Responding to newspaper reports earlier in the week that it had dropped plans for a fourth 3G licence, the French government has announced that it has not yet decided one way or another. ‘Today all options are open’, Eric Besson, Secretary of State for Public Policy, said in an interview with the daily Le Figaro. Besson added that it is a matter of whether consumers will benefit from the best technology at the lowest cost, taking into account the chance to prepare for 4G mobile telephony and efforts to foster the development of MVNOs.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
- February 28th, 2008
- 2:49 pm
The lucrative promise of 4G is luring mobile operators to announce their migration plans in an effort to ensure their brands are viewed as cutting edge, followed by massive investment to overhaul their existing networks while betting on a long-term payback. As operators introduce mobile data services to the mass market today, it is imperative that they are perceived by the customer as “sexy” and of a very high quality level. The problem is that mobile operators currently involved in early data trials over 3G HSPA/EVDO networks are experiencing many problems that must be overcome before a 4G migration can even be considered. Beyond technical network issues, new problems related to service quality and availability are challenging the operators. Because many of these issues have never been seen before, most operators are ill equipped to address them.
Network-level issues
As mobile operators embark on a migration path with the eventual goal of 4G, they will experience a burst in network usage. The impact will be the same as that experienced after the deployment of DSL: the network resource impact from the shift of analog modems to DSL was enormous. The evolutionary path from 3G to 4G will result in a similar phenomenon.
Historically, access has been a bottleneck for data services, with the core network tailored to the access bottleneck. Thus the evolution of access from 3G to 3.75G (HSPA) and then to 4G must proceed in tandem with the migration of the legacy core network to an all-IP core network, while simultaneously supporting legacy voice services and introducing new high bandwidth data services. To achieve this, active network monitoring and ultra-fast reaction times become of paramount importance.
Monitoring the network is not simple, however. There are many signaling exchanges and interfaces involved during data transactions, each giving a different level of visibility into network and service issues. While deploying probes everywhere in the network is unaffordable and inefficient, there are key network points that provide the required visibility.
For example, in a UMTS HSPA network, one of the key interfaces is the Gn, which represents the focal point where user data can be analyzed and where services can be associated to the individual or to groups of subscribers.
By combining information from the control plane and the user plane in the Gn interface, operators can extract several kinds of information such as subscriber ’group’ behavior, QoS, quality of experience (QoE, described below) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). By correlating the control and user planes, the operator now has visibility into how users affect the network and how the network affects the users.
Service-level issues
Compared with voice, mobile data services require many new monitoring and troubleshooting techniques. This is mainly due to the fact that for voice, it is generally assumed that simple network metrics (e.g. those associated with classics QoS) can ensure good voice quality from users’ perspective – especially for legacy networks such as SS7 and ISDN.
For data services, this does not always apply. For data services, QoE – that is, understanding how the user experiences the service – now becomes the important metric.
In addition to latency, delay and jitter, which are well-understood by operators, new measurement types must be mastered in order to troubleshoot data services and ensure high QoE, including TCP statistics (such as retransmissions, resets, round-trip time and set-up time provide a window into quality of sessions), packet loss (essentially ‘jitter’ for streaming data services), protocol anomalies (how malformed packets effect TCP and UDP transmissions), throughput per session (the actual data rate the call is occupying) and traffic per session (how much aggregate bandwidth the call used).
Additionally, the ability to proactively address potential problems before the user experiences them becomes important. By correlating real-time analysis on user and group-level behavior with actual network and node behavior, the operator can predict and alarm on emerging service issues such as network congestion, service breakdown and roaming/handoff problems. For example, a monitoring system can generate alarms based upon thresholds to detect degradations of specific traffic indicators grouped by various destinations.
