Looking to the horizon - 4G voice solutions
By Andrew Mitchell
Over 70 wireless operators from around the globe have now announced plans to and even begun to deploy 4G networks. For users the promises offered by 4G are most often viewed in the context of the mobile Internet - abundant and cost-effective bandwidth that enables compelling mobile applications and high quality multimedia experiences. Perhaps not always top of mind for users, the need for voice solutions has not diminished and meeting that need is something that a number of members of the 4G wireless ecosystem are aggressively pursuing.
4G Trends contacted Kevin Mitchell Director, Solutions Marketing - Mobile at Acme Packet to gain some insights and his opinions on this critical aspect of 4G wireless. Kevin obliged me with the following brief and informative interview.
Q: Data dongles and devices for LTE networks are with us today yet standards, let alone devices to deliver LTE voice have yet to emerge. What are the approaches currently being considered to deliver voice over an all-IP 4G network?
Until last year, the concern of how voice and messaging service parity would be achieved with LTE was overshadowed by a host of other issues in getting LTE to market. This is not a trivial topic as two-thirds to three-quarters of all mobile service revenue today comes from voice and messaging services. A standard is essential for LTE uptake, drawing from history where as a consistent approach to implementing voice services across service providers helped GSM take-off and become the most widely deployed mobile technology.
The good news is that a standard for voice does exist and it’s been around for a while: IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Now on release 9, it’s a SIP-based next generation core service for not just voice, but multimedia communications as well. The GSM Association’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) initiative is currently engaged in selecting a sub-set of the IMS standards to deliver end-to-end voice and SMS for LTE devices, including defining roaming and interconnect interfaces.
There are three other alternatives offered up by various industry players. Voice over LTE Generic Access (VoLGA) reuses legacy voice infrastructure and UMA/GAN technology. Today, T-Mobile remains the lone service provider supporter for VoLGA. Other service providers using UMA for FMC are noticeably absent. Circuit-switched fallback (CSFB), which uses some initial signaling over the LTE RAN and then actually “falls back” to the 2G/3G TDM RAN to establish calls, is another solution. The third option is a hybrid of SIP and legacy that leverages existing circuit MSCs, but uses SIP to deliver the voice to devices connected via LTE RANs or any fixed or mobile IP broadband access network.
But back to VoLTE, it’s not merely about service parity with legacy mobile telephony, but also about access convergence and multimedia communications that makes IMS compelling.
Also, a growing number of WiMAX operators offer residential or business voice today - it’s predominately a fixed offering, that is VoIP delivered over a broadband alternative to DSL, FTTx or cable.
Q: What about existing technology solutions such as Skype or Google Talk - are these viable alternatives?
Yes, sure they are alternatives, but with trade-offs, including best-effort “roll of the dice” service quality lacking emergency service support, lawful intercept and fully staffed customer support. Over-the-top communication providers are indeed a competitive threat and increasingly so with the bandwidth increases in 3G technologies and LTE. Today mobile service providers face a new challenge in avoiding becoming a dumb pipe to the richness of the Internet. This is the same challenge that fixed line operators have faced since the advent of broadband. However, I don’t think over-the-top is a mass market replacement for mobile service provider offered voice and messaging services.
As mobile service providers own access infrastructure and the EPC along with IMS/SIP-based services core, they can differentiate themselves from OTP ASPs with the likes of wideband voice codecs for HD voice, interactive video with QoS and Rich Communication Suite services such as integrated presence and diverse messaging.
There is room too for a federated model providing value and revenue all along the chain. The federation is between over-the-top providers and the mobile broadband providers where the strengths of each provider can be leveraged-innovation from the web and quality, security and billability from mobile service providers. There are tentative moves in this direction and peaks at this model with the likes of Verizon and Skype.
Q: With LTE networks already rolling out, what solutions can (or are) operators likely to employ until clear standards emerge?
