WiMAX heats up
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Guan Zhenzhen & Liu Zhonglin
After years of development, WiMAX earned its place as part of the ITU IMT2000 standards and became one of the 3G standards in October 2007. Increasingly more operators have gravitated towards WiMAX.
However, what is the user experience like that WiMAX offers? In this era of fast-developing mobile and broadband services, why has WiMAX attracted so much attention? We can find some clues from stories about WiMAX deployment and operation of Summa Telecom in Russia, STC in Saudi Arabia, and a mobile operator in South Africa.
Summa Telecom: a preemptive strike
Troubles of a timber businessman
In this case, let us begin with Mr. Wang and his need for broadband access. Russia is a timber-rich country. In commercial terms, this has resulted in relatively unprofitable crude log exports. However, wood plate exports promise high profits, prompting the Russian government to recently enact regulations restricting the export of unprocessed logs.
Mr. Wang is a timber businessman from China. In recent years, the demand for timber in China has increased massively. In response, Mr. Wang opened a timber processing factory in Russia, necessary to which was broadband Internet access. However, local operators lacked sufficient access resources, and Mr. Wang' s business could not operate. Hearing that the new operator, Summa Telecom, could provide WiMAX broadband Internet access services, Mr. Wang was bemused - he simply wanted to solve his communication problem, and was not particularly familiar with the associated technology. Mr. Wang' s "have a go" approach led him to contact Summa Telecom. To his surprise, the company quickly gave him a broadband Internet access service, the access rate for which was high enough to meet his needs. Mr. Wang, as a result, was satisfied.
Summa Telecom is a new operator owned by Summa, a Russian petroleum consortium. Strengthened by considerable financial muscle, the company has obtained licenses for services spanning data communication, long-distance transmission, channel rental, and communication project installation. Summa Telecom is aware that wireless broadband services currently form the most valuable growth model, and has as such devoted much effort to developing broadband access services. It is expected to seize opportunities and occupy a large market share in Russia' s communication market.
In Russia, the telecom infrastructure is undeveloped, and broadband penetration is low. Recent and rapid economic development has quickly expanded Russia' s broadband market, and subscriber demand for wireless broadband services has continuously risen. Russia has many medium-sized and large enterprises in the petroleum, mining, timber, and steel industries. Enterprise subscribers invariably possess a strong demand for broadband access and VPNs; operators in turn regard the broadband access market as a deep ocean ripe for exploration.
WiMAX comes to the rescue
In wireless broadband services, WiMAX has attracted Summa Telecom' s attention with its unique advantages and promising application modes.
WiMAX achieves low-cost and quick network construction; it features wide coverage, high access rates, and large system capacity. It supports both multimedia and broadband data services. This can help new operators such as Summa Telecom quickly attract subscribers and generate profit.
WiMAX supports wireless broadband access, enterprise broadband access, "last-mile" access, hot-spot coverage, and data backhaul. For remote and sparsely populated regions, and those lacking adequate fixed communication infrastructures, WiMAX represents the first choice for broadband access due to its flexibility and low cost. In these terms, it exactly fulfills Summa Telecom' s needs.
WiMAX also benefits from a security mechanism that guarantees subscribers privacy. Summa Telecom employs cutting-edge WiMAX wireless broadband enterprise solutions and plans to provide broadband wireless communication and data services via WiMAX. In October 2006, Summa Telecom obtained its first 36MHz bandwidth license in the 2.5-2.7GHz band. By the end of 2006 Summa Telecom was in search of suitable partners to construct its WiMAX 16e networks. Through strict technical solutions' comparison and appraisal, Summa Telecom selected Huawei to build Moscow' s trial commercial network.
To preempt the market
Quick network deployment
Summa Telecom is a new operator that lacks network construction and operational experience. As a result, the company is reliant on Huawei to provide a range of services covering network planning, network optimization, site selection, civil engineering, project installation, and field operations. Summa Telecom of course seeks to quickly seize its window of opportunity through the leading performance, high reliability, unrivalled security, and Turnkey experience that Huawei' s WiMAX system gives.