Another important requirement is a fast reaction cycle from the time the front office receives a trouble ticket to the time the back office is able to determine the root cause of the problem. Issue resolution will now be measured in minutes, rather than hours or days. Again, effective use of troubleshooting and monitoring tools are mandatory. For example, the operator should have the ability to rapidly drill down on detail records such as calls, transactions and multimedia services, and also to search by variables such as phone, transaction and video ID.
Further they should have the ability to recover and zoom in on any element of the frame(s) related to that traffic.
High stakes
Before considering a migration path towards a 4G infrastructure, mobile operators need to address the complexities and issues associated with current 3.5G and 3.75G technologies. A new generation of test and monitoring tools exists that can enhance the success of these deployments and accelerate the migration path towards 4G. These tools provide visibility into both network and service issues and correlate them to ensure the highest QoS and QoE achieved for both legacy voice and new mobile data services.
The stakes are high, however. Selection and proper utilization of the right troubleshooting and monitoring tools will help the operator achieve glitz and glamour in the eyes of the customer, while improper selection and utilization will hasten the operators inevitable trip to the grave.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
- January 7th, 2008
- 3:10 pm
Czech mobile operator Vodafone CR (formerly Oskar) will not launch a 3G service by its end-January 2008 deadline, and may be prepared to turn its back on the technology altogether in favour of other, newer alternatives. A report in the Czech Business Weekly speculates that Vodafone CR may write off its USD88 million UMTS concession, purchased in February 2005 at a knock-down price compared to the sums paid by Telefonica O2 CR and T-Mobile in 2001, following its failure to secure a network sharing deal with one of its rivals. Vodafone has been trying to negotiate a deal with a competitor to share technology since mid-2006 when it mothballed plans to deploy its own infrastructure, however, the talks, mainly with T-Mobile, appear to have fizzled out.
In January 2006 Oskar announced it planned to introduce 3G services before the end of the year, and also to upgrade the network to high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology. However in a surprising turnaround in July, it said it was putting its 3G plans on hold in the face of what it called ‘excessive’ rollout costs. The announcement came not long after it revealed it had signed an exclusive 3G handset contract with Huawei (in February 2006), and the award of 3G equipment contracts to Ericsson and Siemens in April. At the time it said it would instead focus on alternative data technologies such as EDGE, which was launched in March 2005, and self-branded e-mail services, which were launched in August 2006 in partnership with Visto Mobile under the brand name Business Email Plus.
Vodafone’s Czech unit has said officially that it will now roll out a UMTS service by 1 January 2009, instead of the previous 31 January 2008, but local analysts point out it is currently testing other more up-to-date technologies such as 4G, Long Term Evolution (LTE) and a mixture of Wi-Fi enabled fixed line and mobile phones, and may circumvent UMTS altogether. In addition, Vodafone CR has signed a joint agreement with Telefonica O2 and T-Mobile to build a network for mobile television based on Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) technology.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
- November 30th, 2007
- 2:41 pm
US mobile operator Verizon Wireless plans to develop and deploy its fourth-generation mobile broadband network using the Long Term Evolution standard. The selection of LTE provides Verizon Wireless and its shareholder Vodafone with an opportunity to adopt a common access platform, compatible with existing technologies of both companies. Currently Verizon uses a CDMA network, but it has recently announced a policy to open its network to all types of devices and applications. Vodafone meanwhile uses GSM networks. Verizon and Vodafone have a coordinated trial plan for LTE that will start in 2008. Trial suppliers include Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia Siemens and Nortel.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
- October 26th, 2007
- 2:22 pm
Alcatel-Lucent has launched a programme to team up with American universities on research, development and testing of ultra-high bandwidth applications for fixed and mobile networks. The Alcatel-Lucent University Innovations Programme is intended to build a vision of future advanced applications and services for consumers, educational and non-profit institutions, and businesses. Alcatel-Lucent and the Georgia Institute of Technology are planning to establish a Centre of Excellence on ultra-high bandwidth applications. Alcatel-Lucent is working with the Stevens Institute to leverage the company’s knowledge within its graduate-level course on Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing. The company will provide guest speakers as part of the course. The Alcatel-Lucent programme will focus on creating applications and services based on emerging technologies and trends in the industry such as convergence for personalised services based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem and a carrier-grade service delivery environment. The programme also will emphasise developments involving mobile ultra-high bandwidth applications including 4G and multimedia services, and the evolution in broadband enabling the connected home, interactive TV, and hyper-speed optical technology. Alcatel-Lucent is in conversations with several universities to establish more relationships under the programme. The company expects to contribute funding, training, application development software, technical support, researchers, access to network infrastructure prototypes and support for device prototypes.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
- August 27th, 2007
- 1:41 pm
Samsung Electronics said Monday that it will build a high-speed mobile Internet network in New York, Boston and three other cities on the east coast of the United States by the end of next year.
