“The current consumer experience is going to evolve from a voice-centric to a multi-media centric experience,” says Bhikshesvaran. That could mean something as simple as video telephone or as complex as pulling up information or instructions and sending them to a friend or colleague. “It means a different level of collaboration on a multi-media basis.”
Townsend believes that demand for such services will be driven by two trends. The first is consumers’ demand for laptop computers that access the Internet wirelessly. The second is consumers’ desire to play games anywhere, which
will require low latency (faster transmission) networks. “People will want to use the cellular networks for new applications, and that’s where the spectrum comes in. Existing carriers would probably tell you that if they had a big influx of high
speed data and game users tomorrow morning, they couldn’t handle it,” he comments.
Even more bandwidth will be required if a third application, mobile TV, catches on. “One streaming video transmission is the equivalent of about 20 cell phone calls,” says Townsend. “That’s bad news, because if you get many video users, you don’t have any network left for your voice customers.” One way around this, he says,
is to have a one-way broadcast network that sends television signals to multiple wireless receivers. At least two companies, QUALCOMM and Aloha Partners, plan to make TV-to-cellphone broadcasts commercially available in 2007 (see Supplier’s Voice, page 50).
Some upgrades required
Before wireless carriers can take advantage of all of the benefits of their increased spectrum holdings, several things must occur. First, all of the recently auctioned spectrum must be cleared of current users, which are relocating to other
bandwidths. “The government has allowed up to three years for this, but we believe most will be cleared within the next 24 months,” says Ostrowski.
If they are not already doing it, carriers will have to make improvements to their networks. “One of the things that we’ve found is that data transmission is less forgiving than voice, so that the coverage requirements are more intense for
data and the cell sites are not able to transmit quite as far as they are with the voice calls. I think there will be an increased emphasis on coverage and transmission quality,” comments Townsend.
Carriers also must decide which platform they will use for their networks. “It’s a nobrainer for T-Mobile to use the HSPDA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) network,” says Bhikshesvaran. “It’s important for them that the technology comes with the right ecosystem in terms of devices, and that it’s available now so
they can hit the road running.”