The system' s leading performance guarantees high efficiency, optimum data access rates, and proven stability. For Summa Telecom, Huawei' s distributed WiMAX system can provide flexible and efficient networking modes to guarantee wide coverage and data throughput in key areas. The system realizes five QoS functions, easing Summa Telecom' s burden in terms of offering high-quality broadband services.
Huawei' s WiMAX system uses telecom-class AAA servers and highly integrated and reliable ASN-GW equipment, complemented by a BTS system that can continue to operate for 48 hours if faced with a lost GPS signal.
With respect to network operation, Huawei' s solution increases billing mode and networking flexibility. It increases network deployment choices and customizes subscriber service by giving converged and independent billing solutions including pre- and postpaid billing, and time and traffic-based billing. It provides abundant northbound interfaces to fulfill BOSS system unified management and reduce O&M expenditure.
With robust technical capabilities and rich engineering experience, Huawei can provide Summa Telecom with cohesive consultancy services and help realize WiMAX network deployment. Summa Telecom and Huawei are thus cooperating to forge a large capacity ALL IP-based trial network that is reliable, secure and of optimum quality. Consequently, the project has merited Summa Telecom' s approval.
Market occupation
Summa Telecom' s most pressing issue concerns rapid service expansion and the ability to increase subscriber numbers. Huawei' s WiMAX+NGN/IMS convergence solution has helped Summa Telecom to quickly launch end-to-end solutions to meet enterprise requirements, and to offer wireless voice and data access services that satisfy the market.
Considering Russia' s vast territory and expanding fixed network infrastructure, Summa Telecom has taken advantage of WiMAX' s rapid network construction features for residential, commercial, and industrial areas in order to expedite commercial application. Network deployment will give subscribers high speed wireless broadband services.
In terms of service operation, Summa Telecom is employing Huawei' s WiMAX solutions to launch various VASs to fully meet individual and enterprise requirements subscribers and enhance revenue streams.
STC: WiMAX accelerates network convergence
Doctor Emir' s new life
Dr. Emir works in Riyadh hospital and lives in a local villa. His schedule is full and, even at home, nurses will call him to deal with emergencies as they arise. Fortunately, WiMAX broadband wireless access allows Dr. Emir remotely access to cure the ill. The hospital network provides patient history in photo and film form, and facilitates communication with nurses via voice and video.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has reaped WiMAX benefits since 2006. STC is the region' s largest operator, deploying 2G, 3G and NGN networks that accommodate 13 million mobile subscribers and 4.5 million fixed individual and enterprise subscribers. STC provides fixed network, mobile, data, and transmission services. The increasing requirement for broadband access in Saudi Arabia has led STC to focus on broadband service development in the short-term.
Given Saudi Arabia' s special geographical location, copper cable deployment is a vast and expensive undertaking. Moreover, some urban areas lack broadband access resources, Dr. Emir' s villa included. This is unsurprising given a national broadband penetration rate less of less than 2%. In places lacking access infrastructure, STC has realized WiMAX wireless broadband access potential, not least because of its swift deployment time and the fact that it does not require copper cables.
Popularizing broadband services
WiMAX forms a wireless broadband access technology. It features high network capacity and wide coverage. Compared with traditional wired networks, WiMAX has the advantage of high speed and low network deployment costs. Therefore, it suits Saudi Arabia' s geographical environment and telecommunication developmental status. WiMAX enables fast wireless broadband access in the regions beyond DSL and cable coverage, thus helping operators open up regional markets.
As an IP-based technology, WiMAX benefits from its mobility and broadband access features. Due to relatively low investment compared with other 3G systems and significant bandwidth advantages, WiMAX popularizes broadband.
In early 2006, STC deployed an IEEE 802.16d WiMAX network with 41 BTSs in 3 Saudi Arabian cities. The network mainly covers enterprise subscribers and provides point-to-point data transmission. In 2007, STC hoped to deploy an IEEE 802.16e WiMAX network, which planned to cover 13 Saudi Arabian cities. STC hoped to orient its WiMAX network towards individual and enterprise subscribers, replace some ADSL services with WiMAX, and hasten broadband popularization. As such, its lead in the Middle East would be assured.
Promoting network convergence
Integration underpins network evolution. Subscribers expect operators to provide ubiquitous data, voice, video, and VAS.
