TIA2011: Cloud, home and gov't interest to increase broadband opportunities

DALLAS—Mobile, fixed and converged operators can all experience growth if they leverage their network assets, Robert Vrij, Alcatel-Lucent Americas president, said during a keynote speech this morning at the Telecommunications Industry Association’s TIA2011: Inside the Network event here.
Cloud-based computing services and the business models that can develop from moving services to the cloud present new opportunities for service providers. Chief information officers have to manage the increased complexity of their networks as employees bring diverse devices onto their enterprise networks. Moving those services to the cloud enables businesses to transition from IT being a capital expense to it becoming an operating expense. Likewise, moving from an Internet Protocol-based network to a virtual network allows businesses to operate their networks efficiently and to scale their networks appropriately.
Governments are realizing the role of broadband access in their economies, Vrij noted. The Brazilian government, for example, wants to increase broadband access to 75% of its population. The government is auctioning off spectrum ahead of plans to hold the Olympics and World Cup in Brazil. Likewise, Australia has ambitious broadband plans, as does the United States, which has a goal of 98% broadband penetration.
The prospect of a connected home can offer new solutions around media sharing, home monitoring, energy management and home automation.
Service providers will need to be trusted partners for consumers, as privacy concerns remain a concern as more personal information becomes digital, Vrij concluded.