis said flatly.
"Just from a political standpoint of getting all the parties together...it's just not going to happen. You're going to have these guys fight it out." That might be bad for the carriers but it's good for the vendors who supply weapons to both sides and it's always good for consumers who get more choice.
"When was it ever a good thing for innovation when there is less competition?" asked Jim Orr, principal network architect at Fujitsu. "The presence of a rapidly maturing WiMAX ecosystem certainly has had the effect of accelerating LTE well before all the revenue potential was drawn out of HSPA and EVDO."
LTE will tap into a base of more than 3.3 billion worldwide subscribers for the "GSM family of technologies," said Chris Pearson, president/senior operating officer of 3G Americas. "LTE has momentum in standards development, carrier decisions and an LTE wireless ecosystem being created. There is no reason to slow it down by merging it with WiMAX."
There is, however, a reason for speeding it up to compete with WiMAX. "I can make a pretty strong argument that LTE would be at least four years later if WiMAX were not pulling it forward," Orr said. WiMAX also comes with its own strengths that could add some intrigue to the battle. It's an IP standard from its base up and "performs better in TDD and less mobile environments," Orr said.
"LTE performs better in FDD and a high-user count model." That means the two could be complementary-albeit competing. "You're going to have these guys fight it out," concluded Jarich. "Would it be better if we had one technology and not two? Sure, but we have two and we're stuck with them." [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Rich Communication Suite Will Bolster IMS Deployments
The Rich Communication Suite (RCS), a new initiative of a large group of handset and infrastructure vendors and mobile operators, promises to enhance the ability of wireless and wireline networks to offer interoperable rich communications. It is built on the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) platform, and should boost IMS deployments significantly. In a recent study from ABI Research, the firm forecasts that capital expenditure on IMS will start to grow sharply in 2010, reaching $23 billion in 2013.
“RCS will enable interoperable rich communication regardless of device or network and will include in-call multimedia sharing, conversational messaging and presence-enhanced contact management for mobile and fixed customers,” says ABI Research senior analyst Nadine Manjaro.
More than 30 companies are collaborating in the RCS project. Key participants include Telecom Italia, Telefonica, TeliaSonera, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung. They are partnering to ensure that IMS’s capabilities will be available on any handset and any network.
RCS is expected to start becoming available as part of selected devices and services in 2009. IMS is the underlying technology supporting RCS and a core component in LTE architecture. IMS is also deployed in legacy wireless networks and wireline networks.
“Part of IMS is aimed at improving converged services,” continues Manjaro. “The Rich Communication Suite, which aims to standardize the user experiences across multiple types of handset, will facilitate that. For example, IMS might be used for synchronization of contact lists between handset and computer, and to inform a caller as to the recipient’s availability, similar to the facility commonly found in instant messaging. It can facilitate multiple simultaneous forms of communication such as combined video and voice calling.” [ABI Research]
NTT DoCoMo Moves Ahead With 'Super 3G'
By Jim Barthold
NTT DoCoMo's decision to push ahead with a "Super 3G" network suggests that LTE is on target for market introduction as early as 2010. DoCoMo has named long-time vendor partner Fujitsu to supply Evolved Packet Core (EPC) equipment for the network and previously selected NEC for basestations and terminals.
While potentially confusing terminology and technology, Super 3G, in DoCoMo's parlance, equates to pre-LTE. In an interview with FierceWireless, Peter Jarich, research director for Current Analysis said that DoCoMo has said they were going to do some (LTE) soft launches maybe next year. "DoCoMo wants to move early."
Whether it's called Super 3G or pre-LTE, DoCoMo is moving apace, almost serving as a huge beta testbed for interested providers around the world as the LTE standard evolves. Jarich added that Verizon Wireless will likely have LTE in 2010-2011. But for European operators 2013 may make more sense. [FierceWireless]
LTE Networks Still Years Away
By Phil Goldstein
The adoption of 4G wireless and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network technology is a long way off and will probably not be adopted on a large scale by network operators until around 2015, according to the host and panel participants at Andrew Seybold's Wireless University, a co-located conference held in conjunction with the CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment conference in San Francisco.
Andrew Seybold, along with panelists Vicki Livingston, the head of communications for 3G Americas, and Joe Lawrence, the VP of marketing for the CDMA Development Group, said that LTE will not be a common data standard for years to come and that 3G technology still has a lot of life left.
If LTE technology does come online, Seybold said, it will be at hotspots where there is an incredibly high demand for data, pointing out repeatedly that for carriers voice services still pay the bills and data does not.
Lawrence emphasized that market forces and demand would determine whether LTE is implemented on a large scale, and Livingston said there was no need to rush to LTE.
Though LTE may provide 30 percent to 40 percent greater network efficiency in a 10 MHz spectrum over HSPA and EV-DO technology, Lawrence questioned whether or not that was sufficiently efficient to justify a multi-billion dollar investment in an entirely new network when 3G technology is just hitting its stride.
Seybold said that just like projections for the next generation of 3G technologies -- 1X Advanced and EVDO-Advanced--LTE download speeds of 71-143 Mbps are entirely theoretical lab tests and will be considerably slower if, and when, they are applied to the real world.
Seybold also said although handset and chip-makers are pushing LTE, there remains a great deal of uncertainty over where and when LTE will be adopted. "If you say there are four things that can happen," he said, "what will happen is the fifth thing."
Vertical Services to Reach 24% of WiMAX Subscriptions and 14% of LTE Subscriptions by 2014
Vertical Applications in 3G, WiMAX, and LTE Networks Are Ready to Take Off, and They Represent a Huge Growth Opportunity for Operators Facing Flat ARPUs From Retail Individual Subscribers
Enterprises are finally ready to adopt vertical applications (M2M, in-vehicle telematics, mobile workforce support) that require wireless data connectivity. 3G, WiMAX, and LTE operators may benefit greatly from addressing this rapidly growing market, according to a new report from Senza Fili Consulting,
"Bringing Wireless Broadband to Vertical Markets: a high-margin revenue stream from operators and compelling services for enterprises." By 2014, there will be over 154 million connections supporting vertical applications within 3G, WiMAX, and LTE networks, generating more than US$ 43 billion in service revenues. Vertical applications give wireless broadband operators the opportunity to address what is today an underserved market that will not compete with their existing services to individual retail subscribers. "Vertical services can be very profitable for operators. They bring in a steady revenue stream generated by a small number of contracts, each with a high number of connections. And churn is low -- contracts typically last 10 years," says Monica Paolini, the report's author.
To profit, however, operators need to be well equipped to face the challenges of this highly fragmented market, in which customers expect deep application-specific expertise. Enterprises increasingly see that vertical applications improve their operations and the productivity of their employees. Through improved performance, QoS support, and wider coverage, wireless broadband technologies have given enterprises confidence that public networks can support their applications, so they do not need to own and maintain proprietary, expensive telecommunication infrastructure.
Among applications, vehicle telematics and support for the mobile workforce will be the most widely deployed, because they require the bandwidth and wide-area coverage that 3G, WiMAX, and LTE support. Additional wireless broadband market growth will come from emerging consumer applications available in vehicles and in mobile and CE devices that will extend wireless broadband beyond individuals to connect the entire environment.
This report includes an assessment of the global market for vertical services, and an in-depth forecast for vertical applications, market segments, technologies (3G, WiMAX, LTE), and device types. Detailed data is presented for 16 countries, 7 regions, and the worldwide market. The report is available at http://www.senzafiliconsulting.com/. [FierceWireless]
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