IEEE ComSoc SCV Newsletter of Telecom and Networking Technologies- 2nd and 3rd editions
3rd Edition (originally published August 16th): We report on broadband
market assessments, activity from wireline and wireless service
providers, WiMAX developments, a startup pursuing extended reach DSL,
and a host of other interesting topics.
We hope you enjoy this bi-weekly newsletter. Please send any comments or suggestions to the author: alan@viodi.com
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Broadband Market to Rebound in Q3
A
fresh analysis refutes the notion that the U.S. broadband market is
reaching saturation levels after several major cable operators and
telcos reported declining net subscriber additions in a typically slow
second quarter.
In
a report issued Monday, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Inc. analysts
say the subscriber growth of cable- and telco-delivered broadband
services will rebound sharply in the third quarter despite some
disappointing "seasonality" (e.g., the migration of college students
and "snowbirds") witnessed in the previous period.
Mobile Broadband
Market: HSPA vs Mobile WiMax
The author has written extensively about Mobile Broadband mostly focusing on WiMax related technologies and market developments. In
this article, we examine what three telecom market research analyst
firms are saying about the evolving 3G+ technologies for mobile
broadband access. They are not very optimistic about mobile WiMax (see
italicized comments below). Finally, we contrast these predictions with
the perennially optimistic WiMax forecasts of Trendsmedia (now part of
Yankee Group). To read the entire article go to:
For
further information, please reference:
New Qwest CEO vows to stay course- but be nimble
On Monday August 13th, incoming
Qwest Communications CEO Edward Mueller said that he didn't plan any immediate changes as he takes control of the company. Mueller praised Qwest's
current video strategy and said he had no plans for mergers or
acquisitions, saying he likes the company's current level of
nimbleness.
Current CEO Richard Notebaert, who made Qwest a more financially disciplined and customer-service-oriented operation, recommended Mueller for the CEO job.
"Going
forward, it’s business as usual as we know it today," Mueller said. "I
believe Dick [Notebaert] and I are lined up on how to move forward."
When asked whether Mueller might consider a new video strategy for Qwest, such as those adopted by AT&T and
Verizon Communications,
he said, "I frankly, at this point, like our video strategy. I really
look at what the customer wants, not the technology that delivers it."
AT&T executive says 3G will be replacing EDGE in Texas
San
Antonio-based AT&T took some lumps this summer with the launch of
the Apple iPhone. One of the biggest complaints from reviewers was
Apple's exclusive agreement to run the iPhone
on AT&T's Edge Network, which they complained was too slow. Those
potshots irked Chris Penrose, AT&T's vice president and general
manager for wireless services in South Texas. Penrose revealed that
AT&T is investing $245 million this year to expand its network in Texas.
Video
Share is a new service AT&T recently launched exclusively for the
3G network that allows for simultaneous video and voice conversations.
Penrose stated, "It helps everything happen just a little bit faster.
3G actually falls back to Edge. If you're watching a video on 3G and
you happen to drive into Edge coverage, you'll be able to carry that.
If you're on one of the other networks, you won't be able to do that."
Sprint to spend $5 billion on WiMAX buildout
Sprint Nextel
will spend as much as $5 billion through 2010 on its WiMAX network,
which when complete is expected to cover 100 million people. Sprint,
which unveiled the "Xohm" brand as the name for its WiMax business,
said it expects revenue of $2 billion to $2.5 billion from the network
in 2010.
The
capital investment has drawn some skepticism from analysts who believe
management should be focusing on its current operations. But a WiMax
network would allow consumers to access the Web on cellphones, laptops
and potentially other devices at speeds similar to cable broadband and
much faster than Internet access from existing cellular services from Verizon Communications Inc. and AT&T Inc.
Sprint isn't alone in the deployment. It has partnered with Intel Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., Motorola Inc., and Nokia Corp. in the build out. It also struck a deal with WiMax provider Clearwire Corp. to share their networks, and Google Inc.
for its mobile search capabilities. Chairman and Chief Executive Gary
Forsee said that the various partners will help "create demand for
WiMax services."
