Interview: APAC General Manager, Tropo: “While we are a small and agile organisation and can react fairly fast, that’s not enough. We need to have everyone along the delivery chain moving quickly.”

Tropo, an API that makes it simple to build phone, SMS and Instant messaging applications was picked as the winner of the Innovation Accelerator at the recent LTE Asia conference. In this interview with Fuxin Jiao-Kiuru, APAC General Manager for Tropo, we find out what the award means to them and why API development is so important in the telecoms space.

You won the Innovation Accelerator at LTE Asia. Why do you think your product attracted the attention of the judges?

Tropo bridges the gaps between telco and web development spaces, making fast innovation in communication possible.  I believe the reason we won is that we are not only talking about great technology, but also real customers, real applications in the market, and real innovation and we bring in great value. In the region, both China Telecom and Globe Philippines are already using Tropo with their eco-system partners. So we are not just talking about it, we are innovating with our customers and partners as we speak.

What are the main challenges you expect to face over the next 12-18 months?

Dynamic Multi-Layered Defense – Part II – Why LTE networks are less secure than their 3G predecessors

Leonid Burakovsky Sr. Director, Strategic Solutions for F5 Networks

As I discussed in my first blog, the issue of security for mobile networks, subscribers, devices and applications, is undergoing significant changes with the move to an IP-based technology. In this post, we’ll look at technology trends that are contributing to these new security challenges.

For several reasons, LTE networks are less secure than previous generations. First of all, because they are all-IP networks. The newest security front is between eNodeBs and EPC (evolved packet core). There is no protection there for user information privacy and man-in-the-middle attacks. Only a relatively few mobile operators are deploying IPSec VPN to protect user data and enhance authentication.

LTE Asia Awards winners announced!

 

Once again the great and the good in the Telecoms industry were present for the latest Telecoms.com awards, held for the first time at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore. After a cocktail reception filled with glitz and champagne the winners were finally revealed to an expectant audience. Well done to all the nominees and especially to the winners!

See you there next year!

Roll of Honour!

• Best Test/Measurement LTE Product – Polystar
• Most Significant Development of a Commercial LTE Network (Operator Only) – SK Telecom
• Best LTE Core Network Product – Cisco
• Best Traffic Management Product – Gigamon
• Best LTE Roaming Product – SAP
• Best VoLTE Innovation – Samsung
• Innovation in HetNet Development – Huawei
• NFV Innovation of the year – Mavenir System

Off to the LTE Asia Awards: Singapore or Bust

Jim O’Leary, Senior Mobile Solutions Marketing Manager, Cisco

This post is by Jim O’Leary, Senior Mobile Solutions Marketing Manager, Cisco

Think about what is going on in the APJC Mobile Market for a minute:

• In Korea Mobile data traffic on 2G, 3G, and 4G networks increased approximately 70 per cent between 3Q 2012 and 3Q 2013.
• In China : Mobile data traffic of China’s top three mobile operators grew 90 per cent in 2012 and 72 per cent from mid-2012 to mid-2013.
• In Japan, Mobile data traffic grew 92 per cent in 2012 and 66 per cent from 3Q 2012 to 3Q 2013, according to Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
• While in India Bharti Airtel reported mobile data traffic growth of 112 per cent between 3Q 2012 and 3Q 2013 and Reliance Communications reported mobile data traffic growth of 116 per cent between 3Q 2012 and 3Q 2013.’Nomophobia’ is a term describing a growing fear in today’s world — the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact, which is why analysts report that 91 per cent of us keep their cell phone within three feet of themselves 24/7.

Succeeding with LTE in Asia: Go for Next Generation Communication Services

Malcolm Chan, Managing Director, BICS, Asia-Pacific

This post is by Malcolm Chan, Managing Director, BICS, Asia-Pacific.

Asia is expected to account for almost half (forty-seven per cent) of all LTE connections by 2017, as LTE networks are rolled out in major markets such as China and India, making Asia-Pacific the world’s largest LTE market in terms of service revenue. In the face of this tremendous growth, operators need to seek innovation through Next Generation Communication Services to maintain market share and customer loyalty.

To achieve this, operators need to ensure they provide an enhanced user experience. Central to this is an enriched communication experience with IMS based services like VoLTE and Rich Communications Services (RCS).

As OTT players increase the number of VoIP and messaging services they offer their customers globally, mobile operators need to deploy VoLTE and RCS services in order to offer innovative high quality services through their unique proposition of ubiquity, global reach, quality and privacy management.

