Demand for bandwidth-intensive services is on the rise. With the extensive application of data services, the evolution of existing networks to next-generation networks is becoming an increasingly important concern for operators.
"Service providers must make difficult decisions as to which technology to choose in order to enable them to offer advanced services and demand for high bandwidth throughput, as subscribers want their broadband connection `anytime, anywhere`," says Daniel Levy, GM for Africa and Middle East at Alvarion.
"Service operators face some tough decisions as they witness this rising demand for broadband access. There is a real business opportunity to provide a substantial increase to the all-important average revenue per user (ARPU). However, when considering the implementation aspect, service providers find the technological landscape dotted with options, trends, and hype.
"There are many advantages to using WiMax products for NGN access," explains Levy. "These include wider access scope, competitive costing, higher bandwidth and security."
WiMax adopts the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing non-line-of-sight propagation technology to provide broadband access for residents or enterprises for a surrounding area of more than 15 kilometres. In areas where wired resources are scarce and of poor quality, the advantage of WiMax access is particularly apparent. "In addition, because WiMax is a wireless access technology, operators do not need to invest in cable installation, the construction period is relatively short, and capacity expansion and removal is flexible and convenient. All these factors allow operators to cut capital investment, quicken capital turnover and recovery, protect investments already made and decrease business risks," adds Levy.
WiMax products provide higher channel size than conventional access modes, which makes them more suitable for application in high-traffic hotspots such as enterprises, hotels, Internet bars and IP supermarkets. WiMax products are also more suitable for providing services, such as multimedia, VOD and videoconferencing, which require higher bandwidth. In this way, operators can effectively solve the last-mile access bottleneck.
For operators, the NGN implements a unified service network platform providing voice, data, mobile and multimedia services. The technology lowers the bottleneck for data service development, lowers maintenance costs and provides a wide range of broadband services. "As an emerging force of broadband access, WiMax products used in the NGN can rapidly and effectively solve the access bottleneck of end-users. With evolution from fixed and roaming access to mobile access, WiMax products provide more abundant broadband access support for NGNs, and effectively drive the development of NGNs," Levy concludes.
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