Last
month, Sprint said it would cut the initial costs for the network by
partnering with Clearwire, a startup founded by cellphone pioneer Craig
McCaw. The companies agreed to provide roaming service to each other's
customers as they each build out their portions of the network, with
Sprint focusing more on the largest markets.
Vodafone Joins WiMax Forum
Vodafone Group plc has joined the WiMAX Forum , a not-for-profit trade body that certifies IEEE 802.16 technology and promotes the
deployment of WiMax networks. (See Vodafone
Joins WiMAX Forum.). For a GSM operator to endorse an alternative,
wireless IP technology might have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.
But now, WiMax seems to be as much a part of the technology roadmap as
any other wireless broadband technology, especially in developing
countries.
Of
course, joining the Forum is not a committment to offer a WiMAX
network. Ericsson joined the Forum several years ago, but has spoken
negatively of the technology in recent months.
Roaming will be key to the success of WiMAX (according to Bram Jan Streefland)
Roaming
is central to the success of WiMAX;a market that may reach as much as
$1.6 billion by 2009 according to Infonetics. Indeed, GSM only became a
real success once roaming had taken off. From an end user's point of
view, WiMAX roaming will be expected as the norm. Trustive's recent
WLAN Roaming 2007 research found the most important thing for end users
when purchasing subscriptions for wireless hotspot access was coverage.
The report also showed this coverage has to be truly ubiquitous - 33
per cent use hotspots all over the world, 37 per cent nationally, and
30 per cent close to home.
Verizon Communications
has secured rights for a video franchise for its FiOS TV service in
Framingham, Mass., bringing the total reach of its video service in the
state to 54 communities. Verizon said the video franchise means it can offer its FiOS service to about 19,000
households. According to Verizon, its FiOS is superior to TV services offered by rivals.
Embarq to Test Video Service Package
Embarq Corp.,
the fourth-largest local-phone service provider in the U.S., will test
a television service in one of its (unannounced) markets to compete
with cable companies. Embarq, based in Overland Park, KS,
plans to offer TV with phone, Internet and wireless packages over its
own network, said Harrison Campbell, president of consumer markets. Embarq now offers satellite TV in packages through an
agreement with EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network. Embarq stated that its partnership with EchoStar remained an important part of its overall strategy.
Hawaiian Telcom picks Telcordia Fulfillment Suite for new IP-MPLS network
Hawaiian
Telcom announced Monday that it would use the Telcordia Fulfillment
Suite to automate provisioning and activation for its new MPLS-based IP
services. The telecom's new services include IP-based virtual local
area networks and DSL over IP, and future services using Telcordia’s
inventory-based solutions. It also will use Telcordia’s IP address
management system.
Telcordia
first sold its service delivery platform to Hawaiian Telcom in 2005. It
will now deploy its software suite over the coming weeks to give
Hawaiian Telcom capabilities for service design, assignment, activation
and synchronization of these services. The provider is rolling out both
fiber-to-the-node and fiber-to-the-premises networks.
Startup Xtendwave gets financing to extend high-speed Internet on copper
wires
Xtendwave, a startup company co-located in Dallas
and Denver, has received $10 million in financing to support its
efforts to extend the reach of broadband Internet over copper wire
networks. Xtendwave was co-founded and chaired by Mort Aaronson, who
once ran Ricochet and Aerie Networks in Denver.
Aaronson
said the computer chipset technology can be added to an in- house modem
and DSL terminal to extend a broadband signal to more than 20,000 feet,
compared with the usual 4,000 to 7,000 feet. This might be very
attractive for broadband Internet in rural areas, locating far from the
telco central office.
Verizon Wireless revamps Mobile Web 2.0
Verizon Wireless has redesigned its Mobile Web 2.0
interface, including the addition of new content channels and search
functionality. The new build also includes drop-down headlines, which
allow customers to quickly access articles.
Icahn Buys More Motorola shares during 2Q07
Investor Carl Icahn has bolstered his share holdings in Motorola,
according to a new SEC filing. Icahn increased his shares of the
company from 9.4 million shares to 55.3 million shares during the
second quarter. Icahn previous was denied a seat on Motorolla's Board
of Directors.