The network will cover 100 million people in the region and will be a stepping stone for the firm’s initiative to make its Mobile WiMax technology become the global standard for mobile Internet, said Choi Gee-sung, chief of Samsung’s telecommunication division. He also hoped that the network equipment business will start making profits in five years after devouring massive investments for years.
“WiMax will act as a catalyst (to our network business),'’ Choi said at a press conference held during the Samsung 4G Forum at Hotel Shilla, Seoul. “We are making a strategic investment here. It does not account for a large portion of our entire telecommunication business, but we see large potential in it.'’
The company signed a deal in August 2006 to build the wireless network for Sprint Nextel in Philadelphia, Boston, Richmond and Washington, D.C. But it was only recently that the firm was awarded an additional contract to cover New York, the world’s financial capital, the firm said.
The entire network will cover 100 million people by next year and 170 million by 2010 when they are extended to suburban towns, Samsung said. The United States is to be the second nation to have a commercialized Mobile WiMax network after South Korea.
Choi said that the firm expects to win more equipment contracts in the United State via Clearwire, another wireless broadband service provider there.
Mobile WiMax is a wireless Internet technology developed by Samsung Electronics and its partners. The most recent implementation allows users to download data at up to 1 gigabits per second when static, and up to 100 megabits when moving _ as fast as using a home broadband Internet line.
The WiMax service was first launched in South Korea last year under the name of WiBro (Wireless Broadband). But only around 30,000 are currently subscribed to the service via KT and SK Telecom in Seoul and nearby regions.
During the 4G forum, Samsung also reassured its commitment to the costly wireless network business by promising heavy investment in fourth generation (4G) mobile communication technologies.
The firm said it will take the technology leadership in the network industry by continuing to improve its Mobile WiMax technology, hoping it would be selected as the fourth generation standard over two other competing technologies.
The forum showcased all three candidates 4G technologies _ Mobile WiMax, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and Long Term Evolution (LTE). Though Samsung is the leader of the Mobile WiMax team, it is also developing UMB and LTE equipments just in case, it said.
“At the forum, I was moved to see heated discussion between representatives from the three sides,'’ Choi said. “People have different ideas of how the 4G technology will evolve in the future. But the most important thing is not the technology itself, but how the technology can benefit human users.'’
Choi said that the firm will increase its annual investment in the WiMax development to 160 billion won from 120 billion won. He also expected 1.3 trillion won in sales from the networking business this year.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Mobile broadband products and technology provider NextWave Wireless has signed an agreement to acquire all shares of IP Mobile. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The agreement is subject to required government approvals. IP Mobile is a Japan-based telecommunications company held by Mori Trust. Upon closing of the transaction, NextWave will hold a 69.2 percent stake in IP Mobile. NextWave’s investment is aimed at helping IP Mobile accelerate its deployment of 4G mobile broadband technology before the end of 2007 in Japan.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
CTS International (a company held by AGF Private Equity, GIMV and Sofinnova Partners) acquires the Planet EV wireless network planning software product line from Ericsson.
