Smartphones: Data Tsunami Coming

Smartphones are double-edged swords for carriers. They attract big-spending customers, but tax networks designed for simpler times, explains Fortune.

Independent telecom analyst Chetan Sharma estimates that the typical wireless subscriber consumes 120 megabytes each month; typical iPhone owners use four times that.

And it’s just getting worse. By 2010, global mobile data traffic is expected to exceed 200 terabytes per month, six times last year’s levels, according to Cisco Systems.

“3G networks were not designed effectively for this kind of usage,” says John Donovan, AT&T’s chief technology officer, referring to the current generation of broadband wireless. “We fight the day-to-day guerrilla warfare as the customers move around.”

Many of AT&T’s 60,000 cell towers need to be upgraded, with new 850 MHz gear and backhaul. That could cost billions of dollars, and AT&T has kept a lid on capital spending during the recession. AT&T will delay their LTE upgrade, upgrading its HSPA 3G network from 3.6 Mbps to 7.2 Mbps, instead.

Verizon plans to have 30 US LTE Markets by 2010. Verizon will use their nation-wide 700 MHz band. The carrier hopes to have a data-only LTE trial service available in Seattle and Boston later this year.

It can’t come soon enough. The tsunami is about to hit. Android phones from Samsung, LG, and Motorola are due in stores by early 2010. Motorola will launch their Android portfolio on September 10th. The data-oriented Palm Pre, which operates on Palm’s WebOS platform, is already on Sprint and should be in Verizon stores early next year.

A Cisco Mobile Forecast for 2008-2013 noted that a single high-end data phone today generates more data traffic than 30 basic-feature cell phones, while a single laptop air card generates more data traffic than 450 basic-feature cell phones. Cisco projects that mobile data traffic will increase a thousand-fold over the seven years from 2005 through 2012, with video being a significant component.

AT&T offers free Starbucks WiFi (with a paid data subscription) while Verizon is partnering with Boingo to deliver free WiFi access at hotels, airports, restaurants and coffee shops (with a data plan). PCCW, the Hong Kong operator, has started using Wi-Fi hot spots to ease the load from smartphones and its digital TV service.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has said that the most active 5% or so of data users are causing problems for the other 95%. AT&T is working on a revamped data plan whereby light data users would pay less, and heavy users would pay a premium rate — or leave.

Source:  Dailywireless

4G mobile broadband could be some way off for UK

4G mobile broadband could be some way off for UK’s New, fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband technologies are already in development, but could be delayed in the UK until 2012. That is according to PC Pro, which explained that deployments of Long Term Evolution and other new mobile broadband technologies are already beginning in the US, Europe and China. However, the UK has been slow off the mark and will not be able to participate in any of its own schemes until the 900MHz band of spectrum currently owned by Vodafone and O2 is redistributed by the government, the website reports. Source: http://www.top10-broadband.co.uk/news/2009/07/4g_mobile_broadband_could_be_some_way_off_for_uk

On the Road to 4G

On the Road to 4G While the top-of-the-line smartphones of today rely on third-generation wireless networks, carriers are looking ahead to 4G networks, which will facilitate even faster data transfers to and from wireless devices. WiMax and LTE are two of the more talked-about technologies, but their development paths are vary and they may end up doing different jobs. Though most major U.S. wireless carriers today tout the ubiquity of their third-generation, or 3G, wireless networks, they are simultaneously planning for the future, pushing the development of fourth-generation (4G) networks that they hope we’ll all be using in a matter of years. Two of the best-known 4G technologies now on the horizon are WiMax, or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access; and LTE, or Long Term Evolution. However, these two different technologies will likely take different paths in their development and eventually be used for different applications. Source: http://www.xscx.info/2009/07/on-road-to-4g.html

Witness the 4G Wireless Evolution

Witness the 4G Wireless Evolution: One of the most exciting parts of my job is to explore new technologies with my readers and attendees at live events. By now you probably know TMC produces the 4GWE conference in partnership with Crossfire Media — a company where Carl Ford is an integral part of building a number of communications communities. If you aren’t aware of Carl, he is a thought-leader in the telecom space having spent years developing leading edge content as part of the VON events of years past. The first 4GWE event we produced drew hundreds of attendees from around the globe and was extremely successful. We have collaborated and improved th conference quite a bit and in addition we have added a number of great new media partners and sponsors. Thanks to all of you for your support and I am looking forward to greeting the wireless industry at this show… It will certainly be very exciting considering the growth potential 4G wireless solutions have. Source: http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/4gwe/witness-the-4g-wireless-evolution.html