Alan Weissberger
DCT Advisors
2013 Acacia Court
Santa Clara, CA 95050-3482-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Edition (originally published August 6th): We will keep the commentary short and to the point. We provide url's where available.
Joint Venture's Cell Phone Coverage Project is working to eliminate dead spots in Silicon Valley. Use of cell phones has increased exponentially, and the infrastructure isn't keeping pace. Mapping services, text messaging, Internet access, and traffic information can all be accessed on cell phones. People are using their phones to take pictures of worksites and friends, and sending them to the office and family members. Today’s cell phone is also a music player and gaming device. Growing numbers of people are disconnecting their home wireline phone and going 100% wireless.
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San Jose Mercury questions cost of Municipal WiFi networks- Municipal WiFi: A not-so-free lunch, August 6, 2007
It's been more than a year since Silicon Valley's Joint Venture Wireless Project first announced plans to build a regional wireless network, giving millions of local residents free access to the Internet. But that network won't be so free after all, and the area's millions of local residents may not really use it.
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FCC issues rules for 700 MHz UHF spectrum auction
The 700 MHz Band spectrum, which runs from 698-806 MHz, currently is occupied by television broadcasters and will be made available for other wireless services, including public safety and commercial services, as a result of the digital television (DTV) transition. The Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005 (DTV Act) set a firm deadline of February 17, 2009, for the completion of the DTV transition. The DTV Act also requires the FCC to commence an auction of the previously unauctioned commercial spectrum in the 700 MHz Band no later than January 28, 2008.
The auction winners must offer interfaces to any wireless device and any software application (whatever that means). This implies universal interoperability amongst the carriers that provide 700MHz broadband access.
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Is Google the New 800 Pound Wireless Gorilla?
Google has expressed an interest in bidding for the aforementioned 700 MHz spectrum and they also announced a partnership with Sprint for local search over a mobile WiMAX network. These announcements re-enforce Google's commitment to broadband wireless networks (they are already the WiFi provider for the Mt. View Municipal Wireless Network and are collaborating with Earthlink for the S.F. Muni WiFi Project, if approved by the city).
This article puts these two announcements in perspective and speculates on what they could mean for Google and WiMAX. It also looks at an investment Google just made in a startup company developing technology to improve indoor coverage for 3G cell phones.
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FCC: Initial Testing Says White Spaces Too Small
White spaces are vacant frequencies in the analog TV spectrum, 54 MHz–698 MHz, which vary according to market. In rural markets, for instance, there are more white spaces, while in urban markets the white spaces are smaller.
After four months of testing, the FCC released a report July 31 concluding that prototype mobile devices that operate in the "white spaces" interfere with TV signals, or they could not consistently detect the signals in order to avoid them. The NTCA asserts that white spaces could provide a means and incentive to expand broadband access across America, and offer cutting-edge applications to rural customers.
The FCC plans to continue testing and experimenting with devices operating in the white spaces. Interested parties can file comments on these reports no later than August 15.
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Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Technical Committee passes UNI 2.0 spec
This specification permits the automatic setup and tear down of optical channels on demand. It does via a signaling protocol between the User (e.g. a router) and the Network (an optical edge switch). UNI 2.0 consists of two OIF specifications:
1. Contribution oif 2005.204.18 Signaling Specification- Common Part
2. Contribution oif 2005.205.17 RSVP Extensions for User Network Interface (UNI) 2.0
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Corning Announces Breakthrough Fiber Technology
Corning Inc. revealed July 23 that it has developed a new optical fiber technology that overcomes an historic technical obstacle for telecommunications carriers installing FTTH networks.
Optical fibers currently lose signal strength when bent and, therefore, routed through a building. As a result, it is difficult and expensive to run fiber all the way to customers' homes. According to the company, Corning's new nanoStructures™ optical fiber design allows cabled fiber to be bent around tight corners with virtually no signal loss.
"By making fundamental changes in the way light travels in the fiber, we were able to create a new optical fiber that is over 100 times more bendable than standard fibers." said Peter F. Volanakis, president and chief operating officer at Corning.
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We hope you enjoy these IEEE ComSoc newsletters. If you do, please contact this author with comments and suggestions for future issues: alan@viodi.com