Huawei' s technical advantages, stable system performance, and rich large-scale commercial experience culminated in its selection as STC' s partner for WiMAX deployment and operation. STC deployed the first commercial IEEE 802.16e WiMAX network in the Middle East using Huawei' s full range of WiMAX devices, including distributed BTSs, access gateway, NMS, and its certification and accounting devices. The solution provides wireless broadband access service for three major Saudi Arabian cities including Riyadh.
As an integrated operator, STC expects to use WiMAX as the driver for network integration, cross-network cooperation, and seamless integrated provider. Thus, STC' s competitive ability will be enhanced.
Thanks to the ALL IP advantage of Huawei' s WiMAX solution, STC has optimized the use of its existing network resources and has integrated WiMAX with its existing 2G, 3G, and NGN networks into a platform that fully anticipates FMC. Huawei' s WiMAX solution features mobility, high bandwidth, and end-to-end QoS assurance. It provides first-rate VoIP, video, and mobile broadband Internet access services for STC, helping the company to both maintain and develop customer groups and increase ARPU.
STC uses WiMAX as a wireless DSL solution to deploy its network in regions beyond cable coverage. It thus provides a high-speed, mobile, and stable broadband Internet access service for subscribers in these regions. STC provides the Layer 2/3-based VPN service with a QoS assurance that responds to a range of individual, home and enterprise subscribers.
STC' s general manager reflects that: "2007 is STC' s broadband year. Huawei leads WiMAX technologies. To date, Huawei has successfully delivered over 5,000 mobile networks. Generally, Huawei has gained much network deployment experience and possesses an excellent network planning and optimization team. I hold the strong belief that the WiMAX network built by Huawei will bring a great broadband experience to our subscribers."
Extending the leadership
A future network is destined to be an IP-based, broadband, mobile, and multimedia integrated network. WiMAX has become a good choice for operators seeking to step into the wireless broadband field. Consequently, numerous operators consider how to establish market strategy and business models with WiMAX so as to improve their competitiveness and extend their leading positions.
STC has successfully done so in Saudi Arabia' s telecom market. Firstly, STC has deployed its WiMAX networks rapidly and cost-effectively. Due to high spectral efficiency and wide coverage, BTS requirements were greatly decreased in its solution. In the Middle East, network deployment is confronted with problems created by an extreme environment. In response, Huawei has provided STC with new technologies such as MIMO and high power amplification efficiency, thus ensuring high efficiency and low power consumption. Moreover, Huawei has supplied innovative distributed BTSs, which share site resources, power supply, antenna feeders and transmission resources with the existing network. The WiMAX network fully utilizes STC' s existing network resources (NGN, 2G/3G, and DSL). As a result, STC has deployed its WiMAX network rapidly and cost-effectively, and has elevated its market status.
Secondly, STC has successfully built a high-performance high-speed wireless access WiMAX network. The WiMAX solution enjoys the following advantages: wide coverage, high access rates, diversified application modes, and simple network deployment. Therefore, STC provides market-oriented voice, video, broadband access, mobile data, and multimedia VAS, attracting more customer groups and increasing profit-making opportunities.
STC has increased network integration through WiMAX. Based on the advantages of its fixed and mobile networks, STC is striving to open up the broadband access market through WiMAX, thus laying a firm foundation for FMC. By complementing different networks, WiMAX provides a ubiquitous multi-service experience for both individual and enterprise subscribers, and this solidifies STC' s ability to deliver and develop services.
FIFA 2010: free from worries
Currently, most parts of Africa lack a robust communications infrastructure. Africa is large and sparsely populated, and mostly consists of deserts and prairies. Fixed line deployment and maintenance is difficult, and copper cable resources are lacking. The penetration rate of broadband Internet access remains low at around 3%, which falls far short of the spiraling demand for broadband services.
The nineteenth FIFA World Cup in 2010 will be hosted by South Africa. Some doubt that the nation' s communications infrastructure can meet the needs of football fans throughout the world. However, there is little cause for concern. Operators in Africa have been making thorough, long-term preparations.
After research and repeated tests to solve the broadband access coverage problem, WiMAX network deployment has already begun. Football fans will be able to enjoy World Cup news, images, and videos via WiMAX phones, laptops, and PCs, and upload exciting moments to the Internet or share them with friends.
