Network sharing is one of those topics that makes economic sense, but often falters when it comes to adoption and implementation. Recently, I was asked about the prospects for network sharing given 5G capital investment requirements at a time of economic crisis. This is, of course, related to active sharing models where operators share the… Read More: Network Sharing: Trends and Opportunities »
Integrated AI-based technology enables networks to adapt autonomously which helps operators optimize their service delivery to consumers and enterprises. As communication networks increase in complexity, operators seek to simplify operation and maintenance activities and reduce operating costs. Network automation could help operators achieve this objective. Automation is not a new concept: it has been around… Read More: The Case for Network Automation: Application to Power Consumption »
Over the past weeks we closely followed the impact of economic lockdowns on the ICT infrastructure to identify weaknesses and areas for future investments. Our analysis is multi-dimensional given the complexity of the ICT infrastructure which combines different types of access and backbone networks. This heterogenous infrastructure varies widely by geography. Our assessment led us… Read More: COVID-19: ICT Infrastructure Investment Opportunities and Risk to Competition »
Written in collaboration with Martyn Roetter* Countries across the world have been releasing new spectrum for 5G deployments in millimeter-wave spectrum bands (mmWave), while others are planning to do so soon. Although a few governments have awarded mmWave spectrum via administrative processes at little or no cost to operators (Japan, Hong Kong), in most cases… Read More: Spectrum Pricing Trends in Millimeter Wave Bands »
Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) has emerged as one of the hot 5G discussion topics [see here on T-Mobile and Verizon]. This feature which allows simultaneous operation of LTE and 5G technologies has become a bellwether of product maturity and 5G leadership for equipment and silicon vendors and for service providers. But how important is DSS… Read More: Dynamic Spectrum Sharing: The Pros and Cons »
Spectrum pricing is a function of supply and demand. Over the course of recent 5G spectrum auctions, regulators demonstrated, yet again, their influence on the outcome. Italy and Taiwan are two examples which set a record valuation for the 3.5 GHz auction. This year, we will see one of the largest auctions ever: the CBRS… Read More: CBRS PAL Spectrum Valuation »
The basic building blocks of 5G were introduced in Release 15 which is now in commercial deployments. In addition, the 5G roadmap has defined two more releases. Release 16 brings in new features in addition to improvements to features introduced in Release 15. Last December, 3GPP identified Release 17 work items. Below, is a summary… Read More: The 5G Roadmap in Simple Terms »
The satellite and cellular wireless industries have long progressed along parallel tracks that rarely intersected [see here]. However, this could change in the next few years [see here]. Both satellite and cellular technologies are evolving to improve performance and reduce cost through technological innovations and new business models. In our recent paper, we analyzed the… Read More: The Cost Model for Enterprise Private Wireless Networks with Satellite… »
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Edge Computing World where I participated in providing a workshop on the economics of the edge. Over the course of two and a half days of discussions common themes become evident. Here, I share a few observations on the edge computing value proposition and recent market developments… Read More: A Perspective on the Edge Computing Value Proposition »
In my previous article, I wrote about developments in virtual RAN, and indicated that the actual focus on the service providers is on core network migration strategies. The RAN receives high attention because it consumes more of the MNO capex and opex than the core network. This makes it a primary target for cost reduction.… Read More: MNO Migration Strategies: Core Network Migration »
Over the past week, I had the opportunity to get a full status update on Radio Access Network (RAN) transformation at the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) Summit in Amsterdam. I also had the opportunity to speak with a few service providers on the evolution of the telco network. Understanding the pain points and motivation of… Read More: MNO Migration Strategies: An Update on Virtual RAN »
“Where is the edge?” is one of the most popular questions I heard at telco industry events. The answer often comes as “the edge is where it needs to be.” Some understand this to mean wide distribution of computing hardware that will make the telco edge cloud. Here, I will argue why wide distribution of… Read More: Can Telecom Service Providers Monetize the Edge: Why the Telco… »
As 5G rolls out, edge computing is the hope of service providers to finally provide differentiated services. Service provides have two paths to monetize the edge: a consumer services path and an enterprise services path. The former plays to the strengths of the mobile service providers. The latter, enterprise path, is as an incremental opportunity… Read More: Can Telecom Service Providers Monetize the Edge: On-Premise Edge Computing »
Is OpenRAN (Open Radio Access Networks) the path to saving costs in radio access networks? Vodafone seems to think it is as it trials the technology in its networks in the UK and Africa. Among Vodafone’s goals are: 1. Improve supply chain resilience; and 2. Connect rural communities using standardized, lower cost network equipment. This… Read More: Is OpenRAN The Answer To Low-Cost Networks? »
I had the opportunity to spend a few days last week at the media and broadcast sector event IBC to check out the latest developments in the these sectors. Video dominates Internet traffic, so this was a good platform to check out what the ecosystem players from “lens to screen” are working on. Of interest… Read More: The Media and Broadcast Sectors Intersect with the Mobile Industry »