Next Generation wireless Networks

source: Lucent

A white paper on Third Generation (3G) Wireless

1.) Abstract
2.) The Rocky Journey
3.) Challenges facing wireless operators today
4.) Evolving to a data-centric world
5.) One size does not fit all
6.) Winning the game
7.) Lucent is the right partner
8.) Lucent's Network-of-Networks vision
9.) Lucent's data networking skills
10.) Lucent leads with applications
11.) Lucent is at the forefront
12.) Toward next generation today
13.) Competition: It's Not Getting Any Easier

Abstract
Incumbent and new wireless network operators face a colossal amount of uncertainty with next generation services, including which path to take and what to do once they get there. Do they pick Door Number 1? Is Door Number 2 the one to open? Or do riches and rewards await on the path behind Door Number 3? The best option is to keep a real world perspective.

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Providing Stability for the Rocky Journey Toward Next Generation Wireless Services
If only determining the future of one's business were as easy as opening the right door. Fortunately, Lucent Technologies understands both the risks and the opportunities that wireless network operators face. There now is a clear roadmap to the next generation of wireless, and Lucent has the solutions for operators preparing to take this next step. They can be confident that whatever course next generation services take, Lucent is prepared to travel with them.

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Challenges facing wireless operators today
For operators with businesses to run, there are plenty of challenges ahead at the embarkation point to the next millennium.

Aggressive pricing – a by-product of increased competition – has reduced average airtime revenue per subscriber, for one. Lucent understands the imperative for increased revenue by attracting new customers, encouraging subscriber MOU (minutes-of-use) growth, and deploying value-added, revenue-generating features such as unified messaging and network-based intelligent agents, as well as support for data applications.

How to differentiate one's service is another challenge for wireless network operators. Quality of service, including superior network availability and customer care, are specially important factors for new providers who need to offer service on par with or better than established providers. Other ways to achieve differentiation require an open service creation platform that cuts the interval for developing and provisioning compelling services that attract new customers and increase loyalty – such as virtual private networks for corporate customers, convenient unified messaging offers, and location-sensitive information services. Pre-pay programs have proven significantly successful as a means to fuel revenue growth.

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Evolving to a data-centric world
With some 100 million new people expected to jump on the Internet over the next two years, data communications is poised for explosive growth. Inevitably, these users will come to expect their on-ramp to Internet-based information to be accessible from almost anywhere, and wireless affords this convenience like no other technology. That's why incumbent and new operators are beginning to plan accordingly. Even as they manage current growth in voice and sophisticated calling and billing features, prudent network operators can now be prepared for the coming data onslaught with networks that combine the quality and reliability of today's circuit-switched services with the improved data-handling capabilities of packet technology. To realise the economic benefits of packet technology as data traffic increases, however, operators need to have a solid course of action that will enable them to seamlessly evolve to packet-based networks.

Mobile workers expect data applications to be available anytime, anywhere, and with the same convenience, speed, quality and flexibility that they have at the office or home. With a market that has grown accustomed to flat monthly rates for data, the question remains as to whether or not people are willing to pay as much for data on a per bit basis over the air as they are for voice.

As the move is made from a voice-centric to a packet data-centric world, the whole idea of quality of service (QoS) takes on a new meaning. Technological change is driving fundamental change in networked communications, a r/evolution, in fact, that's causing incumbents to evolve and new operators to leverage their assets to maximise spectrum use with packet-based systems. Where today's operators measure voice quality and call completion rates, in the future they will be tracking maximum effective throughput and set-up times.

More than anything, the next generation of wireless will entail creating seamless multimedia services that transcend fixed/mobile, wired/wireless, voice/data, public/private network distinction, coupled with integrated, end-to-end operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) support, billing and customer care.

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One size does not fit all
New licensees face challenges that are different from those of incumbent operators. Determining how to enter the market successfully is the first bridge for them to cross. Do they go in as bandwidth suppliers? Internet Service Providers? Content providers? Which core platform operators build all depends on their business plans and value propositions. At any rate, new providers will need to move quickly to outflank the incumbents.

Additionally, operators in constrained spectrum must implement a transition plan to free enough spectrum and to support data applications while simultaneously serving voice customers. Many next generation services operators have the added task of securing new spectrum as they plan their next generation path.

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Winning the game
Wireless operators can face all these challenges and still come out ahead if they take care to do the following:

• Protect and leverage their current investments in 2G systems
• Minimise the risk and infrastructure cost of migration to next generation
• Manage short-term risks with small incremental investments that add data capabilities
• Rely on professional expertise in end-to-end business planning, network design, deployment and operations to guide them in the right direction

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Lucent is the right partner for the transition to next generation
No matter what challenges lie ahead, Lucent Technologies is helping wireless network operators make a smooth transition to next generation services. Think of Lucent as the operator's risk management partner.