As outlined earlier, there are 4 approaches available today or near future-VoLTE using IMS as defined by the GSMA IR.92 document is imminent. The limited geographic availability and form factor of LTE doesn’t demand voice at this moment (but soon). But LTE providers can offer voice softclients on laptops at the outset (and I think they should to minimize or prevent subscriber triple/quadruple play revenue loss from over-the-top). They can do this with MSC VoIP, VoLGA or VoLTE.
Q: What are the implications to 3G operators? Is there going to be a clear migration path to 4G voice and what would that look like?
Mobile service providers have not adopted much SIP or IMS today. However, nothing precludes them from doing so, and initiatives like Rich Communication Suite may incent adoption of SIP / IMS ahead prior to LTE deployment. The area with the largest SIP adoption is the core and IP interconnect borders, which does lay nice groundwork for migration to the 3G and 4G access networks. LTE is on the 5-year horizon for some 3G service providers, so they have time to roll-out IMS ahead of their 4G deployment.
VoLGA and VoLTE both offer migration, but only VoLTE offers services beyond voice and messaging of yesteryear. MSC VoIP is an interim step as well, where some investment is preserved for both voice-the MSCs at the outset-and the multimedia-SIP infrastructure for the years ahead.
Q: When can consumers expect to see the first 4G voice capable device?
For basic voice: today as a laptop with a LTE data card is a voice capable device. There will be LTE phones early 2011, but I suspect they will be dual-radio phones with voice from UMTS/CDMA and LTE being the primary data network (with 3G for non-LTE markets for data coverage). For a truly mobile LTE voice and multimedia communications device, I’d venture to say very likely in 2012. Although, once the LTE radio is available on a phone, anyone could make a call using over-the-top clients.
National public safety organizations seek support to oppose ‘D’ Block auction
By Andrew Mitchell
‘D’ Block - that valuable, yet contentious 10 MHz slice of 700 MHz spectrum, continues to be a hot topic for both operators and a number of public safety organizations across the US. Unless things change, the FCC plans to once again put the ‘D’ Block up on the auction block sometime in the first half of 2011. Public safety, along with state and government organizations are hoping to change that though.
Spectrum at 700 MHz was freed just over a year ago, at the completion of the digital television (DTV) mandate in the US. 700 MHz is a particularly valuable allocation because it provides better propagation characteristics - permitting coverage over greater distances for the same signal power, when compared to higher frequencies. So why wouldn’t operators be hungry to stake their claim of 700 MHz for an LTE or 4G deployment?
Originally the ‘D’ Block spectrum was intended to be sold in Auction 73, which ended in March 2009. What was unique about ‘D’ Block bids was the requirement for bidders to enter into a public-private partnership in which deployments would grant priority of access to public safety agencies and first responders. But Auction 73 bidders failed to meet the FCC’s reserve bid of $1.3 billion for ‘D’ Block, with many hinting at concerns of unethical practices that occurred during the process. In the end, ‘D’ Block failed to sell and now there’s growing support to “block” the FCC from putting it back on the auction block in 2011.
The Public Safety Alliance (PSA), a partnership of leading public safety organizations, is actively looking to the wireless industry to support ‘D’ Block allocation to public safety. ‘D’ Block plans suggested that carriers would grant public safety access to the spectrum in an emergency but what public safety organizations envision is control of that spectrum and federal funding to help build out and maintain a nationwide broadband network for public safety. H.R. 5081, The Broadband for First Responders Act and S. 3625, The First Responders Protection Act are identified as being “critical first steps” in passing legislation to support this vision. So what would a wireless operator’s stake be in such a vision, especially since public safety organizations say that they don’t want to be constrained by the costs of commercial networks or contention for access to them. One outcome might be to build, maintain or even operate the network on behalf of public safety.
