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Operators ponder bypassing spectrum woes

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 10 Mar 2015
Operators can use new technology to relieve data congestion on networks.
Operators can use new technology to relieve data congestion on networks.

Local operators are pondering using technology to push long-term evolution over unlicensed spectrum, which could provide a stop-gap solution to spectrum challenges as data demand surges.

Qualcomm recently unveiled new technology, which business development director for SA, Dominique Friedl, says is aimed at addressing the expectation that data traffic will "shortly" grow to 1 000 times the current levels.

The solution, which gives operators the ability to provide long-term evolution (LTE) over WiFi, also known as LTE-U, is claimed to be the industry's first small cell system on a chip, the FSM 99xx. Qualcomm has also launched WTR3950 RF transceivers, supporting LTE-U, notes Friedl. He expects both to be commercially available in the second half of the year, although the earliest commercial readiness for end-to-end network launch is expected to be early 2016.

Friedl says Qualcomm is in discussions with South African operators to deploy its offerings here, adding it believes its offering is a "game changer" because it "harmoniously" co-exists with WiFi and offers a unified LTE network for licensed and unlicensed spectrum. So far, T-Mobile, along with Ericsson, are set to publically trial LTE-U.

Perfect stop-gap

BMI-TechKnowledge telecoms sector specialist Tim Parle says using LTE-U is an "excellent stop-gap and supplement to the use of LTE in licensed bands" as a solution for SA's spectrum woes. However, he cautions that ultimately operators, and their investors, will want the certainty of protection from the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) so they can build bankable business plans.

Ovum analyst Richard Hurst says, while LTE-U will not solve all spectrum challenges, it would "certainly bring some much-needed relief for operators seeking to develop their mobile broadband offerings further in the country. The tech would allow them to deploy a broadband network quickly, and without too much of a licensing issue.

"However, the use of the unlicensed bands for LTE services will be a temporary fix and issues such as coverage will be a challenge. In truth, we still need to have LTE deployed in the lower and upper bands, once the digital migration issue has been completed."

Parle says local operators will certainly look into the technology, but uptake will depend on how quickly and cheaply LTE-U functionality can be built into smartphones, dongles, MiFi routers and other devices. Mobile operators will certainly "kick the tyres" to understand the solution's capabilities and drawbacks.

Yet, says Parle, LTE-U will not allow fast broadband to become ubiquitous as SA still needs clear spectrum allocations and assignments. ICASA has prioritised high-demand spectrum allocation for this year, but it is not yet clear when this will happen. "I have lost count of the deadlines that have come and gone."

Parle notes this solution is needed in SA, because it presents an alternative approach to operators offloading additional data on WiFi, which is what Telkom currently does. "It will do the same thing but use a different underlying protocol. This could become a petrol versus diesel debate."

Hurst adds it would allow operators to deploy a service without the extra burden of regulatory red tape and alleviate pressure from the existing mobile network in the licensed bands. He says it could also alleviate network congestion as operators have needed to "inelegantly" refarm spectrum to provide LTE.

"The Qualcomm solution appears to have been designed to alleviate network congestion, but local operators could opt to use the unlicensed bands for LTE - implying that where there is the will, there is a way and operators are now able to circumvent the hurdles being placed in their way to mobile broadband."

Pondering

Vodacom spokesman Richard Boorman says the technology is interesting, and is something the operator is investigating. "It's difficult to predict whether it will have a major impact at this stage as it's still in its infancy and there are some potential limitations."

Telkom spokesperson Jacqui O Sullivan notes the new technology needs researching before its effectiveness can be commented on. "Whether it will present as a solution to South Africa's spectrum situation will depend on the current spectrum strategy and assignment for the provision of capacity and coverage to users. It is not a solution to all spectrum woes."

O'Sullivan adds it has merit, but will not resolve the lack of spectrum under 1GHz for macro-cell deployments in rural areas. This spectrum is only set to be freed up when SA moves off analogue TV, in about two years' time. O'Sullivan adds operators with spectrum constraints may advocate this technology, although WiFi service providers may not favour such deployments.

Telkom would first leverage its current licensed spectrum before taking other options into consideration, says O'Sullivan. She adds Telkom will consider using it to offload traffic, instead of using WiFi as is currently the case.

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