Data traffic given prioritisation

Elisa has activated new network features from Nokia Siemens Networks that provide flexible Quality of Service (QoS). This is the first commercial deployment of Nokia Siemens Networks QoS differentiation solution built by integrating multiple network elements, including its radio network and network management system. Elisa is using the QoS differentiation to prioritize time and resource critical traffic to ensure customers receive the service they have paid for even when networks are congested.

“The increased uptake of dongles has resulted in a significant increase in mobile broadband traffic at certain times,” said Timo Sippola, head of Mobile Network Planning, Elisa. “Just like our roads, networks have rush-hours and quiet periods. To improve the experience for the users on our network it is important to be able to maintain the service level they paid for.”

The Quality of Service differentiation solution takes effect in heavily loaded networks when requests to use the network can exceed its capacity. It enables the prioritization of data traffic, according to policies determined by subscription agreements, to fairly divide the available resources. Different priorities can be allocated to different user segments or applications and can be applied dynamically depending on the network load. Nokia Siemens Networks QoS aware scheduler also enables Elisa to change QoS priorities even during a data session and maintain a particular bit rate in simultaneous upload and download sessions.

“In short, Elisa will be able to manage its network traffic and utilize its network investments better while providing better services to its customers,” said Tommi Uitto, head of Product Management, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Quality of Service differentiation does not replace the need for having good mobile broadband capacity and coverage, but it further helps maintain high network efficiency and reduces the need for over investing in a network*”

Huawei and BITE Group, an operator in Baltic countries, today jointly announced that the two companies have reached an agreement for Huawei to provide its SingleRAN@Broad solution and 4G-ready technologies for BITE to modernise its entire mobile network in Latvia.

According to the contract, Huawei will deploy a nationwide 2G/3G/4G mobile network for BITE, including core network and radio access network equipment as well as SingleRAN@Broad solution. The SingleRAN@Broad is a new solution unveiled by Huawei in 2010, which is said to have been developed to ‘break down the walls between different standards and technologies (2G/3G/4G)’. The first phase of the project will be completed at the end of 2010. Huawei says that BITE will not only have better network coverage in the entire country, but also environmentally-friendly infrastructure saving at least 30% of the power consumption and providing a much more efficient operation.

“We are pleased to work with BITE,” said James Chen, managing director of Huawei Nordic & Baltic, “It’s the first big footprint for Huawei in the Baltic countries. With industry leading 2G/3G/4G technologies as well as our abundant experience in network modernisation, we are confident we can provide BITE with a high-quality network, furthermore to improve user experience for BITE customers with future mobile broadband services, anywhere and anytime. We will also expand our office in Riga to better serve our customer and to reinforce Huawei’s local commitment.”

Fred Hrenchuk, CEO of Bite Group says: “This collaborative project will become the largest mobile communications network modernisation project in the Baltic telecommunications area, and will bring further benefits to our customers. This cooperation would also ensure a high quality network development for Bite in a record time, which is a strategic priority for the success of our company in Latvia. With the support of Huawei’s expertise and innovative technologies, we will continue our rapid development in order to provide our customers with the highest-quality services all over Latvia.”

Momail has announced its forthcoming Virtual App Store for release in Q3 2010, specially developed for emerging markets, where feature phones are dominant and the lack of infrastructural capacity causes problems for always online devices.

Momail’s Virtual Application Store will be made available through the company’s Digital Content Delivery (DCD) platform, which enables users to subscribe or connect to their favorite social community or internet service through a variety of channels including Momail’s mobile email solution or through any browser, without requiring any sort of download.

Momail will also streamline the user experience of its Virtual Application Store by incorporating its Zero Logon Technology. This feature allows the user to maintain his connection to any service or information and without needing to log-in again, while also knowing such information will remain secure. No information transmitted through Momail’s Zero Logon Technology is stored on the device and connected devices can be disabled with the push of a button.

Roger Grönberg CEO of Momail said, “Momail’s DCD platform continues to gain traction in the APAC and African markets and we will be releasing specific partner information as it becomes public throughout the coming year. Due to our unique perspective with local presence in these regions, we have a unique understanding of market needs. The fact that our system is built from the mobile phone, with PC access coming second, rather than the opposite, the development roadmap for Momail reflects the reality in the emerging markets and our partners appreciate our focus on addressing their needs.”