So how do operators feel about PSA’s position? Yucel Ors, Director of Legislative Affairs at APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) International says that they “have support from the wireless industry, from operators and manufacturers.” Notable on that list today are AT&T and Verizon, along with Alcatel-Lucent and Motorola, a long-tenured provider of private mobile solutions to public safety. What is interesting however is that both supporting operators were successful in acquiring rights to 700 MHz in Auction 73, with Verizon squeezing out Google, to land a large chunk of the ‘C’ Block and AT&T securing the ‘B’ Block.
So why is it that AT&T and Verizon would support PSA’s position? Is it because they believe a nationwide broadband network for public safety is in the interests of the greater good? Perhaps it’s because they could have a role in building, maintaining or operating such a network? Or is it because if the ‘D’ Block auction is blocked, that AT&T and Verizon competitors or potential competitors are the ones likely to be blocked from access to this highly valuable spectrum? We’ll watch to see if the PSA’s list of supporting operators grows.
4G World® 2010 Conference Program Released
By Andrew Mitchell
Official program brochure outlines 4G wireless industry’s premier event
October 18 to 21 at McCormick Place, Chicago
BOSTON - August 3, 2010 - The Events and Media Division of Yankee Group announced today the publication of the official conference brochure for 4G World 2010. With visionary keynotes and more than 175 speakers in 80+ sessions, 4G World 2010 is the 4G industry’s “must attend” event of the year. The expanded and comprehensive four-day conference program also features participation from more than 250 sponsors and exhibitors and more than 10,000 attendees. The event website is www.4GWorld.com.
According to Eliot Weinman, conference chair and president, Events Division of Yankee Group, “2010 has been a watershed year for the 4G wireless industry. Around the world there are more than 110 operators in 48 countries that are investing in LTE networks, and there are more than 500 WiMAX networks deployed in over 145 countries. The global impact of 4G and the rapid expansion of the mobile Internet will change the face of communications and computing for billions of users around the globe. At 4G World 2010 wireless industry business and thought leaders will share their insights and predictions for 4G wireless and the mobile Internet.”
Highlighted keynote speakers include:
- Eran Gorev, President and CEO, Alvarion
- Glenn Lurie, President, Emerging Devices, AT&T
- Ashraf M. Dahod, SVP and GM, Mobile Internet Technology Group, Cisco
- William Morrow, CEO, Clearwire
- Mike Lanman, President - Enterprise and Government Markets, Verizon Wireless
- Håkan Eriksson, Senior VP, CTO, Ericsson
- Matt Bross, Chief Technology Officer, Vice Chairman, Huawei USA
- Roger D. Linquist, Chairman, President & CEO, MetroPCS
- Bruce Brda, Senior VP, GM Networks, Motorola
- Michael Matthews, Head of Strategy and Business Development, Nokia Siemens Networks
- Kim, EVP and GM, Telecommunication Systems Business, Samsung
- Bob Azzi, Senior VP, Network, Sprint
4G World 2010 also welcomes the “who’s who” of the world of 4G, including key global industry sponsors, associations, media, research and training organizations. Program partners include TM Forum, Award Solutions, Light Reading, WCAI, Femto Forum, Forbes Magazine, 3G Americas, Fierce Markets, ETSI, GS1, IEEE, Senza Fili, Maravedis Research, RCR Wireless and Rethink Research. Major corporate sponsors of 4G World 2010 include Ericsson, Nokia Siemens, Alcatel Lucent, AT&T, Alvarion, Sprint, Clearwire, Motorola, Cisco, Juniper Networks, Huawei, Qualcomm and Samsung.
Attendees of 4G World will have access to a broad and comprehensive program of critical current and forward looking business, technology and regulatory topics. Sessions will examine Backhaul, Core Convergence, 4G Operator Deployments and Business Models, 4G Technology Roadmap, Femtocells, 4G Operational Transformation Strategies, Vertical Industry Apps and M2M, Future of the Mobile Web, Evolution of m-Commerce, LTE/WiMAX, Mobile Internet Innovations and more.
With a three-day expo, 4G World 2010 is poised to be the largest exposition ever assembled focused on the 4G revolution.
