Mobile Broadband – Technology and Business Implications

Contents:

The “Mobile Broadband – Technology and Business Implications” course offers a comprehensive – yet easily understandable – view of the mobile broadband networks and services provided by GPRS/UMTS, HSPA and LTE/EPS networks. Mobile Broadband is described from both a technology and a business perspective.

The course is designed to give telecom professionals solid understanding of technologies and the impact these technologies have on services and the mobile operator business. Mobile Broadband is also put in a perspective including other competing or complementing technologies such as fixed broadband.

Who should attend:

This course is developed for telecom professionals who need to understand both the technologies of mobile broadband and the business implications from a telecom operator perspective.

Pre-requisites:

General knowledge about the architecture, terminology and modes of operation of the GSM/UMTS radio access and core networks is recommended. Basic knowledge of the Internet Protocol (IP) family is useful.

COURSE TOPICS:

Background – GSM, UMTS and CS Services

We review the Circuit Switched GSM/UMTS system architecture for voice calls and SMS.

What parameters are typically used to measure and illustrate the performance of an operator? We review KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and cost & revenue structures.

IP – The Internet Protocol

We examine the IP protocol, the “TCP/IP protocol suite”, and outline basic features like IP-address allocation, client/server roles, routing and DNS.

Fundamental differences between “telecom” and “IP-networks” are discussed, e.g. regarding identities, and QoS, particularly when IP is used in radio networks.

VoIP – Voice over IP and the new Voice Business

The voice business is going through fundamental changes, and more will come. VoIP (Voice over IP) is a particularly interesting topic for the telecom community. We review how VoIP-calls can be set up and how voice is transported in IP networks. We describe SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and how it is used in IMS. We also discuss, IP-telephony and

We examine the transitions from fixed voice to mobile voice, and how VoIP in various forms (including “Internet telephony”) affects the voice business. Will telecom operators be able to defend their voice revenues?

High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Mobile Broadband

We outline the technology for HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and HSUPA (for Uplink). The concept of shared channels and higher order modulation orders are described. We also review the functionality introduced under the name Evolved HSPA (eHSPA) in order to allow even higher user/system throughput. The use of Home base stations and Femtocells is discussed.

We discuss how operators face new challenges with Mobile Broadband and HSPA. What is e.g. the impact of the various models of smartphones? We examine possibly expensive investment areas.

Mobile Broadband vs Fixed Broadband alternatives

The merits of mobile broadband cannot be understood without looking at the alternatives. We discuss fixed broadband technologies (xDSL, DOCSIS) with or without WLAN radio access.

Is mobile and fixed broadband competing or complementing services? What is the value of mobility?

LTE / EPS / 4G

We describe the OFDM-based evolved Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and explain how they relate to the legacy 2G/3G radio access networks. We discuss Internet services vs operator controlled services using IMS. Will “over the top services” (browser based and apps) dominate the future, or will telecom operators still be able to provide services as opposed to “plain connectivity”?.

With the strong growth of mobile broadband a new approach is needed on how to control quality of service (QoS) and how to charge subscribers. We outline the 3GPP architecture for Policy and Charging Control.

We analyze current drivers and obstacles for LTE and how it may impact end users, operators and suppliers. We also discuss some regulatory issues e.g. the “licence situation”

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