WiMAX suits Africa' s needs
Why WiMAX has been chosen in Africa?
As the latest high-speed wireless access technology, WiMAX is a multi-service, ALL IP, mobile, and broadband platform. Embodying high-speed mobile Internet, WiMAX is inexpensive and features easy management, wide coverage, seamless handovers, and smooth upgrade potential. It enables African operators to quickly deploy networks, cut construction costs, and reduce OPEX. In addition, WiMAX supports various coverage modes to fully cover sparsely populated areas and densely populated hotspots. Given Africa' s vast landmass and low population density, weak fixed communications infrastructure and budget limitations, WiMAX represents an optimal choice for operators to minimize investment and maximize subscriber numbers.
WiMAX delivers a theoretical access rate of up to 70Mbps. Its guaranteed high access rates provide operators with an apposite tool to launch high-rate mobile Internet services. WiMAX is applicable in five scenarios - fixed, nomadic, portable, simple mobile, and full mobile. Its networks can be integrated with 2G/3G mobile networks to enrich both 2G and 3G services. Operators with 2G/3G mobile networks can thus raise their service convergence capability and enhance their overall competitive ability.
Partner with Huawei
The CEO of one mobile operator in Africa believes that "We must be able to present something different to remain in a leading position" given the steady rise of operators entering the newly emerging African market.
The operator can capitalize upon WiMAX to deliver differentiated services and proactively seek dominance in the wireless broadband market. WiMAX network planning and construction requires the right strategic partner. To this end, the operator scoured the globe to find the equipment provider capable of providing its required solution.
WiMAX' s increasing prominence has gradually matured the industry chain in recent years. Compared with other equipment vendors, Huawei stands out with its state-of-the-art end-to-end WiMAX solutions that have arisen from years of experience coupled with a solid telecom foundation.
The operator highly regard Huawei' s R&D capabilities and advanced product planning in the wireless field. Huawei' s unified hardware platform for WiMAX, GSM, UMTS, and LTE represents a platform that, for it, effectively protects investment and forms the backbone for future smooth evolution in a way that reduces both investment and risk. The strategic alliance between it and Huawei will deliver an effective solution for commercial WiMAX 16e construction that is customized for the needs of both operators and Africa.
Enhancing competitiveness through WiMAX
Integrated mobile broadband solution
The operator successfully adopted Huawei' s end-to-end WiMAX solutions to realize WiMAX and existing 2G/3G network convergence. The service diversity has been greatly improved, which has helped guarantee a leading position of its network infrastructure in Africa.
For the operator, the legacy 2G and 3G networks and its integration methods with WiMAX form a key concern of the company. Huawei' s mobile broadband solution integrates its legacy systems with WiMAX to yield high-speed access, low cost, and maximum efficiency. The solution produces complementary results - the 2G/3G networks are used for voice services and low-speed data services, and the WiMAX networks are used for wireless broadband services. In this way, competitive ability is greatly improved via a moderate investment. The solution inherits existing services and conveniently provides rich broadband multimedia services and high-speed mobile Internet access. The operator can meet the increasing demand for seamless high-speed access, provide service variety, and raise ARPU.
The solution features site and transmission resource-sharing between the new and legacy networks. WiMAX distributed BTSs are both flexible and convenient. Existing sites basically meet installation requirements, and network construction is economical and fast. Huawei unifies service platforms, core networks, verification, billing, and authentication. The operator can minimize construction costs, O&M expenditure and OPEX by using existing equipment such as AAAs and DHCP servers. The standard, abundant northbound interfaces provided by Huawei' s WiMAX NMS support interconnection with the existing NMS to realize unified network management.
Excellent performance ensures competitiveness
Thanks to cutting-edge technologies such as MIMO, OFDMA, and HARQ, WiMAX' s spectral efficiency and network coverage are significantly improved. This reduces BTS numbers and increases network stability. With Huawei' s WiMAX solution, the operator can increase power amplification efficiency by 25%. This means that they can use fewer resources to enlarge network coverage and minimize electricity consumption, reducing TCO by at least 30%.
WiMAX networks can raise wireless data access rates for subscribers - the downlink and uplink rates can reach 8Mbps and 2Mbps respectively. This greatly boosts data service provision capability.