Additional special events at 4G World 2010’s expo include press functions, the 4G World Solutions Theater, RCR 4G Innovator Awards Ceremony, RCR Buzz Zone, Power Breakfasts and much more. The complete program brochure can be downloaded at http://www.4gworld.com/2010/email/images/4gw-brochure-final-web.pdf.
About 4G World
4G World, is the first and only conference and expo covering the entire ecosystem of next-generation technologies that enable the mobile Internet revolution, including mobile network infrastructure, advanced devices, applications, and content. Drawing 10,000 attendees and 250 sponsors and exhibitors from across the entire 4G wireless, mobile broadband, and mobile internet ecosystem, 4G World is the premier 4G business transformation event, where the entire industry gathers to chart its future direction. The event website is www.4GWorld.com
Contact:
Kate Walsh
Sr. Director of Marketing
Yankee Group Events and Media
kwalsh@yankeegroup.com
4G World 2010 Delivering Powerful, Expanded Program and Content
By Andrew Mitchell
With 14 industry executive keynotes and over 60 breakout sessions and workshops, 4G World 2010 is once again shaping up to be the industry’s “must attend” event for 2010. The program line-up includes over 175 speakers, with over 30 network operator speakers alone, from around the globe as well as vendors representing all facets of the 4G wireless industry ecosystem. Over 250 exhibitors, sponsors and over 10,000 attendees will come together for this year’s event. The event will be in Chicago at McCormick Place, October 18 through 21.
“2010 is a watershed year for the 4G wireless industry,” explains Eliot Weinman, president of Yankee Group’s Events Division and 4G World conference founder and chair. “Around the world over 70 wireless network operators have announced or commenced plans to deploy 4G networks. This is of huge significance not only to network operators and wireless equipment vendors but also to consumers, enterprises and applications developers. These networks are providing the robust, all-IP connectivity that supports the innovation and opportunity of the mobile Internet.”
Attendees of 4G World will learn from the industry’s foremost experts and thought leaders in wireless technologies, network and business operations as well as mobile content and application developers. Executives of leading network operators and 4G vendors provide keynote addresses delivering an excellent view of the “state of the industry” as well as opportunities of the future. Breakout sessions examine best practices and deep insights into the realities of practical deployments of 4G networks and solutions.
Returning for a second year, the Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI) will co-locate its 16th Annual International Symposium at 4G World. Also co-locating at 4G World will be Light Reading, who will host the Backhaul Strategies and Core Convergence for Mobile Operators Summit. 4G World 2010 is endorsed and supported by over 100 media sponsors and wireless industry associations.
The 4G World 2010 program provides a comprehensive view of all aspects of mobile broadband and the mobile Internet. This year’s expanded program includes sessions examining areas of emerging importance such as, 4G migration strategies, mobile media, enterprise and machine-to-machine (M2M) and mobile commerce applications. For further details on 4G World 2010 and an up to date view of its program please visit www.4gworld.com.
The Evolution to 4G Wireless - WiMAX and LTE
By Andrew Mitchell
Q&A with Craig Miller, VP of marketing and business development, Sequans Communications
Q: How do you see the WiMAX and LTE markets developing?
As a 4G chipmaker, Sequans is committed to both of these markets and we see solid long-term growth for each. The LTE market is just beginning to develop and the WiMAX market is beginning to mature.
After a slow year due to the global economic downturn, WiMAX has come roaring back to life, exceeding all expectations. We expect the overall WiMAX device volume to at least double in 2010 and double again in 2011. Trends indicate WiMAX will become a market of significant size with a vibrant ecosystem as it has established a solid foothold in both developed and emerging economies. In developed markets, such as the US and Japan, WiMAX offers a lower cost alternative to 3G, and in developing markets, such as India, Indonesia, and Brazil, WiMAX is providing low cost fixed broadband access in rural and urban areas where broadband penetration is low. WiMAX is here to stay.