UK 2.6 GHz auction pushed back again to 2010

UK 2.6 GHz auction pushed back again, to 2010. The UK, once set to be the first European country to auction 2.6 GHz spectrum for ‘4G’ services, is delaying its spectrum sale yet again. In November, regulator Ofcom indicated it hoped to award licenses by mid-2009, and in April it said it promised to hold the auction “as soon as possible”. Now it has “withdrawn” that statement and, in the wake of the new Digital Britain report recommendations, will bundle the 2.6 GHz and digital dividend spectrum sales into one super-auction next year. The delay is a further blow for operators that had hoped to steal an early march in mobile broadband, especially those aiming to challenge the cellular incumbents, possibly with a WiMAX network. While a few countries, notably Sweden, have sold 2.6 GHz licenses, most auctions will take place in 2010, as operators create strategies that also take account of the sale of analog TV spectrum around 800 MHz; possible broadband stimulus initiatives in some markets; and the ruling, by many regulators, that 3G services can be expanded using current GSM frequencies around 900 MHz. Source: http://4gtrends.com/?p=1143

Ease of WiMAX Migration to 4G Technology: Myth or Reality?

Ease of WiMAX Migration to 4G Technology: Myth or Reality?: For those accustomed to a wireless interface, WiMAX (News – Alert) has long been the technology providing wireless transmission of data through a variety of transmission modes. Now, as the world of telecommunications is swiftly moving toward Long Term Evolution (LTE (News – Alert)) to adopt 4G mobile communications technology, a perceived battle between WiMAX and LTE could easily emerge. Source: http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/wimax/topics/wimax/articles/59185-ease-wimax-migration-4g-technology-myth-reality.htm

Bright future of 4G

So far we came across the term 3G, because it is the latest wireless technology that is in use today in many parts of US as well in many other developed nations. The many analysis going on regarding 3G and its advancement of 4G and 5G between the group of scientists in IEEE communication society. The basic idea behind this 3G is to augment good old TDM voice with broadband data. So far the international association of wireless telecommunication industry CTIA estimates that only 80% of the penetration is possible as the data need to be the engine of growth if voice market saturated. But 4G will provide both voice and data together under IP umbrella hence extension around wireline to wireless is possible with IP. If we are potentially talking about the 5G, we can have the maximum throughput of 100 Mbps or more; but in case of 4G, we can look up to 300Mbps without loss as LTE is going to be the 4G technology of choice.  ource: http://www.dhinawandreaming.com/2009/05/bright-future-of-4g.html

UK planning one big 4G spectrum auction in 2010

UK is planning one big 4G spectrum auction in 2010. At one point the UK was supposed to be the first European country to auction 2.6 GHz licenses for 4G service, but the plan is once again on hold, according to 4G Trends. Telecoms regulator Ofcom, after delaying the process before, had indicated back in November it was planning to award licenses by mid-2009 and in April said it would try to get the licenses auctioned as soon as possible. Now the regulatory plans to bundle the 2.6 GHz and digital dividend spectrum, which is similar to the 700 MHz band in the U.S., in one big auction next year. Source: http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/uk-planning-one-big-4g-spectrum-auction-2010/2009-07-01

3G or 4G? Parsing the economics of mobile broadband

Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ, NYSE:VOD) is jumping into long-term evolution (LTE), launching its first networks this year, while AT&T (NYSE:T) is taking a little more time, planning its rollout in 2011 and upgrading its 3G network in the interim. In Japan, there’s a similar story. NTT DoCoMo (NYSE:DCM) is as gungho over LTE as is Verizon, but Softbank Mobile appears to be in no hurry. Source: http://telephonyonline.com/wireless/news/3g4g-mobile-broadband-economics-0630/

Nortel 4G patents may not be worth that much

Embattled Canadian vendor Nortel may have held on to some of its key LTE patents when it flogged much of its mobile business to Nokia Siemens Networks last month, but there is some debate as to whether that IPR will be the nice little earner Nortel hopes.Source
http://www.telecoms.com/12468/nortel-4g-patents-may-not-be-worth-that-much