To guarantee high-quality broadband data services, great importance is attached to WiMAX' s QoS features. WiMAX can provide connection-oriented telecom-class services with excellent QoS features to meet subscriber demands.
In addition, WiMAX' s fine mobility enables subscribers to enjoy broadband access services even when moving at speeds of up to 120km/h.
Outstanding network performance brings the operator more subscribers. Market share, profitability, and competitiveness are all thus elevated.
With the strong communication support provided by WiMAX, we have the very reason to believe that the FIFA2010 will be free from worries, for both end users and operators.
After years of development, WiMAX earned its place as part of the ITU IMT2000 standards and became one of the 3G standards in October 2007. Increasingly more operators have gravitated towards WiMAX.
However, what is the user experience like that WiMAX offers? In this era of fast-developing mobile and broadband services, why has WiMAX attracted so much attention? We can find some clues from stories about WiMAX deployment and operation of Summa Telecom in Russia, STC in Saudi Arabia, and a mobile operator in South Africa.
Summa Telecom: a preemptive strike
Troubles of a timber businessman
In this case, let us begin with Mr. Wang and his need for broadband access. Russia is a timber-rich country. In commercial terms, this has resulted in relatively unprofitable crude log exports. However, wood plate exports promise high profits, prompting the Russian government to recently enact regulations restricting the export of unprocessed logs.
Mr. Wang is a timber businessman from China. In recent years, the demand for timber in China has increased massively. In response, Mr. Wang opened a timber processing factory in Russia, necessary to which was broadband Internet access. However, local operators lacked sufficient access resources, and Mr. Wang' s business could not operate. Hearing that the new operator, Summa Telecom, could provide WiMAX broadband Internet access services, Mr. Wang was bemused - he simply wanted to solve his communication problem, and was not particularly familiar with the associated technology. Mr. Wang' s "have a go" approach led him to contact Summa Telecom. To his surprise, the company quickly gave him a broadband Internet access service, the access rate for which was high enough to meet his needs. Mr. Wang, as a result, was satisfied.
Summa Telecom is a new operator owned by Summa, a Russian petroleum consortium. Strengthened by considerable financial muscle, the company has obtained licenses for services spanning data communication, long-distance transmission, channel rental, and communication project installation. Summa Telecom is aware that wireless broadband services currently form the most valuable growth model, and has as such devoted much effort to developing broadband access services. It is expected to seize opportunities and occupy a large market share in Russia' s communication market.
In Russia, the telecom infrastructure is undeveloped, and broadband penetration is low. Recent and rapid economic development has quickly expanded Russia' s broadband market, and subscriber demand for wireless broadband services has continuously risen. Russia has many medium-sized and large enterprises in the petroleum, mining, timber, and steel industries. Enterprise subscribers invariably possess a strong demand for broadband access and VPNs; operators in turn regard the broadband access market as a deep ocean ripe for exploration.
WiMAX comes to the rescue
In wireless broadband services, WiMAX has attracted Summa Telecom' s attention with its unique advantages and promising application modes.
WiMAX achieves low-cost and quick network construction; it features wide coverage, high access rates, and large system capacity. It supports both multimedia and broadband data services. This can help new operators such as Summa Telecom quickly attract subscribers and generate profit.
WiMAX supports wireless broadband access, enterprise broadband access, "last-mile" access, hot-spot coverage, and data backhaul. For remote and sparsely populated regions, and those lacking adequate fixed communication infrastructures, WiMAX represents the first choice for broadband access due to its flexibility and low cost. In these terms, it exactly fulfills Summa Telecom' s needs.
WiMAX also benefits from a security mechanism that guarantees subscribers privacy. Summa Telecom employs cutting-edge WiMAX wireless broadband enterprise solutions and plans to provide broadband wireless communication and data services via WiMAX. In October 2006, Summa Telecom obtained its first 36MHz bandwidth license in the 2.5-2.7GHz band. By the end of 2006 Summa Telecom was in search of suitable partners to construct its WiMAX 16e networks. Through strict technical solutions' comparison and appraisal, Summa Telecom selected Huawei to build Moscow' s trial commercial network.