LTE (long term evolution) is on the way and undoubtedly will be one of the coming decade’s most important technologies. Driving this development is the tremendous thirst of end users for mobile data and mobile data devices combined with the inability of 3G mobile operators to answer this demand over the long term because of the limitations of existing networks. To meet the demand, users will have to be moved to new networks on new spectrum with more modern wireless access technologies. LTE is expected to enable this transition. However, LTE will not replace WiMAX. Both markets will exist side-by-side, and Sequans will continue to serve both markets. In fact, it is entirely possible that device manufacturers will build products featuring both technologies; Sequans is ideally positioned to address this need when it arises.
Q: When will LTE networks and devices be widely available?
There are many hurdles to clear before the transition to LTE is realized. Spectrum availability is the first hurdle. Most operators will need 20 MHz of vacant spectrum to provide LTE services and it will take time for a majority of operators to acquire it. The second hurdle is the sheer complexity of developing the technology for chip, device, system, and core network vendors who have a lot of work to do to solve interoperability, power consumption, legacy network (2G-3G) compatibility, spectrum co-existence, inter-channel handover challenges, global roaming issues, aggressive cost targets, and a host of other issues.
Given the tension between operator motivation on one hand, and capital, technical and regulatory issues on the other, we believe the LTE market will emerge first as a data-centric overlay to existing 3G networks. These first deployments will begin in spots in 2010, spreading more broadly in 2011. Similar to the WiMAX device market, the LTE device market will begin primarily with USB modems and other data devices, with multi-mode handsets (2G/3G/LTE) emerging later. Our estimates are that the volume of LTE device shipments will cross over WiMAX device shipments in 2012 or 2013. While the LTE market is developing, the WiMAX market will continue to grow steadily, and both markets will coexist for years to come.
Q: Will WiMAX operators abandon WiMAX for LTE as LTE becomes available?
For operators who invested in WiMAX and have built sizeable WiMAX subscriber bases, there is no compelling reason to abandon WiMAX for LTE. WiMAX will remain a healthy market and ecosystem for the foreseeable future and WiMAX operators can realize today many of the same benefits promised by LTE, which is still several years away. As LTE becomes available, those operators who don’t move to WiMAX 2 (802.16m) may consider adding LTE as an overlay to their WiMAX network (they have this option because LTE includes a TDD operating mode and almost all WiMAX operators hold TDD spectrum), but they will not turn off their WiMAX networks. Interestingly, those operators and manufacturers who invested in WiMAX will likely have a head start in LTE because of a degree of commonality between the two technologies. Again, this is not about a flight by operators or the device ecosystem from WiMAX to LTE. Rather, it is about two viable technologies addressing the business needs of operators and manufacturers at a particular time and place.
Q: What kind of solutions will Sequans provide for the changing/expanding addressable market?
Sequans is committed to the 4G marketplace and will continue to develop and supply semiconductor solutions for both WiMAX and LTE. In WiMAX, we have built a profitable business and have established a technology and cost leadership position where we have provided the WiMAX ecosystem with differentiated, high-performance, low-cost solutions. We intend to do the same in LTE, building upon our five years of broadband wireless experience and our proven methodologies. We are currently providing the industry’s most highly integrated series of chip solutions for WiMAX, for both base stations and end user devices, and we just introduced our first LTE chip solution for end user devices that will be commercially available early next year. We are constantly evaluating the market for other products, such as dual mode WiMAX/LTE solutions and/or 2G/3G/LTE solutions and will introduce those when the time is right. In summary, we are ready to serve the rapidly emerging needs of the exciting 4G industry.
4G World Roundtable
By Andrew Mitchell
In preparation for 4G World 2010 Conference and Expo in October, we brought together the core Yankee Group team responsible for the content of the show - Eliot Weinman, conference chair; Kate Walsh, marketing director; Andy Mitchell, content director and Chris Nicoll, distinguished research fellow - a skilled team to talk about the state of 4G and what to expect from this years event.
What’s the current state of 4G?
