A single platform
If that's the case, why are so many operators signing up for LTE? There's a lot to be said for clarity. If LTE is clearly the way forward to 4G, then as an operator you clearly need to state that you will be on that train. There are also operators with specific needs - Verizon comes to mind - that are in advanced markets that are in the middle of the much-anticipated 10,000% increase in data traffic.
But for other operators, which are not suffering from overwhelming data demand, or if they are, are already committed to HSPA/HSPA+ rollouts, timing is critical. For many operators the real challenge of LTE deployment will be timing it to complement, rather than cannibalize, their HSPA+ network. In fact, for most operators HSPA+ is the real competition to LTE.
Our role is to sort out fact from fiction when it comes to 4G technologies. When it comes to LTE we've got lots to do. Most operators need to know when LTE is sufficiently mature to deploy as one of their mainstream networks, alongside 2G and 3G, carrying traffic from all types of subscribers and not just a few early adopters.
Some of the key topics we will be looking at in our quarterly 4Ggear reports will include issues of upgradeability (from Wimax or HSPA to LTE, and from LTE to LTE-Advanced); voice over LTE; the importance of distributed antenna systems and self optimizing networks; and offloading via Wi-Fi. In addition, we will be closely following the results of trials and early deployments.
Fernando Donoso is 4Ggear team leader at Maravedis - www.maravedis-bwa.com, www.4gcounts.com