"Private Cellular" is Coming

“Private cellular” or “private mobile” networks are among the new possibilities created by new spectrum access methods, most especially license-exempt or shared spectrum. In principle, that could include enterprise voice networks or shared indoor mobile infrastructure.

Nokia, for example, is introducing platforms that can use unlicensed and shared spectrum to create private end-to-end networks for vertical applications in specific  industries. That might prove important for  enterprises, venues and the hospitality industry in the United States using the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) shared spectrum.

Enterprises can use CBRS to create “private LTE” networks. “Neutral host” networks are another application, where an enterprise can create an open platform supporting multiple mobile suppliers for indoor access.

Likewise, Quortus and Telefonica believe  DECT replacement and mixed voice and secure data services can be created for enterprises and other organizations using unlicensed spectrum.

Telefónica says it is pioneering the use of private cellular, particularly for its industrial and enterprise customer base. Emergency restoration is another potential application for Quortus solutions.

Sacrifice and Honor I Hope I Understand

I didn't see the speech. But sacrifice and honor I hope I understand. 

WBA Releases Smart City Blueprint

The Connected City Advisory Board (CCAB) and the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) have produced a smart city blueprint for local governments, focusing heavily on process suggestions. But also suggesting where various opportunities might lie.

Separately, some 42 percent of government respondents to a new global study published by Aruba (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) indicated they use IoT now. Some 35 say they are connecting building security systems (57 percent), streetlights (32 percent) and vehicles (20 percent).

The Internet of Things: Today and Tomorrow study reports that 85 percent of respondents say they plan to implement IoT by 2019, though some might question the definition of “internet of things” that was used. The report notes that “our research found conflicting definitions of what IoT means, what IoT devices are connected and how to extract value from them.”

The study questioned 3,100 IT and business decision makers across 20 countries.

source: WBA

Top 3 Indian Mobile Providers are Going to Take 85% of Small Provider Market Share

Over the next year, Indian mobile operator market share is likely to change significantly, as new price pressure and a shift to mobile data services simultaneously forces operators to make new investments, while shaving gross revenue and profit margins.

“At present 25 percent of the market belongs to the small operators,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel. He expected at least 85 percent of the market to be divided among the top three telcos by the end of the period.

The issue is “who” those leading operators will be. If Idea Cellular and Vodafone merge, that new entity would emerge as the new market leader, with Bharti Airtel number two, and Reliance Communications likely ranked number three. Beyond that, all eyes are on Reliance Jio, which virtually everyone believes eventually will be a contender at the top of the market.

Source: TRAI

Saying the proposed Reliance Jio Infocomm mobile data rates are “unsustainable,” Airtel has no choice but to respond, a move that will maintain, if not intensify, pricing pressure. As always, that will prove hardest on the smallest providers with the least financial depth.

One important element is that Jio, for example, is able to sustain losses in its mobile business because it throws off so much free cash in its other businesses.

Most market researchers or analysts have a methodology for analyzing the industries and industry segments they follow. Equity analysts always rely heavily on quarterly financial reports. Big consultancies rely on past knowledge gleaned from engagements and executive interviews, as do most  market researchers.

In my own case, history (believe it or not) is a valuable tool. We have seen in the past what happens to fragmented markets when a deep-pocketed firm with brand recognition, and a determination to take short-term losses, does to an established market. Assuming equivalent levels of skill on the part of firm managements, smaller, less well capitalized firms will disappear as the market consolidates.

Price attacks and margin compression, in a scale business, will inevitably drive out those providers with less scale.

Spirent, Nokia Open 5G Lab as a Service

Spirent Communications and Nokia today now offer a 5G Lab as a Service, a move expected to accelerate Nokia’s releases of virtual network functions and physical infrastructure. The 5G LaaS also streamlines the use of shared lab resources across teams and geographies, delivering dramatically improved efficiency and cost savings, as well.

The Nokia facility in Oulu will use Spirent Velocity as the foundation of the LaaS platform. A key feature of the 5G LaaS is the self-service portal, accessible by hundreds of simultaneous users across the globe.

The portal also supports thousands of devices and tens of thousands of connections for both 5G and legacy infrastructure. Utilizing the portal, Nokia engineers can rapidly spin-up, tear down and reuse 5G hybrid test beds from anywhere in the world. Deployments of the 5G LaaS to additional Nokia facilities are already underway.

5G test automation requires integration of a complex mix of layer 1 optical and RF switches, layer 2 and virtual switches, power control units and test management software, Spirent said.

Aruba Finds High IoT Deployments

Use of internet of things is quite widespread, a new global study published by Aruba (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) suggests, at least in industry companies and healthcare,

The Internet of Things: Today and Tomorrow study reports that 85 percent of respondents say they plan to implement IoT by 2019, though some might question the definition of “internet of things” that was used. The report notes that “our research found conflicting definitions of what IoT means, what IoT devices are connected and how to extract value from them.”

Nor is it clear how much of the installed base includes older industrial sensing systems such as SCADA that might, or might not, fit a definition of IoT.

About 72 of surveyed enterprise organizations report they have introduced IoT devices and sensors into the workplace, ranging from air conditioning and lighting systems (56 percent) to personal mobile devices (51 percent).

Enterprise respondents cited indoor location-based services as their leading use case for IoT, as well as remote monitoring of utilities, such as energy usage.

With a 62 percent adoption rate, leaders of industrial organizations reported using IoT  devices such as chemical sensors (62 percent) and picking systems (46 percent) to reduce operational risk and address downtime. IoT has the greatest impact on the sector when it is used to monitor and maintain operating infrastructures (31 percent).

About 60 percent of healthcare organization respondents also indicated they are using IoT, with patient monitors (64 percent) and X-ray/imaging devices (41 percent) among the main devices connected to the network.

The biggest IoT benefit for healthcare companies comes from using sensors to monitor and maintain medical devices (35 percent cite it as the top benefit). But with growing pressure on healthcare infrastructures and resources, efficiency is paramount. Perhaps this is why 22 percent of respondents gave their number one IoT use case as ‘remotely tracking assets by location’.

Just under half (49 percent) of global retailers say they have deployed IoT technology, and a large number of those (56 percent) are allowing personal mobile devices to access the network in order to create new and engaging retail experiences. A leading application of IoT is to create store location services that deliver personalized offers and product information to shoppers (30 percent). A further 18 percent are using IoT to remotely control environmental factors, such as heating and lighting.

Some 42 percent of government respondents indicated they use IoT now. Some 35 say they are connecting building security systems (57 percent), street lights (32 percent) and vehicles (20 percent).

The study questioned 3,100 IT and business decision makers across 20 countries.

You Tube Launches Sreaming Service

YouTube TV, a streaming service heavy on live programming, rather than pre-recorded video (movies, for example). The service will sell for about $35 a month for a package of 40-plus channels, including live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of popular cable networks.

Subscribers can add Showtime or Fox Soccer Plus for an additional charge

A cloud DVR, with no storage limits, also is part of the service. YouTube Red Originals, offering series and movies, are included. Six accounts per account are supported, and three concurrent streams can be viewed at a time.

YouTube TV will be available soon in the largest U.S. markets and will quickly expand to cover more cities across the country. Visit tv.youtube.com and sign up to find out when we’ll launch in your market.