Voice roaming needs innovative change

Itsuma Tanaka, Lead Core Network Architect, Core Network Development Department, NTT Docomo

This post is by Itsuma Tanaka,  Lead Core Network Architect, Core Network Development Department, NTT Docomo

Do you actually voice roaming when you’re abroad?

When you’re calling somebody from the LTE Asia 2014 venue, or when you sit in Starbucks on the high-street, or when you’re relaxing in your hotel room—or even when you’re surfing on the sunny Maldives beach, – you generally would use free Wi-Fi and Skype.

Recently, the EU introduced new regulations that cap prices for roaming phone calls leading operators, especially in the EU region facing fears of (even more) reduced revenues. They have to reduce prices, whilst maintain existing systems.

De-risking new service provider technology deployments, aka The Triple Challenge of Network Transformation

Andy Huckridge, our Director of Service Provider Solutions

This post is by Andy Huckridge, Director of Service Provider Solutions, Gigamon

Operators are facing a slew of new technologies to roll out, but this time around there’s a difference. In the past operators have been able to deploy new technologies in series, that is one after another. With the current new technologies, due to the interdependency on each other, they are linked.

Therefore instead of deploying the new technologies in series, the deployment of one new technology forces the deployment of another new technology, and so on until all three new technologies are deployed. This bog post will explain the three technologies, the interdependencies between them, highlight why this is bad from the operators perspective and explore ways to overcome the resource crunch which will become evident by the deployment of a Unified Tool Rail approach in parallel with the new technology rollouts.

Cost Optimised Indoor Coverage

Andrew Mackay, Manager Mobile Solutions, Cisco Systems

This post is by Andrew Mackay, Manager Mobile Solutions, Cisco Systems

In my last post Bringing LTE Indoors, I discussed the compelling need to address LTE coverage indoors to enable service migration off 3G, particularly for Voice. We know there is a variety of options for MNOs to address indoor coverage, either from outside in with more outdoor sites, or from inside with wider use of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), repeaters or small cells. The “outdoor in” approach would mean even more BTS sites, but site acquisition challenges and build costs generally mean this is no longer an option in urban areas. Addressing coverage from indoors makes sense, but what is the optimal solution?

Myth Busting Closed-Loop SON

Yaacov Cohen, Director of Product Management, Cellwize

This post is by Yaacov Cohen, Director of Product Management, Cellwize

Closed-loop SON is an attribute that the majority of mobile operators desire from a SON solution today. But is their expectation of closed-loop SON the same as what vendors truly offer, or is it missing a critical aspect?

The Mirage

A Closed-loop SON system would have the ability to automatically receive parameter network sets, run optimisations and then provision parameter set adjustments back onto the network – automatically and faultlessly. This loop part of a C-SON integration with vendor OSS, is the basic foundation of any C-SON solution ensuring the automation of coordinated SON activities.

But does this truly define what Closed-loop SON is?

In Reality

The true meaning of closed-loop SON is actually much broader. It isn’t just the configured connections that allow for the closed-loop data transfers, but rather a wider network-centric approach, which continuously seeks for anomalies in network performance. Closed-loop SON can only be completed when realising corrective C-SON techniques, which consider the current level of network performance degradation, while comparing normal traffic pattern behaviors.

Interview: Managing Director Networks, Optus: “We need to ensure that we deliver a high standard of service.”

Vic McClelland, Managing Director Networks, Optus

Australian network Optus have been nominated for, ‘Most Significant Development of a Commercial LTE Network’ in the LTE Asia awards, taking place on the 24th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. In this interview with Vic McClelland, Managing Director Networks, we find out what winning the award would mean for team Optus.

What was the original thinking behind the creation of your winning entry?

Since Optus entered the Australian market just over 20 years ago, our unwavering focus on innovation and customer experience has underpinned our investment in our network.

We see 4G as the chance to further highlight that Optus is an innovative and competitive alternative in Australia. We see our first-to-market launch of 700MHz LTE in Australia as a launching pad for Optus’ extension of our LTE network beyond metropolitan centres and into regional Australia.

Should you win how do you expect your business to benefit?

Helping Your LTE Network Fly to New Heights with Better Service Assurance

Sergio Zveibil, Product Marketing Manager, InfoVista

This post is by Sergio Zveibil, Product Marketing Manager, InfoVista

One of the greatest accomplishments of the golden age of aviation occurred on September 28, 1924, when the “Chicago” and the “New Orleans” completed the world’s first airborne circumnavigation. When the planes landed in Seattle, completing a 175-day journey, Major General Charles G. Norton said that the flight was, “brilliant proof of expert flying and mechanical ability.”

