Editor’s Note: In an attempt to broaden our interaction with our readers we have created this Reader Forum for those with something meaningful to say to the wireless industry. We want to keep this as open as possible, but we maintain some editorial control...
U.S. carriers are learning to see Wi-Fi as a supplement to their coverage rather than a competitor, but they have been slower to adopt it than have some of their counterparts overseas. Analyst Claus Hetting of Hetting Consultants and Matt Davis, VP of program...
The blurring of the lines between the enterprise and service provider networks will extend the "edge" of the mobile network from the operator's core into the enterprise premise....
The inside-out 2020 mobile network
We have started the transition from a wireless to a mobile enterprise network...
Stadium DAS deployments continue
Infrastructure providers say the DAS RFPs keep coming from public venues, especially sports arenas. This week JMA Wireless said that Crown Castle will deploy JMA's Teko distributed antenna system at Rutgers University's High Point Solutions Stadium.
The Rutgers DAS will be ready...
Wi-Fi is now an essential part of our smartphone and tablet-enabled lifestyle. Today, more than two-thirds of our monthly wireless data is consumed over Wi-Fi, and all signs are that this proportion will continue to grow. So while the traditional, cellular-centric view of the...
The virtualization movement continues to gain steam as the mobile space looks for ways to increase efficiency while reducing costs.
The latest push comes from the Small Cell Forum, which announced plans to address network function virtualization as part of its on-going “release program.” The...
Wi-Fi at the World Cup
Wi-Fi offload is a big part of the game plan for Brazil's mobile operators during the World Cup. TIM Brasil and OI SA are both working with Aptilo Networks to offload mobile data traffic without losing control of their subscribers....
New network technologies and standards-based features driving changes at macro cell sites, and networks are moving toward HetNets with the advent of small cells and the increasing focus on indoor coverage through technologies such as distributed antenna systems (DAS). A new feature report from RCR...
The use of microwave for mobile backhaul has so far been limited in North America, although it is popular in Europe and other international markets. Microwave is expected to play a larger role as LTE backhaul technology, as next-generation networks continue to evolve and...
The MPLS PE (Provider Edge) router or network element plays a key role in MPLS infrastructure. The PE router is both the interface between the customer-facing network and the MPLS core, and the point where customer data is given an MPLS label and/or the...
DAS contracts increase in size, outpacing market growth
Typical distributed antenna system contracts for hardware only (hubs, nodes, remote radio heads, antennas, etc.) now range from $5 million to $10 million, compared to just $1 million a few years ago, according to analyst Stéphan Téral...
Today, there actually are not many questions when it comes to the HSPA LTE debacle. The answer is clear, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the future. Upgrading to LTE technology is part of the natural upgrade process. But, how do they differ? Let's dig...
Today, LTE is on the tip of everyone’s tongues. It’s the up and coming, lighting fast data network we've been waiting for. When discussing LTE, however, there are many technical terms and many complexities. To help you better understand, an LTE architecture overview of...
Test and measurement company Ixia has released an e-book on heterogeneous network deployment, compiling strategies and lessons learned from its work over the past couple of years with vendors and operators who have deployed small cells.
"It's kinda of a collection of our input of...
Beyond Wi-Fi offload
As cable operators increase their public Wi-Fi deployments, mobile operators may see some Wi-Fi hotspots reaching out to grab their customers. Last week during The Cable Show, Smith Micro Software launched an over-the-top Wi-Fi "concierge" app for iOS and Android devices.
"Wi-Fi as...
ABI Research is arguing that operators should deploy carrier-grade Wi-Fi at the same time that they are rolling out cellular-technology small cells, looking for an integrated solution in order to maximize the investment return from small cells.
The analyst firm noted that China Mobile and AT&T...
--Comcast said its Xfinity Wi-Fi network now contains one million hotspots around the country, including its outdoor hotspots, hotspots for patrons at enterprises that Comcast includes for free with its business Internet service, and neighborhood hotspots where Comcast enables residential customers to have a second...
--Mobile Experts expects that the small cell market will reach $10 billion in 2018.
Joe Madden, principal analyst at the firm, said that the deployment of 200,000 small cells in Asia "has validated the accuracy of our forecasting over the past five years. This year,...
Aerohive Networks (HIVE) stock began trading Friday.
The company priced its initial public offering of 7.5 million shares at $10 per share, and it dropped 9% in the first day of trading but rebounded to close at $10. In its pre-IPO filing with the Securities...
Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) represent a major paradigm shift in mobile network designs, and set the stage to add network capacity and enhance performance. But HetNet technology is far from proven, and is filled with challenges. With significant revenue and brand reputations at stake, operators need to...
Heterogenous Networks, or HetNets, are an increasingly important part of the wireless landscape in order to support denser networks and in-building coverage. RCR's weekly HetNet News column includes the latest on distributed antenna systems (DAS), Wi-Fi and small cells.
--Athena Wireless is showcasing its smoke-detector-sized,...
With AT&T's new ad campaign set to make DAS and small cells household words, wireless infrastructure trade organization PCIA and the HetNet Forum are asking the Federal Communications Commission to remove barriers to deployment. The trade associations are asking the FCC to streamline the...
Amdocs, which focuses on customer experience and OSS and also has a small cell planning solution, released some research on deploying and managing small cells at last week's Cable Congress event. The January 2014 survey from Real Wireless included 40 wireless and wireline operators...
Several recent research reports assess trends in the small cell and HetNet space, as well as recognizing the growth of TD-LTE in the global wireless market.
ABI assessed vendors in the small cell market and carrier Wi-Fi market and put Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei and Cisco at...