Jasper Wireless and VimpelCom (Beeline) today signed a partnership agreement that will bring the first machine-to-machine (M2M) global solution to the Russian market. Beeline’s M2M offering will be enabled by Jasper Wireless’ complete service platform to profitably connect and manage consumer electronics as well as enterprise solutions.

Beeline’s M2M Control Center will enable businesses to design and service embedded mobile devices. The partnership will accelerate market entry for a new generation of electronic devices, including e-Readers, digital photo frames, cameras, personal navigation, mobile internet and gaming devices, but will also bring automation and advanced control to key verticals such as transport and logistics, banking and payment, security and tracking, telemetry and monitoring or e-health care.

“There is a growing demand from international device manufacturers for tailored M2M management solutions so they can easily expand into new markets with high-performing solutions. The Russian M2M market is at an early stage of development and VimpelCom is revolutionising this space by combining its nationwide wireless Beeline network with the Jasper Wireless platform, allowing its customers to profitably connect and manage a new generation of devices and offer value added services,” said Cindy Patterson, executive vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Jasper Wireless.

“Embedded mobile devices in the consumer and enterprise segments represent a vast growth opportunity for our existing and prospective customers. By partnering with Jasper Wireless, VimpelCom wants to capitalise on this market opportunity, offering customers tailored M2M services that are unique in the industry and accelerate market entry of connected devices – including innovative and flexible business models, automated operations, real-time monitoring and diagnostics as well as enhanced customer support,” according to Andrey Patoka, vice president corporate business development at VimpelCom.

Deep Packet Inspection will lead the field of mobile network test and optimization solutions by 2013 and is expected to generate equipment revenues of $1.3 billion in 2015, according to a new study from ABI Research. Other approaches include client applications on handsets, radio test equipment and radio probes, routing/transport equipment, operation support software, and network-based offloading. Growth rates for all are forecast in the new study.

Mobile operators' network capacity woes have garnered much public attention, and according to mobile networks practice director Aditya Kaul, they will get worse before they get better. "Brute force won't solve this problem," he says. "If you double the number of smartphone users, you can't just spend $10 billion to double the capacity of your infrastructure."

The answer lies in making existing networks more efficient, says ABI. A growing arsenal of equipment and techniques from a variety of vendors aim to optimize different parts of the network and base station (some OEMs are starting to build these tools right into the network's central processing functions, but they are outside the scope of the report, says ABI.)

"These solutions are relatively inexpensive and cost-effective," notes Kaul.

Each operator may have a different set of needs. AT&T, the most publicized example, has two problems: too much data traffic (iPhone video, for example) and also too much signaling traffic – the mechanics of running the network. So, says Kaul, they would need DPI, routing/transport optimization, and maybe some UE client software installed on the smartphone. Other operators may have very different challenges.

To meet those needs, solutions are arriving from a variety of vendors including Tektronix Communications, Anritsu, Agilent, EXFO, Astellia, and a large "other" group of vendors that collectively command a 28% share of the market. It is from that "other" group that much of this segment's innovation will flow. Says Kaul: "This is a wide-open market. It's anybody's game at the moment. There are a lot of small companies with new ideas and a lot of ‘crosstalk' between them."

"Mobile Network Optimization" explores the market drivers and end-user demand for monitoring and optimization equipment related to 3G and 4G networks. It highlights market dynamics leading to new operator business strategies, and includes detailed forecasts.

Redknee, a provider of billing and charging software and solutions for communications service providers, has announced the launch of its data charging and policy solution, NGRC, at VivaCell-MTS in Armenia. VivaCell-MTS is part of the MTS Group, which serves more than 100 million subscribers across seven countries.

Supporting the launch of VivaCell-MTS' 3G network, Redknee's data monetization platform has enabled it to develop and launch mobile broadband service offerings to suit the different usage habits and needs of its subscribers as it strives to drive revenue and increase its 80 per cent market share against the incumbent and new competitors entering the market.