To an experienced aviator, Norton’s assessment would ring true. But, to the average American in 1924, it would seem as though it took more than just “expert flying and mechanical ability” for those pilots to travel around the world safely. Some might have said it took a little bit of magic. That sentiment was later echoed by science-fiction write Arthur C. Clarke when he said: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Interview: Lead Core Network Architect, Core Network Development Department, NTT Docomo: “The IoT will bring promising business opportunities.”

Itsuma Tanaka, Lead Core Network Architect, Core Network Development Department, NTT Docomo

Itsuma Tanaka, Lead Core Network Architect, Core Network Development Department, NTT Docomo is speaking on the subject of “5G Infrastructure”, on Day One of the 9th annual LTE Asia conference, taking place on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Here we get insight into his views on 5G, the IoT, and LTE roaming.

What, in your opinion, will truly define 5G?

5G is the search for a new paradigm; one that will support society for another 20 years. Therefore, 5G will be defined by the new business architecture on top of technical advancements to maximize the potential of mobile radio communication.

Will 5G require an overhaul of current network architectures, or will it be an evolution?

Interview: International Product Manager for Mobile Solutions, A1 Telekom Austria: “[The customer experience] is significantly improved when the customer’s MNO is served by an IPX provider that can offer guaranteed QoS.”

Roman Waditschatka, International Product Manager for Mobile Solutions, A1 Telekom Austria is speaking on the topic of “Creating a consistent customer experience when roaming,” taking place on Day Two of the 9^th annual LTE Asia conference, taking place on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Here he gives us his views on why IPX is so important for the modern network operator.

LTE roaming is starting to become a reality – what are the main challenges to making it happen?

The main challenge is having a reliable IPX provider with a flexible core network infrastructure to interconnect MNOs that can tailor itself to their needs. Telekom Austria Group’s global IPX network guarantees our customers global LTE roaming coverage by exchanging traffic with their roaming partner networks worldwide.

To what extent does having a wholesale business with knowledge of signalling issues help solve roaming challenges?

Interview: CEO Consumer Singapore, SingTel: “We also have to continuously innovate and maintain an always-connected, reliable network.”

Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, Consumer Singapore, SingTel

Yuen Kuan Moon the CEO of Consumer Singapore, SingTel is delivering one of the opening day keynotes at the 9th annual LTE Asia conference, taking place on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. He here reveals how Singtel looks to work with OTT players, and make the best use of the bandwidth it has available.

What are your broader challenges that you expect to face over the next five years?

Communications service providers will have to meet ever increasing customer expectations, especially in terms of offering products and services that are relevant to customers’ needs and which they value. We also have to continuously innovate and maintain an always-connected, reliable network.

Singapore is not short of bandwidth compared to many countries. What is the plan to monetize it all?

Apple and iPhone 6 gently raise the LTE bar

As you probably have noticed Apple, the company famous for making computers, among other things, did something remarkable yesterday. Yes, it killed off the ‘Classic’ iPod. You know the one with the click wheel and the 50 trillion songs on your pocket slogan. I know, I can hardly believe it either. This is a great shame of course, especially as I was thinking of upgrading my 2005 model as just last week my iTunes library exceeded its 60GB capacity for the first time meaning I can’t just hook it up and sync. Ah, cruel world.

In the context of this blog though, I’m misdirecting you (in case you hadn’t noticed), as Apple also released three new devices in the shape of two new iPhones and a Watch, its first ‘wearable’. The latter, in all likelihood, marks the official start of the ‘IoT’, as previously ‘dumb’ devices become smart and connected. Yes, others have got their first, but no tech party can really begin till Apple arrives. (Then again, some people hate it).

In terms of LTE though, the new iPhones raise the bar, albeit relatively modestly. The phones now offer LTE support on 20 different bands, though not at once. As with the 5c/s there are three skews, with multiple variations for Europe, Asia and the US. TD-LTE support has also been slightly expanded with the addition of Band 41 – 2.5GHz.

Interview: General Manager, LG U+, “I believe we can compete with OTT services.”

Seunghyun Sung, General Manager, LG U+

Seunghyun Sung, General Manager, LG U+ is speaking on the subject of how the Korean operator has led the way on implementing VoLTE on Day One of the second annual LTE Voice Summit, taking place on October 7^th-8^th 2014 at the Royal Garden Hotel, London. Here she gives us some hints on how VoLTE can add to customer satisfaction and enable it to compete with OTT providers.