Chris Nicoll: 4G is in a dichotomous situation in terms of definition. From an advertising standpoint, it’s simply “next-generation”-whatever that is. There’s a gap between that mainstream term and the technical definition. In fact, we’re at least two years away from true 4G service.
Eliot Weinman: What we’re seeing now is a market in its infancy. That’s what 4G World 2010 is all about-supporting that infant stage. This year’s show will be a platform for all the major operators to discuss their 2010/2011 4G roll-out strategies.
If 4G is in its infancy, why are we talking about it now?
Andy Mitchell: The explosion of mobile content, video, smart devices, etc., is challenging the capabilities of 3G networks and inciting user demand and expectation for 4G. This convergence of infrastructure, applications and devices will be a key theme in 2010 and at 4G World, in terms of the technology evolution, demand and opportunity.
Chris Nicoll: As 4G service rolls out, providing users with greater value from the network, operators will have to do something beyond just offering tiered data plans to generate revenue. They are going to have to partner with content or app providers to get a cut of that pie-the time is now to begin exploring those strategies.
What can attendees look forward to at 4G World 2010?
Kate Walsh: 4G World is truly an event by the industry, for the industry. This year, we’ve partnered with many associations and media firms to make sure that attendees receive the most complete and unbiased view of the 4G ecosystem and all its players. We’re going to get a lot of attention-this is ramping up to be the best event we’ve ever had.
Andy Mitchell: We’ve received an overwhelming response to the call for papers-the interest in participating and partnering has been massive. The overall objectivity and insightful content is something to definitely look forward to.
Eliot Weinman: Especially since this 4G World is taking place a couple of years before the market has reached maturity, we’re going to see a lot of innovative ideas and strategies.
Chris Nicoll: At 4G World, it’s ALL about 4G. You’re not going to be able to turn around without running into some aspect of 4G, whether it’s the future of the mobile Web, content, advertising, backhaul, femtocells, vertical markets, etc. A true 4G ecosystem event-there’s nothing else like it.
4G World takes place Oct. 18-21, 2010, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.
Learn more about the event and register for updates by visiting http://4gworld.com
Taking content mobile - at home and on the road
By Andrew Mitchell
The notion of multimedia content delivery to a “3 screen” world is generally accepted as a possibility, if not a reality. For mobile content delivery the technology challenges associated with the device, like display quality or processor capability, and the availability of a robust broadband connection have for the most part been addressed. But for both consumers and operators there are some remaining issues and challenges that need to be addressed before we have what could truly be considered as a “3 screen world”.
According to a recent report by Nielsen, 15.7 million Americans viewed video on their mobile phones in Q3 of 2009. That figure represents a 53% increase over 2008. Also notable is that the use of DVRs in American households increased by 22.5% over 2008, on average representing more than 7 hours of programming per month. In this growth of consumed content an interesting convergence of expectations is taking place.
Traditionally consumers have been confined to viewing and storing content or programs on a device and historically that has meant a VCR or more currently a DVR or PVR. Moving that content from one device to another usually requires that the user locate some type of media - a video tape, hard drive, USB dongle, cables, or even a wireless connection - to make the transfer. In addition to that the user also needs to ensure that the media is stored in a format that is compatible with the device that will receive it.
Morega Systems believes they have the solution for taking content mobile, satisfying the needs of not only consumers but content owners, STB (set-top-box) vendors and service providers as well. The 3 year old Canadian start-up founded by Morega’s president and CEO Philip Poulidis and co-founder Feng Chi Wang, vice president of technology, currently employees 35 and is backed by Celtic House Venture Partners and GrowthWorks Canadian Fund. The start-up’s goals are to “bring the 3 screens together for the consumer, for all their media” and to “eliminate issues of interoperability and unify the experience in a way that makes ubiquity easy.”
