Quick-fire Interview with Manuel Vera, Senior Manager – Network, Bell Mobility

Manuel Vera, Senior Manager – Network (National Network Performance), Bell Mobility

Please tell us about your role?

I am responsible for the introduction of new technology and network performance support.   I also have oversight of network performance trends and analysis.  Lastly, I develop processes to support new technologies as well as evaluate new solutions to better manage network performance.

What changes have you seen in the industry over the last 12 months?

The speed of technology turn over and adoption has changed dramatically.  It has gone from 10 Years, to 5 years, to recently a matter of 1 year. (AMPS -> CDMA -> EVDO -> 3G UMTS -> HSPA -> LTE -> LTE-A)

What are your priorities for the next year ahead?

It comes down to three key areas -small cells. continuing the ‘Speed Game’ (2xCarrier Aggregation, 3xCarrier Aggregation), and delivering connectivity and managing network performance at special events and large venues.

How can industry help overcome your current challenges?

There is a pipeline of technology that will drive network automation – Better SON features – complete dSON deployments and explore cSON systems.

In your opinion, why should medics and industry representatives attend HetNet North America in May 2015?

The event is a good way to learn about the industry and keep track of the latest trends.  I found over the years that in events such as this, we either ratify the direction we are taking or we rectify it based on our key takeaways.

For more information on HetNet North America, visit www.hetnetnorthamerica.com

The Role of Wi-Fi in Mobile Networks: Interview with du’s Senior Director for Wireless Broadband, Terminals & Performance

Ayman Elnashar, Senior Director for Wireless Broadband, Terminals & Performance at du

The integrated service provider du has been selected as the Official Smart City Wi-Fi Provider in Dubai and has since been successfully expanding its Wi-Fi network to major landmarks in UAE, such as Dubai Tram ^[1] and Global Village ^[2], etc…

Ahead of the LTE MENA conference in Dubai, we spoke with Ayman Elnashar, Senior Director for Wireless Broadband, Terminals & Performance at du. Ayman will be discussing du Wireless Broadband plans in more detail at the show, but I wanted to find out how du subscribers are already getting a better service thanks to this innovation.

Delivering Connectivity in Public Transportation – Interview with Capitol Corridor

James Allison, Manager of Planning, Capitol Corridor

As networks spread and become more dense, consumers will expect to be connected wherever they are. Public transport has been slow to keep up with this trend, but Capitol Corridor, an intercity passenger train system that provides convenient public transport across the second-largest urban service area in the Western United States, has been one of leaders in the US, in providing WiFi on trains. We sat down with James Allison, Manager of Planning, who has lead the project to get Capitol Corridor commuters connected on their journeys.

Huawei expects acceleration in small cell market

While the initial hype may have died down small cells are still very much at the heart of operator strategies for 2014. Julian Bright, Informa’s senior analyst for networks gives us the low down from Informa’s Small Cell Global Congress in Berlin last month on Huawei’s plans for the technology.

The buzz of interest that surrounded small cells in the early days may have subsided, but the evidence is that the majority of vendors and operators remain convinced that the technology has a key role to play in the future mobile broadband network.

Interview: Chairman, Small Cells Forum and AVP Small Cell Solutions, AT&T (USA): “Small cells represent a critical tool in any operator’s arsenal.”

Gordon Mansfield, Chairman, Small Cells Forum and AVP Small Cell Solutions, AT&T (USA)

Gordon Mansfield, Chairman, Small Cells Forum and AVP Small Cell Solutions, AT&T (USA), is delivering a keynote on Day Two of the of the LTE North America conference, taking place on the 21st-22nd November 2013, in Dallas, Texas, USA. Ahead of the show we find out how and why small cells are going to become a critical part of every operator’s network.

How would you sell the benefits of using small cells in a network?