Lucent is in the best position to help existing and new wireless service providers evolve to next generation services capability because it has experience with all of today's digital technologies. Lucent's next generation roadmap adheres to these guiding principles:

• Investment protection: The last thing wireless network operators want to hear is that it's going to a complete overhaul to get their networks ready for next generation services. Fortunately, their investment is protected, because, no matter which digital technology they select, Lucent will have the product lines to support their choice. In fact, Lucent's goal is to help operators lower their network cost through a step-by-step migration to next generation services. Lucent has also designed its architecture to allow wireless network operators to selectively deploy 3G technology in areas where there is sound business justification, and to use their existing 2G network to supplement 3G coverage for ubiquitous service. This commitment holds true for new operators as well. Lucent can help new licensees build core platforms that are compatible with today's digital platforms, yet allow flexibility and offer revolutionary choices for selecting next generation solutions.
  
  
• Forward evolution: For incumbent operators, Lucent provides the path for incremental evolution to IP-based models that deliver higher capacity and advanced services. Lucent's wireless network architecture is designed to evolve to provide the next generation voice and data capabilities subscribers will demand in the future.
  
  
• Backward compatibility: Lucent will preserve backward compatibility with contemporary digital technologies. New operators will be able to create next generation networks that offer seamless coverage and compatibility with today's widely-deployed, commercially-successful networks, regardless of embedded technology standards.
  
  
• Network interoperability: For years to come, today's networks – incumbent and new, wireline and wireless – will have to co-exist. Creative ways are needed to make them work together seamlessly. For this reason, Lucent has invested in the capabilities necessary to offer the leading network options for IP and packet-based networks.
  
  Lucent is also committed to the concept of network families and their compatibility with other systems. For example, Lucent enthusiastically supports the Operators' Harmonisation Group's framework of backward compatibility between alternative modes of CDMA radio technology and today's mobile networks – regardless of current standard. What's more, Lucent is well-positioned to build on the commonalties between evolved TDMA and GSM networks through General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and the Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE). Work is underway to bridge the concept of packet voice and data between the GSM and TDMA network families under the auspices of the 3G.IP Focus Group, in which Lucent is a leading participant.
  
  
• Greater efficiency from deployed assets: Lucent has already established a record of asset preservation in the transition from first generation analogue systems to digital networks. With an eye to next generation services, incumbent network operators and new licensees will feel secure they will be able to rely on Lucent to rapidly create new and differentiated services that increase penetration and minutes of use, as well as retain customer loyalty.

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Lucent's Network-of-Networks vision is a key asset for operators
Lucent's vision of wireless communications is a single, multi-purpose "network of networks" that converges diverse access and transport technologies around a core IP-based network, seamlessly and efficiently drawing them together into one global network. It is an entire networking solution, allowing wireless network operators to offer their subscribers – all from a single network – a menu of fixed and mobile, wireless and wireline, voice and data applications.

Lucent's wireless infrastructure, an end-to-end networking solution, accommodates this vision through several key features. Lucent's Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) is anchored around the world-renowned 5ESS® switch. As the MSC architecture evolves, Lucent's commitment to open systems is providing operators the flexibility to harness the power of the network in new ways. Operators want greater flexibility and choice in hardware as well as software. Lucent has responded with new MSC hardware, directly linked to the switch, which accelerate the process of service and feature provisioning through the use of standard computer platforms acting as "servers" and new network elements as "clients."

Additionally, Lucent's MSC features the new 7R/E packet portfolio, an end-to-end platform that enables wireless and wireline service providers to deliver the most reliable voice and data services available over seamless packet networks. This platform will enable the 5ESS switches used in Lucent's MSCs to gracefully incorporate the most advanced packet data transmission capabilities, and to provide the groundwork for next generation services. The 7R/E packet portfolio is both the evolution and revolution of communications that Lucent's customers have come to expect.

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Lucent's data networking skills are strategic assets
Lucent understands that today's networks will have to coexist with future networks for years to come. That's why it has invested in the capabilities necessary to offer all the leading network options, including IP and ATM for packet networks. Newly-acquired products from data networking leaders Ascend and Nexabit are augmenting Lucent's data networking product portfolio, and enabling the seamless integration of packet technology in both ATM access and multi-service IP and ATM core networks. Lucent MSCs are already networked through ATM links that manage inter-MSC soft handoffs among CDMA networks.