What are you expecting and hoping for from the commercial launch on VoLTE?

We currently provide seamless and intelligent communication experiences to our customers through our commercial VoLTE network. Since our customers use voice call features in an LTE environment, by making full use of the advantages that LTE/VoLTE technology provides we are able to offer many differentiated features. For example, we have a service called Uwa, which enables users to have a phone conversation, while using third-party apps for gaming, web surfing etc.

As we approach commercial launch is there any clearer idea of whether VoLTE will truly compete or just complement OTT services?

Interview: Marketing Manager Singtel: “Premium pricing for LTE will simply hinder customer adoption of LTE services.”

Sean Aw, Marketing Manager, Singtel

Sean Aw is Marketing Manager for Singapore operator Singtel, who have been nominated for two awards at the LTE Asia Awards, taking place at the Marina Bay Sands on the 24^th September. Here we find out more about Singtel’s network development and its plans for the future.

You’ve been nominated at the inaugural LTE Asia awards for two awards. Why do you think your products have attracted the attention of the judges?

Singapore’s vibrant economy necessitates a fast and reliable mobile connectivity. SingTel has more than 130 years of operating experience and has played a pivotal role in the country’s development as a major communications hub. We are Singapore’s leading mobile operator with the largest customer base and share of mobile revenue and SingTel continues to serve its customers with the best that technology has to offer. The latest LTE technology is one such example. SingTel was the first to bring in LTE service to the Singapore market in Dec 2011 and was the first to launch LTE with speeds of up to 150Mbps through cutting edge MIMO technology.

Recently, SingTel also pushed the boundaries further by working closely with our handset partner, Samsung and network vendor, Ericsson to introduce two of the world’s first commercial service, fully featured VoLTE service with a full suite of telephony services, and also a 300Mbps smartphone service based on LTE-Advanced technology.

What are the main challenges you expect to face over the next 12-18 months?

MTM: Discussion 1; The Current and Future Impact of LTE

From Sports Marketing to Sports Entertainment

Image courtesy of Slash Gear

In all of advancements in technology in the past 30 years, a lot of these advancements would not have either been possible, or even made sense, without high-speed wireless technologies like GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA. The “next” era of devices are coined “smart devices” and are interconnected through various data transfer technologies, a lot of which are still rooted in these high speed data roll outs, like LTE.

In the past, data connections, technologies, and speeds were a spin of the wheel. Depending on your domestic carriers, international carriers, development of specific technologies, costs, and other variables, high speed data transfers were subject to vastly different standards and segmented areas as small as regions in the United States.

However, as we develop these high speed data technologies, LTE has become a source of unification as CDMA and GSM technologies can easily evolve into a truly global…

View original post 260 more words

Sprint reaches 4G LTE roaming agreement w/ 15 regional & rural carriers

Interview: Head of Strategic Wireless Technology and Core Network, HKT: “The launch of VoLTE is just the beginning of the journey to a new era of mobile voice communications.”

Dr. Henry Wong is head of Strategic Wireless Technology and Core Network at Hong Kong Telecommunications (HK) Limited

Dr. Henry Wong is head of Strategic Wireless Technology and Core Network at Hong Kong Telecommunications (HK) Limited. Here we find out more about how HKT’s network innovations have brought it to the attention of the judges of the LTE Asia Awards, taking place at the Marina Bay Sands on the 24^th September.

You’ve been nominated at the inaugural LTE Asia awards? Why do you think your product attracted the attention of the judges?

Well firstly, being the first operator to launch VoLTE in Kong Kong and the world’s first commercial deployment of the 3GPP R10 eSRVCC technology is a remarkable achievement. However, the main attractions of our service lie in the way we have engineered it and make it different from other deployments so that we can deliver a fully transparent and improved experience for our customer. Key aspects are:

Interview: SVP, Head of Network R&D Center, SK Telecom: “It is imperative that operators keep developing innovative technologies.”

Jin-Hyo Park, SVP, Head of Network R&D Center, SK Telecom

Jin-Hyo Park, SVP, Head of Network R&D Center, SK Telecom is delivering a keynote speech on SK Telecoms LTE Advanced innovations on Day One of the 9th annual LTE Asia conference, taking place on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Here he gives us an overview of SK Telekom’s latest innovation on its cutting-edge LTE network.

What was the original thinking behind the creation of your winning entry?