It’s a well-publicised fact mobile data usage is continuing to grow with no sign of this abating; as such, carriers need to increase network capacity. While there are a number of means of bolstering capacity – moving to 4G, improving spectrum efficiency, Wi-Fi offload – nothing comes close to frequency reuse through increased numbers of cell sites which improve capacity by up to 1600x. In addition, small cells yield noticeable benefits for the macro network; a 2012 Forum study showed that by placing four small cells within one macro, not only is data offload of over 50 per cent achieved, the macro network performance is improved by 315 per cent. Small cells give operators a relatively low-cost means of augmenting their networks where improvements are needed, whether it’s a busy urban area or remote village with poor coverage. This isn’t to say small cells will supersede macro cells or that they overcome all spectrum limitations, but they do now represent a critical tool in any operator’s arsenal.

The LTE North America conference is taking place on the 21st-22nd November 2013, in Dallas, Texas, USA. Click here NOW to download a brochure for the event.

Executive adviser, KDDI, Japan: “KDDI considers Hetnets to be one of the key technologies required to efficiently utilise limited spectrum resources.”

Fumio Watanabe, executive adviser, KDDI & corporate officer CTO, UQ Communications, Japan

Fumio Watanabe, executive adviser, KDDI & corporate officer CTO, UQ Communications, Japan is delivering the opening keynote on Day One of the LTE Asia conference, taking place on the 18^th-19^th September 2013 at the Suntec, Singapore. Ahead of the show we get an insight into what makes KDDI special compared to its rivals.

How has your LTE network developed over the past year?

Unlike the usual approach of launching services with limited coverage, KDDI adopted a far more aggressive strategy when it launched LTE services in September 2012. KDDI aimed to solicit the advantages of LTE by starting with a wide nationwide coverage on Day One and by rolling out the network at a faster pace than had ever been achieved elsewhere. Eight months after the service launched, the population coverage using the 800MHz band reached 97 per cent as of May 2013 and will be further expanded to 99 per cent by the end of FY2013 (Total 3G/LTE subscriptions: 38.6 million as of July 2013 ).

KDDI’s approach to deploying LTE is not a mere implementation of LTE, but is truly unique and ambitious. By introducing LTE in multiple bands (800MHz, 1.5GHz and 2.1GHz) at the initial launch, we have secured the capacity and coverage as well as compatibility with global handsets, while saving the cost associated with network deployment.

Managing the interaction between 2G, 3G and LTE within Heterogeneous Networks

Neil Coleman, director global marketing, Actix

This post is by Neil Coleman, director global marketing, Actix.

As networks become increasingly complex and demands from subscribers soar, mobile operators face common issues when they lack a reliable, consistent and accurate view of the network. 

Mobile data services are undergoing tremendous growth. As a result operators are busily knitting together a Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) of access technologies from cellular towers, rooftop antennas, metrocells, femtocells, and Wi-Fi to Distributed Antenna Systems. This development is being driven by subscriber demand for consistent wireless broadband coverage and capacity, with the result that the mobile network is moving increasingly ‘closer’ to the consumer.

LTE offers a step change in mobile data performance, setting new expectations for customer experience. LTE will increase interaction with the network, increasing the demand for mobile multimedia services – online television, video streaming, social networking, and interactive gaming.

Considering the huge variations in performance, range and capacity between different access technologies and spectrum bands, operators will need to carefully control the interactions to provide a consistent subscriber experience. Simply put: customer experience in HetNets will be defined by the poorest network performance the subscriber typically receives during normal day to day usage.

If operators get this wrong, subscribers could experience catastrophic drop-offs when handed over from relatively under-utilised LTE networks to congested 3G/2G networks.  Similarly as subscribers leave Wi-Fi or small cell hotspots and re-join macro networks speed bumps will impact the always connected data experience new services rely on.

All of this requires operators to get the initial coverage mix right and ensure handovers and interactions occur at the right places at the right time. Critical to this is an understanding of how subscribers and data traffic flow across the network and the geography. This type of information can be obtained from systems that deliver increased network and subscriber intelligence. Software platforms such as ActixOne are designed to deliver real-time geo-located subscriber insights to drive everything from long term planning through to optimisation and SON.

This intelligence then enables the operator to shape and manage bandwidth to deliver the required quality of service, improving and optimising network efficiency so that the transition across the HetNet is a smooth, invisible and painless experience for the subscriber.