With ITEXPO East 2012 set to kick off in just over a week, TMC CEO Rich Tehrani is reaching out to keynote speakers, presenters and attendees to get the pulse on the hot topics in the technology and communication worlds.
Tehrani recently caught up with Piyush Raj, manager of RF engineering at American Tower Corp., to get his sense of the current mobile broadband ecosystem and where it is headed next. Raj and the rest of the American Tower team will be on hand at the 4GWE Conference, an event that will be collocated with ITEXPO East 2012, set to kick off in Miami on Feb. 1.
Raj believes that the full migration to 4G is well underway – with every major wireless carrier in the U.S. deploying a next-gen network – but the impact of 4G won't be felt until device penetration rates begin to spike. A boost in 4G-capable applications is also needed for mass 4G adoption to occur.
He also discussed a few concerns that he has with the current mobile broadband ecosystem, highlighted by the lack of privacy regulations for consumers. In addition, wireless networks must be upgraded in both urban areas and remote locations for widespread broadband connectivity to be made possible, Raj says. The mobile data evolution of "high-speed data access anytime, anywhere" cannot occur until this is accomplished.
Raj considers the 4GWE Conference to be a "must-attend communication event" because it brings together experts in a number of fields and allows them to discuss more holistic matters like deployment issues and current developments in the field.
Click here for more information on the conference, or read below to check out the complete interview.
Where do we stand on the true migration to 4G? Do you see a smooth transition or issues that still must be overcome?
Although the major wireless carriers in the U.S. like Verizon, AT&T and Metro PCS have started migrating to 4G, the true migration to 4G will happen once 4G device penetration equals the current 3G device penetration. The biggest issue with the 4G transition will be the penetration of 4G devices in such a short period of time.
Another issue that needs to be overcome is the availability of applications like online gaming on the 4G network. This will increase the 4G penetration and will offload the traffic from the current 3G networks.
We are now at the point where LTE is baked into the chipsets; what does that mean for interoperability?
LTE is being designed to support interoperability. One of the key initiatives behind some of the protocols defined by 3GPP in LTE is to support interoperability. LTE will allow all the carriers to share networks and capacity, providing subscribers contiguous 4G coverage at the lowest cost. I think by 2015, world roaming in cellular data and voice will become a reality.
Much of our discussion at the event is about Internet and Spectrum Policy. What are your concerns about implementation and regulation?
My implementation concerns are 4G device penetration and the availability of data intensive applications that require LTE Bandwidth. Currently in the U.S., there are not enough regulations to protect the privacy of customers using cellular data. Now with the exponential growth in wireless data usage there needs to be some regulation in place to protect the privacy of these subscribers. I have heard customers complaining already about violation of privacy with smartphones.
Ultimately, the mobile Internet is going to run totally on IP. Does this mean we are going to see the Internet as being the only network, or will we see differences between mobile and the rest of the Web?
Internet will be the only network which will be seamless between mobile and rest of the web.
Often our lessons are generational based on our kids and the millennials now entering the workforce. What are you seeing that excites you based on these new users?
These new users will be living in the generation where they have access to all the information at their fingertips. One thing that excites me the most with this mobile data evolution is "high-speed data access anytime, anywhere." This can only happen if we all pledge to build and upgrade the wireless networks not only in the key urban areas but also in the rural areas where the subscribers are deprived of broadband connectivity.
Why is 4GWE a must-attend communications event?
4GWE is a must-attend communication event because it brings all the key industry experts required to make 4G a reality together in a single forum. Sometimes each of these experts gets too busy in their area of expertise and never get chance to think about development and issues that are being encountered in other areas.
This event will help me understand all the 4G deployment issues and current developments – issues in areas outside my field of expertise. In short, 4GWE is like a tool that is helping the U.S. wireless industry in putting all the pieces of the puzzle together required for a smooth transition to 4G.
Want to learn more about 4G wireless technologies? Then be sure to attend the 4GWE Conference, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012 taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. Co-sponsored by TMC Partner Crossfire Media the 4GWE Conference provides unmatched networking opportunities and a robust conference program representing the wireless ecosystem. The conference not only brings together the best and brightest in the wireless industry, it actually spans the communications and technology industry. For more information on registering for the 4GWE Conference click here.
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Beecher Tuttle is a MobilityTechzone contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Rich Steeves
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