The Planet EV intellectual property, technology assets and human capital acquired through this transaction will enable the newly formed group to strengthen the leading, global position of Planet EV and Ellipse Microwave Planning in the field of wireless network planning and optimization.
CTS International combines a world-wide leading position in the field of microwave planning and a solid financial foundation to the established Planet EV business. The company is committed to delivering world-class customer service and to advancing the Planet EV product through continued innovation, with a strong focus on 3G and 4G.
Philippe Catherine, CTS International CEO, said: “Planet EV is a proven solution we have successfully distributed for over 3 years. This acquisition enables us to bring together two state-of-the-art solutions in the area of network planning with a combined heritage of more than 15 years in the industry. Planet EV and Ellipse Microwave Planning customers will benefit from this transaction through ongoing investments and dedication to the network planning and optimization market.”
With 110 employees, the new organization will be headquartered in Paris and will have offices in Dallas, Ottawa, Hong Kong and Tokyo. It will serve and support a growing base of over 200 customers located in 90 countries.
This transaction is expected to close within 30 days, at which time the new organization will be launched globally with a new identity. The combined organization emerges as a leader in mobile and broadband wireless network design and optimization software solutions.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A - message board) today announced its WiMAX Optimization Solution for IEEE 802.16e-2005. This breakthrough drive-testing capability for its network optimization test platform enables WiMAX network equipment manufacturers and service providers to authenticate the actual subscriber experience in real-world WiMAX environments. This capability allows manufacturers to develop faster and more reliable WiMAX-enabled products.
The Agilent WiMAX Optimization Solution is the latest version of the new 4G air interface technology, enhanced for ultra high-speed packet data transfer with Quality of Service (QoS). It enables 4G wireless communications systems to deliver business-critical data services such as video telephony, video conferencing and video streaming downloads, with network-enforced QoS to guarantee the performance of the service.
“With WiMAX environments that operate in IEEE 802.16e-2005, manufacturers and service providers are facing complex measurement considerations compared with traditional 2G and 3G iDEN/CDMA networks,” said David Churchill, vice president and general manager, Agilent’s Network and Digital Solutions business unit. “Our portfolio provides the ability to test devices, signals and services from the early stages of development through deployment. This helps design and manufacturing engineers do their jobs faster and more efficiently than ever before.”
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Mobile WiMAX will connect 8% of the world’s 1.1 billion mobile broadband subscribers by 2012, accounting for nearly 88 million users worldwide, according to Mobile Broadband Wireless: Path toward 4G. This new report from Parks Associates forecasts 52% of these subscribers will be from Asian countries while North and South America will account for another 28%.
“Today, most existing WiMAX deployments are the province of aspiring start-up service providers or incumbent telecom carriers looking to fill coverage gaps,” said Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, Director of Broadband and Gaming, Parks Associates. “The imminent availability of commercial products and increasing availability of spectrum around the world will change the market for mobile WiMAX and make it viable among major service providers. Taiwan alone will have eight million mobile WiMAX subscribers by 2012.”
According to Mobile Broadband Wireless: Path toward 4G, approximately 160 million cellular subscribers, 6% of all cellular subscribers, were using a mobile broadband service at the end of 2006. Two-thirds of these mobile broadband subscribers used UMTS technology, and the remainder used CDMA EVDO.
“Both mobile WiMAX and UMTS/HSDPA technologies will gain market share in the next several years, at the expense of CDMA EVDO,” Cai said, “TD-SCDMA will also have a meaningful market share due to its strong foothold in China, the largest mobile market in the world.”
Mobile Broadband Wireless: Path toward 4G examines next-generation mobile broadband wireless solutions, including 801.16e/WiBro, FLASH-OFDM, and cellular solutions. It analyzes potential market opportunities, examines the competitive equipment and service industry landscape, shares consumer perspectives on mobile broadband wireless solutions, and provides market-sizing information.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Government says no decision taken on fourth 3G concession (France)