An example of its targeted mobile broadband services includes the ‘MTS Connect' prepaid and postpaid bundles, which provide the subscriber with a high quality, transparent user experience and allows VivaCell-MTS to provide flexible tariffs and differentiated and targeted price plans according to the subscriber's spend and network usage. Redknee's real-time data rating, charging and policy is enabling VivaCell-MTS to provide transparent and two-way communication with customers so that it can always be assured of the charges that will be incurred, the status of their tariff threshold and also receive real-time promotions, leading to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS General Manager, commented: "The number of VivaCell-MTS' wireless broadband subscribers has grown tremendously since the Company launched its HSPA/UMTS-based 3.5G network, reflecting the intensifying demand for wireless broadband access in Armenia. Therefore, the priority for VivaCell-MTS now is to be able to support future data traffic growth. Due to our extremely competitive market, we are focused on always outstripping our competitors by providing differentiated products that appeal to our customers. Redknee's support has been instrumental to our successful launch of the most innovative mobile broadband services to the people of Armenia."

Lucas Skoczkowski, Redknee's CEO, commented: "The successful launch of VivaCell-MTS' mobile broadband services further proves Redknee's real-time personalization and monetization solutions are driving profitability, growth and market differentiation for our customers. At Redknee, we continue to invest in real-time monetization solutions to support the growth of mobile data and content for wireless subscribers around the world."

SPB Software, a mobile software developer, has updated the Windows Mobile version of its application SPB TV to version 2.0. Due to advertising revenues support the program is now free-of-charge and subscription-free. Ads featured in SPB TV only last as long as channel buffering takes and therefore preserve the best user experience, says SPB.

In addition to the existing features that include quick channel previews, a TV guide for more than 150 offered channels in more than 20 languages, picture-in-picture mode, fast channel launching and switching, the new version offers also a video on demand (VOD) option. With this new feature the users can control what they are watching and when.

Another significant enhancement, says SPB, is the Advanced Video Codec (H.264) support which improves video quality. As a result even with substantial lower bitrates the resolution is strongly improved, it's claimed. SPB TV 2.0 also allows to watch TV with low speed mobile network connections.

SPB TV works on iPhone, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry and WebOS smartphones as well. Last month SPB TV has reached one million users milestone and, according to SPB, mobile TV watching behaviour is different in different countries. For example 71% of US users use SPB TV via 3G while in Greece and Poland only 10% of users use 3G and others use WiFi.

"Taken into consideration all the statistics and feedback collected from our users, we created the new version of SPB TV, which can not only offer our users better video quality but can be also available to all Windows Mobile users absolutely for free", said Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, CEO of SPB Software.

SPB TV is also available as a solution for mobile operators.  SPB TV Mobile Operators Solution allows carriers to couple SPB's solution with their own infrastructure and various subscription models. Three mobile operators world-wide are said to have already deployed SPB TV based mobile TV solutions.

A new report published today by Juniper Research forecasts that, the combined revenues from apps funded by pay-per-download (PPD), value-added services (VAS, including freemium and subscription) and advertising is expected to rise from just under $10 billion in 2009 to $32 billion in 2015.

However, says Juniper, while Apple's App Store has achieved app downloads on an unprecedented scale – 4 billion by April 2010 – the report cautions brands and developers against ignoring users of other platforms/handsets. According to Juniper, such a move could be counterproductive, particularly in developing markets, where the user base of iPhones (and indeed smartphones per se) is extremely low.

"If the mobile industry wishes to introduce a model based on applications, then it must ensure that those applications are accessible by a wide range of handsets ranging from smartphones to mass market devices," said report author, Dr Windsor Holden.

Furthermore, uplift in download volumes does not necessarily equate to an uplift in industry revenues. The majority of application downloads from the App Store are free; other storefronts launched in the wake of the App Store also report that comparatively small proportions of apps (typically 5-15%) are paid for. Thus, building a business model aimed at both maximizing consumer adoption of applications and at maximizing content revenues can be extremely problematic.

The mobile app stores report finds that an app store-centric model presents a number of challenges, including:

• The Need for Scale
• Monetising the Mass Market
• App Store Overload
• The Content Legacy