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Here come the next-generation mobile networks

You may have heard of WiMax and LTE (Long Term Evolution) - the future roadmap of 3G. They're examples of the next generation of mobile broadband technologies. Two industry bodies; the Femto forum and the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) alliance have announced they will work together to make sure ADSL technology works with these mobile broadband networks right from the start. This will mean mobile broadband operators can get their mobile broadband services up and running faster, achieve greater coverage and at a lower cost than if they had to roll out the whole network from scratch.

This naturally has a lot of implications for mobile broadband operators, but it will also enable users to get an improved mobile broadband service much earlier.

The Chairman of the Femto forum, Simon Saunders, explained "As early adopters find LTE or WiMax mobile broadband interesting, they can be provided with both a terminal and user device - say a next generation mobile data card or a USB dongle or whatever - and a next generation network Femtocell at the same time. So they can have that service very early on in the technology lifecycle.�

This gives users the chance to enjoy mobile broadband technology from home - which is where most usage naturally occurs.

For mobile broadband operators, this means they are already rolling out their cellular network much earlier. Traditionally mobile broadband operators would need to invest hugely in networks before they could generate any revenue. Not any longer.

The two bodies intend to work together to define the technology needed and promote it jointly. The technology will not be tied to any particular mobile broadband technology. Saunders summarised "We actually think Femtocells adds something to all these technologies.�

18/07/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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