To preempt the market
Quick network deployment
Summa Telecom is a new operator that lacks network construction and operational experience. As a result, the company is reliant on Huawei to provide a range of services covering network planning, network optimization, site selection, civil engineering, project installation, and field operations. Summa Telecom of course seeks to quickly seize its window of opportunity through the leading performance, high reliability, unrivalled security, and Turnkey experience that Huawei' s WiMAX system gives.
The system' s leading performance guarantees high efficiency, optimum data access rates, and proven stability. For Summa Telecom, Huawei' s distributed WiMAX system can provide flexible and efficient networking modes to guarantee wide coverage and data throughput in key areas. The system realizes five QoS functions, easing Summa Telecom' s burden in terms of offering high-quality broadband services.
Huawei' s WiMAX system uses telecom-class AAA servers and highly integrated and reliable ASN-GW equipment, complemented by a BTS system that can continue to operate for 48 hours if faced with a lost GPS signal.
With respect to network operation, Huawei' s solution increases billing mode and networking flexibility. It increases network deployment choices and customizes subscriber service by giving converged and independent billing solutions including pre- and postpaid billing, and time and traffic-based billing. It provides abundant northbound interfaces to fulfill BOSS system unified management and reduce O&M expenditure.
With robust technical capabilities and rich engineering experience, Huawei can provide Summa Telecom with cohesive consultancy services and help realize WiMAX network deployment. Summa Telecom and Huawei are thus cooperating to forge a large capacity ALL IP-based trial network that is reliable, secure and of optimum quality. Consequently, the project has merited Summa Telecom' s approval.
Market occupation
Summa Telecom' s most pressing issue concerns rapid service expansion and the ability to increase subscriber numbers. Huawei' s WiMAX+NGN/IMS convergence solution has helped Summa Telecom to quickly launch end-to-end solutions to meet enterprise requirements, and to offer wireless voice and data access services that satisfy the market.
Considering Russia' s vast territory and expanding fixed network infrastructure, Summa Telecom has taken advantage of WiMAX' s rapid network construction features for residential, commercial, and industrial areas in order to expedite commercial application. Network deployment will give subscribers high speed wireless broadband services.
In terms of service operation, Summa Telecom is employing Huawei' s WiMAX solutions to launch various VASs to fully meet individual and enterprise requirements subscribers and enhance revenue streams.
STC: WiMAX accelerates network convergence
Doctor Emir' s new life
Dr. Emir works in Riyadh hospital and lives in a local villa. His schedule is full and, even at home, nurses will call him to deal with emergencies as they arise. Fortunately, WiMAX broadband wireless access allows Dr. Emir remotely access to cure the ill. The hospital network provides patient history in photo and film form, and facilitates communication with nurses via voice and video.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has reaped WiMAX benefits since 2006. STC is the region' s largest operator, deploying 2G, 3G and NGN networks that accommodate 13 million mobile subscribers and 4.5 million fixed individual and enterprise subscribers. STC provides fixed network, mobile, data, and transmission services. The increasing requirement for broadband access in Saudi Arabia has led STC to focus on broadband service development in the short-term.
Given Saudi Arabia' s special geographical location, copper cable deployment is a vast and expensive undertaking. Moreover, some urban areas lack broadband access resources, Dr. Emir' s villa included. This is unsurprising given a national broadband penetration rate less of less than 2%. In places lacking access infrastructure, STC has realized WiMAX wireless broadband access potential, not least because of its swift deployment time and the fact that it does not require copper cables.
Popularizing broadband services
WiMAX forms a wireless broadband access technology. It features high network capacity and wide coverage. Compared with traditional wired networks, WiMAX has the advantage of high speed and low network deployment costs. Therefore, it suits Saudi Arabia' s geographical environment and telecommunication developmental status. WiMAX enables fast wireless broadband access in the regions beyond DSL and cable coverage, thus helping operators open up regional markets.
As an IP-based technology, WiMAX benefits from its mobility and broadband access features. Due to relatively low investment compared with other 3G systems and significant bandwidth advantages, WiMAX popularizes broadband.