Morega’s solution is the Qew. It includes a standards based hardware reference design, the QewStation and a range of client software applications known as QewPlayers. The solution enables content device and placeshifting, from a variety of sources - CATV, DTH, IPTV, PVR, etc. - to a variety of different devices - iPhones, smartphones, PCs, Macs, SD cards, etc. - over a home LAN, wireless LAN or a 3G or 4G network. Qew connects to a STB PVR, automatically discovering content and transcoding it in the formats necessary to port to the user’s devices, either by direct transfer or streaming. Consumers purchase and download the QewPlayers for their respective devices through the likes of Apple’s iTunes App Store for example, or a mobile operator’s app store or a TV distribution provider.
According to Bill Daly, VP of Sales at Morega, “consumers are willing to pay a premium for content and devices that provide a truly seamless experience across multiple screens.” Morega’s solution also delivers security for the content owner, does not dis-intermediate STB vendors and enables continued monetization by service providers, maintaining their relationship with the content owners. The QewStation product roadmap includes support for management of user-generated content and a retail version of the product that Daly refers to as the content “hub in home”. Daly goes on to explain that no other solution vendor provides the ubiquity offered by QewStation, adding that “you control the content and the quality, for all of your devices.”
It is expected that Morega will announce a major deal with a US-based TV distribution operator in early Q3 of this year. In the meantime such solutions are going to continue to the push for wireless operators to closely examine infrastructure investments, rate plans and content monetization as even further content goes mobile.
Femtocells – A business case for free?
By Andrew Mitchell
Monday evening’s ShowStoppers at CTIA Wireless 2010 lived up to its billing as being an event showcasing “hot companies with cool products”. With around 30 vendors present there were lots of cool products, ranging from applications, to accessories as well as a number of innovative new security solutions. But what really caught my eye on the way into the busy room was actually not a product but rather the presence of an association - Femto Forum.
While Femto Forum itself isn’t a “hot company” and doesn’t produce “cool products” it did have a very cool message for the many press and media folks who attended the event. Femto Forum’s mission in wireless focuses on driving standardization, regulation and interoperability of femtocell technology. The organization also focuses on providing support for the marketing and promotion of femtocells as solutions for the wireless industry.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Femto Forum’s enthusiastic chair, Professor Simon Saunders. When asked “what’s new?”, Saunders provided some highlights of two interesting and compelling studies that advance the inclusion of femtocell solutions in 4G networks. Outlining the first study Saunders explained that the forum’s research found that the addition of femtocells to the network allows femtocell users to consistently receive much closer to the headline LTE/WiMAX data rates than those connected to macrocells.”
On the surface, this might be reason enough for a consumer to consider the purchase and use of a femtocell. To an operator, including support of femtocells could contribute to improving user experience while at the same time reducing the demand for increased macrocell infrastructure. The study suggests that an operator with 10 million LTE or WiMAX subscribers with a deployment of femtocells to 10% of its subscribers could expect to see a return of over 10 times for its investment.
But that’s not all. Saunders went on to explain that another study commissioned by the forum supported a model where an operator could actually provide early LTE/WiMAX subscribers with a free femtocell to deploy in a home or office so as to create the best possible experience indoors. Depending on variables, the model suggests that funding for the free femtocell would come from the opportunity to delay anywhere from 4 to 10% of the operator’s required infrastructure build.
The business cases would seem to be compelling enough. Looking down at the table I see sample devices, including one branded for AT&T. There are also devices branded for France’s SFR and Japan’s Softbank. In the case of AT&T, it’s a 3G device and perhaps one that will provide that operator with some relief from the on-going challenges it’s had in supporting the seemingly unquenchable demand for bandwidth presented by the increasingly more prevalent iPhone. Regardless of whether its an operator’s current challenge or future opportunity, it appears obvious that femtocells have solid, and perhaps even a “free” 4G future.
LTE devices - soon to be in hand?
