FierceBroadbandWireless

Sprint ends membership in NGMN Alliance after group backs LTE

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:43:52 -0400

FierceBroadbandWireless has learned Sprint has withdrawn from the The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance, a group of global mobile operators that banded together last year to push for a common vision for networks and technologies beyond 3G. The operator was a founding member of the NGMN. News of Sprint's withdrawal was first mentioned in a research report from Signals Research.

Sprint said it ended its relationship with the NGMN Alliance after the group chose to endorse LTE (Long Term Evolution) for 4G. Sprint spokesman John Polivka said the NGMN was supposed to endorse the co-existence of various technologies without favoring one over another. In fact, he said, technology neutrality was a key tenet of the NGMN to make sure it didn't duplicate the work being done in existing standards bodies.

"Sprint was disappointed that NGMN shifted from its original technology-neutral stance. We respectfully withdrew our membership from the organization due to the change in direction," he said. "We are enthusiastically continuing with our plans to work with our burgeoning ecosystem and launch a WiMAX network in select U.S. cities beginning in the third quarter with expansion throughout 2009 and beyond."

Founding members of the NGMN Alliance include China Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone, Orange, KPN and T-Mobile, all of whom back LTE. A quick look at the list of the 18 operator members on the NGMN Alliance web site shows the majority of the operators come from the WCDMA community, whose 4G path is LTE.

Related stories:
Femto Forum, NGMN Alliance unite for femtocells. NGMN story
NGMN announces "unprecedented" IPR plan. IPR story

WiMAX Stats: Still awaiting the tipping points

Mike Dolan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:26:08 -0400

By Adlane Fellah

At the end of March 2008, Maravedis' WiMAXCounts research logged nearly 2 million broadband wireless access/WiMAX subscribers. From fourth-quarter 2007 to first-quarter 2008, subscriber quarter-to-quarter growth was 19 percent and we have noticed the same quarterly growth trend since first quarter 2007. With a residential monthly ARPU of $48.08 and business ARPU of $146.02, this subscriber base generated estimated quarterly revenues of $366.22 millions, an increase of 20 percent with respect to the previous quarter.

There continues to be more residential subscribers than business subscribers, despite operator tendency to focus on business offerings. 65 percent of the subscriber base is residential vs. 35 percent business. However, the typical customer mix among operators is 52 percent business and 48 percent residential. This split did not change from the previous quarter. North America was the region with the higher residential customer base with 78 percent residential and 22 percent business.

Approximately 64 percent of the operators covered by WiMAXCounts have commercially launched BWA/WiMAX; 23 percent are currently deploying the network or testing WiMAX; and the remaining 14 percent either have idle spectrum (10 percent) or have returned/lost the right to use the spectrum (3 percent). There were various operators that planned to launch during the first quarter of 2008 and postponed their commercial launch until later this year, such as Global Mobile (Taiwan), which plans to launch in early 2009 and Sprint Nextel which initially planned for a commercial launch of Xohm in April this year.

One of the most important events that occurred during the first half of 2008 was the definitive agreement signed between Sprint Nextel and Clearwire to combine their respective wireless broadband and WiMAX businesses. Sprint will contribute its 2.5 GHz spectrum assets to the venture. The new venture will have more than 40 billion MHz POPs in key U.S. markets through the combined spectrum assets of Sprint and Clearwire. The new entity hopes to provide coverage to 140 million POPs by the end of 2010. Maravedis believes this coverage will be reached towards 2015 at the earliest. It is expected that the transaction will be completed in fourth-quarter 2008. This will considerably impact the future of WiMAX in the U.S. The new entity hopes its head start and spectrum position will help it become the strongest 4G operator compared to those in the LTE camp.

There continues to be more certified 802.16-2004 deployments than mobile and proprietary deployments. We have seen, however, an increasing interest from operators in the mobile version of WiMAX. During this quarter we accounted for 88 deployments using certified 802.16-2005 equipment as compared to 74 in the previous quarter; 106 deployments in the 801.16-2004 standard as compared to 105 in fourth-quarter 2007, and 54 proprietary deployments as compared to 64 in the previous quarter. We attribute the decrease of proprietary deployments mainly to operators upgrading their networks to offer WiMAX either in its fixed "16d" or mobile "16e" versions.

There are operators that have hybrid networks that are deploying a combination of proprietary and certified equipment. New operators that signed agreements this quarter to deploy mobile WiMAX networks include Axtel (Mexico) with Motorola, Embratel (Brazil) with Motorola, BSNL (India) with Soma Networks, VTR (Chile) with Motorola, and VTEL (Georgia) with Alcatel Lucent, among others.

As shown in Exhibit 1, the largest mobile WiMAX deployments reported during first-quarter 2008 were from Korea Telecom with nearly 150,000 subscribers and Wateen Telecom (Pakistan) with more than 10,000 subscribers at the end of that quarter. Wateen is today the largest mobile WiMAX Motorola deployment. In June 2006, Wateen placed an order for 198,000 CPEs from Motorola. Motorola has shipped 60,000 CPEs so far. In our latest conversation with Wateen, the operator said they had 25,000 subscribers by the end of June 2008. The operator expects to complete the order of 198,000 CPEs within the next year. We expect the gap between mobile "16e" deployments and "16d" will narrow once trials of 16e equipment are complete and certified equipment becomes widely available.