For incumbent operators, Lucent provides an evolutionary path to an IP-based model. Products that offer higher capacity and advanced services can be added on an incremental basis. New wireless operators can easily meet their packet requirements with Lucent's start-up service package.

And for data-centric operators, Lucent offers a revolutionary network approach that places them on the packet path right from the start, enabling them to incorporate state-of-the art Bell Labs voice-over-IP (VoIP) network technology for their voice telephony needs.

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Lucent leads with applications
To help existing and new operators plan for next generation services, Lucent is assembling a broad portfolio of ready-made internal and third party-developed applications and services for today and tomorrow. The Full Circle initiative is a program that is designed to facilitate applications development and to accelerate value-added services through open service creation platforms. It is open to hardware and software companies, service providers, portal companies and content providers who are looking to quickly develop new services for broadband networks.

Additionally, Lucent's Intelligent Alliances and Cooperative Innovations^sm affiliate programs provide ready-made and tested solutions for wireless networks. Innovative billing and customer care solutions are provided by Lucent's Kenan Partners Program, and messaging options are available through developer relationships maintained by Lucent's Messaging Solutions business.

Lucent's NetCare^® program was created to help operators plan, build, manage or maintain their networks, thereby freeing them up to focus on other elements of their businesses. Lucent understands that customers have unique requirements that are not applicable to everyone. That's why Lucent is prepared to help develop unique service plans and to help both incumbent and new operators plan their next generation game plan, including global professional services such as business modelling, network planning and marketing and sales consultation.

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Lucent is at the forefront of next generation wireless technology
Lucent Technologies is the first wireless networks vendor to have announced collaboration on multiple third-generation technologies with service providers around the world. These projects with major network operators in Japan, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia encompass the evolution of all major digital wireless standards supported by Lucent today, including cdmaOne*, TDMA and GSM.

Lucent is an active member of multiple standards and industry organisations throughout the world, including the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), whose standards recommendations are proposed to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an arm of the United Nations. Lucent has been engaged in standards discussions with Japan's Association of Radio Industry and Businesses (ARIB) and the Telecommunications Technology Committee (TTC), Korea's Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) and the China Wireless Telecommunications Standards (CWTS)Group. Lucent is an active member of leading industry groups, among them: the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Forum, the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC), the CDMA Development Group (CDG), the GSM Association, the North American GSM Alliance, and the Third Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP and 3GPP2). Others include the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP) Forum.

To further facilitate the technology behind next generation services, Lucent has offices or distributors in more than 90 countries around the world. Lucent maintains research centres in the United States and Canada; at the GSM Centre of Excellence in Swindon, England; European Bell Labs Research Department; Bell Labs China; and the Singapore Centre of Excellence for Research and Development. Lucent's Wireless Innovation Lab offers operators the security that applications are tested on a live network before being released for commercial service.

Lucent has also been at the forefront of the industry in establishing close working relationships with the suppliers who can deliver the specialised equipment and services that will meet the individual needs of its customers. Lucent supports all applicable standards that make it practical for other vendors to add unique capabilities to cellular and PCS networks, and has established an interoperability testing and certification program for makers of cellular and PCS terminal equipment.

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Start on the path toward next generation today
When it comes to wireless networks, Lucent has a heritage of inventiveness and technological excellence that is second to none. Because Lucent knows networks – how to design and build them and then keep them at peak performance – Lucent is well positioned to serve the needs of both new carriers and established network operators.

Now wireless network operators can take advantage of the most advanced technology available for wireless IP and VoIP services. With Lucent, they can maintain their competitive status and evolve while leveraging their existing investments. Operators can establish their optimum technology starting point and growth pace based on their business needs and the demands of the market.

Nobody knows wireless networks – and the challenges that go with them – like Lucent does. Lucent has successfully taken its customers from analogue to digital, and is now prepared to help them move to next generation. With this enviable record, Lucent is the ideal risk management partner for the next millennium.

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Competition: It's Not Getting Any Easier
Yesterday's competitors – mobile operators
	Minutes-of-use pricing Feature and roaming premiums Coverage before capacity (.02 Erlangs per subscriber)
Today's competitors – mobile and wireline operators
	Limited flat rate pricing Initial bundled offers Capacity increasing (.05 Erlangs per subscriber) Primarily voice
Tomorrow's competitors – mobile, wireline and Internet service providers
	Aggressive flat rate pricing All-inclusive bundles Data capacity exceeds voice IP pervasive (voice and data)

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