By Andrew Mitchell
It was hardly a year ago at CTIA Wireless 2009 that Samsung revealed the Mondi, their first mobile Internet device (MID) for mobile WiMAX. The Mondi was the manifestation of a long-anticipated device for the Clear WiMAX network. A year later, the anticipation is shifting to LTE devices. CTIA Wireless 2010 attendees will no doubt be pushing for a glimpse, a word or a whisper of up and coming LTE devices and especially a smartphone or MID.
More than 70 operators from around the globe are either deploying, undertaking trials or have announced plans for LTE. One of those 70 operators in the US is Verizon. Dick Lynch, Verizon Communications CTO announced at Mobile World Congress 2009 that the company would proceed with Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as vendors in their initial deployment. At MWC 2010 Lynch said their plan is on track and that deployments in 25 to 30 cities would be completed in 2010. But completing deployments is just part of the LTE challenge; what about the devices?
The need for an LTE-capable MID or smartphone is clear (absolutely no pun intended here!) however in Verizon’s case such a device won’t be immediately available in 2010 market launches. Anthony Melone, CTO of Verizon Wireless explained in a recent Wall Street Journal article that handsets will be available 3 to 6 months after service launch or mid-2011. Initially the only devices available will be USB dongles, a number of which are currently being evaluated by Verizon.
HTC announced late last year that it would be supplying China Mobile with a TD-LTE handset for test at Expo 2010 Shanghai, which is now just a little over 6 weeks away. Also, 4G chipmaker Sequans Communications announced yesterday that it too will be providing a TD-LTE device for the test network. Working with partners Motorola and Alcatel-Lucent, the first Sequans LTE product, the SQN3010 will power an LTE band class 40 USB dongle.
So what vendor’s LTE devices might we expect to hear or see at CTIA? Will it be Samsung, who announced last year that it would be producing a handset for MetroPCS’s LTE network, which has been slated to launch in late 2010? Will it be Kyocera, who also announced late last year that it would be developing LTE-capable Android-based phones in 2010 and 2011? Cox Communications, completed LTE trials in San Diego and Phoenix earlier this year and it is widely expected that Cox will soon announce plans for deployment. Cox worked with Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei for the trials - will we learn who a potential device partner could be?
Despite being on the heels of MWC, there’s still plenty of anticipation of exciting news and cool new products for CTIA.
Defining the 4G roadmap - have your say
By Andrew Mitchell
Have your say in defining the 4G wireless road map by participating as a speaker at 4G World 2010.
4G World 2010 is seeking industry thought leaders to participate as speakers at 4G World 2010, October 18 - 21 at McCormick Place, Chicago. If you are a wireless industry business or technology thought leader, an innovator, ideator or experienced integrator, we want to hear from you.
The most exciting 4G industry event of the year, 4G World 2010 Conference and Expo is now soliciting innovative papers related to 4G wireless technologies and solutions. This leading conference brings together industry, academic and government professionals in a multi-track forum that covers the entire 4G wireless ecosystem. From infrastructure to devices, applications and business models, 4G World thought leaders share insights and expertise and facilitate interaction and innovation.
The uniquely developed conference provides 13 program tracks over 3 days with specific focus on:
- Network Topologies
- Backhaul Solutions and Strategies
- Femtocells
- Future of the Mobile Web
- Managed Services/Operational Transformation Strategies
- Mobile Content and Advertising
- 4G Technologies and Road Maps
- Operator Deployment Strategies
- 4G Vertical Industry Applications
- Open Application Development for the Mobile Internet
- 4G Business Strategies
- Future of the Mobile Web and E-Commerce
- Mobile Internet Device Strategies
This is the perfect opportunity to present your experience, expertise and perspective through provocative interaction with a keen and qualified audience. Session speakers and panelists will enjoy opportunities to create new business prospects, enhance credibility and foster new and collaborative partnerships throughout the wireless ecosystem.
Consider what you have to offer and how you can benefit by participating. If you have interest in becoming a speaker at 4G World 2010 please visit 4G World 2010 Call for Papers website today for further details and submission guidelines. The deadline for submissions is March 31 at 12:00 PM EST.