SK Telecom’s LTE and LTE-Advanced subscribers have already surpassed 55 per cent of the company’s total subscriber base, and the company holds more than 47 per cent of market share for LTE and LTE-Advanced market in Korea. To provide more advanced and faster LTE services to customers, SK Telecom has continuously upgraded its LTE and LTE-Advanced networks by commercializing carrier aggregation technology, adding more frequency channels, and expanding network coverage.

How do you plan to improve it even further?

Interview: Assistant Chief Executive and Deputy Director General (Telecoms and Post), IDA: “Singapore is gearing up to be the world’s first ‘smart nation’.

Ms Aileen Chia, Assistant Chief Executive and Deputy Director General (Telecoms and Post), IDA

Ms Aileen Chia, Assistant Chief Executive and Deputy Director General (Telecoms and Post), IDA is delivering the opening keynote on Day One of the 9th annual LTE Asia conference,  taking place on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Here she gives us an overview into the work of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and how it is helping take Singapore on its ‘smart city’ journey.

What are the primary opportunities and challenges for your region over the next three years?

The Asia Pacific region accounts for over 50% of the world’s mobile subscribers, with mobile penetration expected to reach 89% by the end of 2014.  Fuelled by increasingly affordable smart devices, the rate of adoption of mobile broadband is increasing alongside with mobile penetration as networks are being upgraded to next generation platforms. Additionally, 44% of global fixed broadband subscriptions are from the Asia Pacific with some Asian countries such as Singapore having introduced high speed broadband network such as fibre broadband. These indicate that there are both opportunities and challenges in the region, as there is a large and still-growing data-hungry consumer base.

Interview: Co-Founder, Telestax: “It’s very important for operators to be relevant to end users by providing meaningful services.”

Amit Bhayani, Co-Founder, Telestax

Amit Bhayani, Co-Founder, Telestax is taking part in the Innovation Accelerator, showcasing developers of interesting start-ups before a panel of judges, taking place at the 9th annual LTE Asia conference on the 23rd-25th September 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Read on to find out more about Telestax and Bhayani vision of where WebRTC fits in to the telco eco-system and why cloud is the future.

Please give me a brief overview of Telestax and what makes it unique?

TeleStax provides open source communications software and services that facilitate the shift from legacy SS7 based IN networks to IP based LTE and IMS networks hosted on private (on-premise), hybrid or public clouds. TeleStax products include Restcomm, WebRTC services ,SMSC Gateway, USSD Gateway, JSLEE, SS7 Resource Adaptors, SIP Servlets, Rich Multimedia Services, Presence Services/RCS, Diameter/AAA Services, XMPP Services and others.

Next Generation Service Provider Security: Dynamic Multi-Layered Defense for LTE Networks – Part 1

Leonid Burakovsky Sr. Director, Strategic Solutions for F5 Networks

With Apple’s iCloud’s coming under the spotlight in recent days for recent high profile data thefts, Leonid Burakovsky Sr. Director, Strategic Solutions for F5 Networks takes a timely look at security in LTE networks.

The concept of security for service providers is undergoing significant changes. Several key trends are contributing to this change: as it relates to business, to technology and who is attacking.

Historically, the main sources of operators’ revenue were voice and SMS. More recently, data revenue is the new star, together with the forays toward new services and service monetization such as mobile commerce, banking, mobile health, and others.

The need for tight security is clear, for example, in the mobile health ecosystem that would require end-to-end security mechanisms including the participating operator’s network. Or for example, mobile commerce, which is currently running over SMS, and obviously can’t function without comprehensive security mechanisms including the network as part of the overall ecosystem.

But do we truly the trust these ecosystems today?

When will voice-over-LTE matter? When it’s no longer just about voice

Gigaom

After years of delays, voice-over-LTE finally seems to be making its way into mobile networks and phones. T-Mobile recently announced its entire U.S. LTE network now supports the VoIP technology, while Verizon recently revealed it would begin selling its first 4G-only phones in 2016.

As we purchase new smartphones over the next few years, we’ll find traditional 2G phone calls receding into the past and voice or SMS becoming just another IP service. Today, however, consumers buying new VoLTE phones probably won’t notice much of a difference.

These initial VoLTE rollouts are focused solely on voice, which makes sense given the technology’s name, but apart from making the occasional HD voice call to other VoLTE device owners, the service is going to look – and cost – the same as old-school voice calls.

The real promise of VoLTE isn’t voice, but rather the raft of IP services…

View original post 573 more words