Approximately 63 percent of worldwide deployments have occurred in the 3.5 GHz spectrum, while only 17 percent in the 2.5 GHz spectrum. There has, however, been a lot of activity in the allocation of WiMAX frequency bands in the 2.3 Ghz and 2.5 GHz range, especially in Europe. Since the lower the frequency band, the better the propagation characteristics, most operators are interested in obtaining spectrum on these bands to deploy mobile WiMAX networks. That is the case in Russia, for example, where the frequency range of 2300 - 2400 MHz can be transferred from its current military use to WiMAX allocations. It is expected that up to three new licenses may be issued in this frequency range. In Germany an auction is expected for 2.5 GHz -2.69 GHz spectrum, and in Sweden 5 operators were awarded 2.6 GHz licenses. Many other countries are getting ready for upcoming auctions in these bands such as the U.K., Austria and the Netherlands. This might accelerate the number of mobile WiMAX deployments in the world and at the same time narrow the gap between the number of deployments in the 3.5 GHz and 2.5 GHz band--that is, if the spectrum is acquired by non-cellular operators open to deploying WiMAX! This is not a guarantee at this point and Intel cannot invest in every greenfield operator!

Adlane Fellah is the CEO and founder of Maravedis, a research and analysis firm focusing on broadband wireless technologies including WiMAX, 802.20, TD-CDMA and wireless local loop systems.

GSA says 207 HSDPA operating in 89 countries

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:57:16 -0400

The Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) said that 207 HSDPA networks are now commercial in 89 countries, compared with 126 commercial HSDPA networks in 63 countries a year ago. Today there are 110 commercial HSDPA operators in Europe, 44 in APAC, 26 in the Middle East and Africa region, and 27 in the Americas and Caribbean. A further 35 HSDPA networks in 10 additional countries are in various stages of deployment, the GSA said. Article

Related article:
HSDPA device growth accelerating. HSDPA report
The GSA reported an 80% rise in commercially launched HSDPA networks in 2007. GSA report

Nationwide WiMAX network coming to Denmark; Vodafone makes 3G laptop deal with Lenovo

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:54:47 -0400

> ECI Telecom has joined with Alvarion and backhaul supplier Ceragon Networks to deliver a nationwide WiMAX network in Denmark. Article

> Italian operator 3 Italia has deployed enhanced-HSPA using equipment from Ericsson. Article

> Vodafone signs with Lenovo for 3G laptop deal. Article

And Finally... Bic, the maker of the disposable pen and razor, announced a disposable phone. Article

Femto Forum takes page from DSL world for CPE provisioning

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:42:35 -0400

The Femto Forum is taking its que from the DSL world when it comes to provisioning home base stations and remotely managing them. The forum announced that its members have agreed to implement the Broadband Forum's TR-069 CPE WAN Management Protocol for real-time management of customer premise equipment (CPE), as the basis for the management protocol for femtocells.

The Forum noted that femtocells will be deployed in high volumes and installed by the subscriber so the provisioning and configuration has to e completely automated and managed remotely by the mobile operator. The TR-069 standard has proven it allows operators to offer simple installation and provisioning; perform advanced diagnostics and conduct remote firmware and service upgrades with millions of end devices, in an extremely cost-effective manner, the forum noted.

The Femto Forum said it plans to continue working closely with the Broadband Forum to define extensions to TR-069 to add additional femtocell capability to the standard. The two bodies have been working together over recent months to ensure the protocol is able to meet the criteria of femtocells.

For more:
- check out this release

Related stories:
Femto Forum looks to agree on 4G/WiMAX integration standards. Femto Forum story
Femto Forum, NGMN Alliance unite for femtocells. Femtocell story

Court: Sprint affiliate can proceed with legal action against Sprint/Clearwire deal

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:40:29 -0400

A Delaware court is allowing Sprint affiliate iPCS, the operator's larger affiliate, to move ahead with its legal action against Sprint and its planned WiMAX joint venture with Clearwire. However, the court won't allow two other iPCS subsidiaries, Horizon PCS and Bright PCS, to joint the legal action.

iPCS has the exclusive rights to sell Sprint Nextel branded services in 80 markets, and in March iPCS and its subsidiaries filed a complaint against Sprint, claiming its WiMAX deal with Clearwire would breach the exclusivity provisions of IPCS' affiliate agreements with Sprint. iPCS wants a declaratory judgment against Sprint that a merger with Clearwire would in fact breach its affiliate agreements with Sprint. Moreover, the affiliate wants a permanent injunction against the merger until its affiliate agreements have been modified with Sprint.

It looks like it's deja vu all over again for Sprint, which had similar battles with affiliates over its merger with Nextel. It ended up coughing up millions to purchase these companies in 2005 so it could consummate its merger with Nextel. Fortunately for Sprint this time around, there aren't many of them left.

For more:
- read Cellular-news

Related stories:
iPCS sues Sprint Nextel over Clearwire deal. iPCS story
Sprint Nextel buys two affiliates. Sprint story

Aircell taps LTE for next-gen inflight services

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:21:04 -0400

Following the likes of CDMA operator Verizon Wireless, which will deploy LTE as its 4G technology, in-flight communications provider Aircell said the future of its mobile broadband network will be based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) as well.

Today, the company's Gogo service uses CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A technology, which enables the company to offer its air-to-ground data service at a data rate of more than 12 Mbps peak to Gogo-equipped aircraft. By the end of 2009, further advances to EV-DO will enable Aircell to deliver a raw data rate of up to 22.7 Mbps to aircraft. And by the start of 2011, Aircell expects to deploy its 4G LTE network, which will enable a throughput of up to 300 Mbps to aircraft.

The company says LTE will enable in-flight services such as hi-definition and interactive television as well as multi-player gaming. Aircell said it also chose LTE as a way to future-proof its air-to-ground technology. Airlines will also benefit from LTE because the technology will allow them to enhance their operations by offering applications such as high-resolution weather to the cockpit, the company said.

The company's customers so far include Virgin America and American Airlines.

For more:
- read Cellular-news

Related stories:
Aircell reveals more details on air-to-ground service. Aircell story
iPass partners with Aircell for in-flight connectivity. Aircell release

WiMAX coming later to Centrino 2

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:15:14 -0400

Intel plans to ship its highly anticipated Centrino 2 mobile laptop platform this week, but one key feature that will be missing is the dual-mode WiFi (802.11n)/WiMAX module. That feature, said an Intel spokeswoman, won't ship until sometime later this year--likely in time for commercial WiMAX launches from Clearwire and Sprint.

The platform that will be introduced today will include what Intel calls enhanced WiFi capabilities, and it's assumed that means the Draft 2.0 802.11n standard.

Centrino 2.0 is the fifth generation of Centrino technology. PC makers such as Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba are reportedly planning to launch new notebooks concurrently with the release of Centrino 2.

Intel, as you remember, invested $1 billion in the new Clearwire WiMAX business, which includes Sprint, cable companies and Google. Intel is hoping WiMAX incorporated in the new platform will do the same thing incorporating WiFi did, spur adoption. However, Clearwire's rollout will be on a market-by-market basis with 2010 or even 2011 delivering a reasonable footprint in the majority of the top 200 markets.

For more:
- read Network World

Related stories:
Intel: July launch for next-gen WiFi/ WiMAX platform. Intel story
Intel to re-enter mobile-phone market. Intel mobile-phone story

San Fran to use wireless sensors to monitor parking spaces

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:43:29 -0400

The city of San Francisco this fall plans to test some 6,000 of its 24,000 metered parking spaces using a trial of a wireless sensor network that will indicate which of the spaces are free at a given moment.

Displays on street signs and smart phone maps will alert drivers to empty parking spaces. And the trial might even include the ability to pay for parking via mobile phone and add to the parking meter using their phones without having to make that mad dash to the meter. The program will also allow the city to adjust parking times and prices. For instance, time could be lengthened in the evening to accommodate long visits to restaurants.

San Francisco is using a system from Streetline, a company that has adapted a wireless sensor technology called "smart dust." A wirelessly connected sensor embedded in a 4-inch-by-4-inch piece of plastic glued to the pavement adjacent to each parking space is what transmits the information.

For more:
- check out The New York Times

Related stories:
San Francisco mayor says citywide WiFi willl be a reality San Francisco Wifi story
Meraki: More than 100,000 have used WiFi in San Francisco SF WiFi story

Sprint's Xohm taps Mformation for remote device management

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:28:13 -0400

Sprint's WiMAX division announced a deal with device management software company Mformation Technologies to deliver device management capabilities for new Xohm-branded WiMAX-enabled mobile devices. Sprint plans to use Mformation's software to remotely manage the WiMAX devices on its network. The operator is commercially launching WiMAX in Baltimore in September.

Device management will be critical for Sprint, and likewise Clearwire, which is merging with Sprint later this year, to enable a number of devices to come onto the WiMAX network, regardless of whether they were purchased via Sprint or an external retailer that has no affiliation with the operator. Sprint's goal is to allow a plethora of devices--ranging from Internet tablets to telematics consoles--to operate on the network in an open access manner.

Matt Bancroft, chief marketing officer with Mformation, noted that while the device management software is optimized for WiMAX devices such as data cards and dongles, it also must support the many dual-mode CDMA/WiMAX devices that will run on the network because WiMAX won't be ubiquitious for some time. Given the sparse coverage, it's likely that much of the device management processes will occur via CDMA initially.

Bancroft added that the wave of devices that come to market next year will require additional device management capabilities that aren't available today, but that device management capabilities will catch up.

In June, Mformation and Bridgewater Systems announced their intention to integrate Bridgewater's service control and subscriber data management solution with Mformation's service manager to enable WiMAX operators to automatically detect, provision and manage WiMAX devices over the air using industry-standard IP and OMA DM protocols.

For more:
- check out this release

Related stories:
Sprint: 'We're creating a platform for innovation.' Open access story
WiMAX forum predicts 133 million users by 2012. WiMAX story