In early 2006, STC deployed an IEEE 802.16d WiMAX network with 41 BTSs in 3 Saudi Arabian cities. The network mainly covers enterprise subscribers and provides point-to-point data transmission. In 2007, STC hoped to deploy an IEEE 802.16e WiMAX network, which planned to cover 13 Saudi Arabian cities. STC hoped to orient its WiMAX network towards individual and enterprise subscribers, replace some ADSL services with WiMAX, and hasten broadband popularization. As such, its lead in the Middle East would be assured.
Promoting network convergence
Integration underpins network evolution. Subscribers expect operators to provide ubiquitous data, voice, video, and VAS.
Huawei' s technical advantages, stable system performance, and rich large-scale commercial experience culminated in its selection as STC' s partner for WiMAX deployment and operation. STC deployed the first commercial IEEE 802.16e WiMAX network in the Middle East using Huawei' s full range of WiMAX devices, including distributed BTSs, access gateway, NMS, and its certification and accounting devices. The solution provides wireless broadband access service for three major Saudi Arabian cities including Riyadh.
As an integrated operator, STC expects to use WiMAX as the driver for network integration, cross-network cooperation, and seamless integrated provider. Thus, STC' s competitive ability will be enhanced.
Thanks to the ALL IP advantage of Huawei' s WiMAX solution, STC has optimized the use of its existing network resources and has integrated WiMAX with its existing 2G, 3G, and NGN networks into a platform that fully anticipates FMC. Huawei' s WiMAX solution features mobility, high bandwidth, and end-to-end QoS assurance. It provides first-rate VoIP, video, and mobile broadband Internet access services for STC, helping the company to both maintain and develop customer groups and increase ARPU.
STC uses WiMAX as a wireless DSL solution to deploy its network in regions beyond cable coverage. It thus provides a high-speed, mobile, and stable broadband Internet access service for subscribers in these regions. STC provides the Layer 2/3-based VPN service with a QoS assurance that responds to a range of individual, home and enterprise subscribers.
STC' s general manager reflects that: "2007 is STC' s broadband year. Huawei leads WiMAX technologies. To date, Huawei has successfully delivered over 5,000 mobile networks. Generally, Huawei has gained much network deployment experience and possesses an excellent network planning and optimization team. I hold the strong belief that the WiMAX network built by Huawei will bring a great broadband experience to our subscribers."
Extending the leadership
A future network is destined to be an IP-based, broadband, mobile, and multimedia integrated network. WiMAX has become a good choice for operators seeking to step into the wireless broadband field. Consequently, numerous operators consider how to establish market strategy and business models with WiMAX so as to improve their competitiveness and extend their leading positions.
STC has successfully done so in Saudi Arabia' s telecom market. Firstly, STC has deployed its WiMAX networks rapidly and cost-effectively. Due to high spectral efficiency and wide coverage, BTS requirements were greatly decreased in its solution. In the Middle East, network deployment is confronted with problems created by an extreme environment. In response, Huawei has provided STC with new technologies such as MIMO and high power amplification efficiency, thus ensuring high efficiency and low power consumption. Moreover, Huawei has supplied innovative distributed BTSs, which share site resources, power supply, antenna feeders and transmission resources with the existing network. The WiMAX network fully utilizes STC' s existing network resources (NGN, 2G/3G, and DSL). As a result, STC has deployed its WiMAX network rapidly and cost-effectively, and has elevated its market status.
Secondly, STC has successfully built a high-performance high-speed wireless access WiMAX network. The WiMAX solution enjoys the following advantages: wide coverage, high access rates, diversified application modes, and simple network deployment. Therefore, STC provides market-oriented voice, video, broadband access, mobile data, and multimedia VAS, attracting more customer groups and increasing profit-making opportunities.
STC has increased network integration through WiMAX. Based on the advantages of its fixed and mobile networks, STC is striving to open up the broadband access market through WiMAX, thus laying a firm foundation for FMC. By complementing different networks, WiMAX provides a ubiquitous multi-service experience for both individual and enterprise subscribers, and this solidifies STC' s ability to deliver and develop services.
FIFA 2010: free from worries
Currently, most parts of Africa lack a robust communications infrastructure. Africa is large and sparsely populated, and mostly consists of deserts and prairies. Fixed line deployment and maintenance is difficult, and copper cable resources are lacking. The penetration rate of broadband Internet access remains low at around 3%, which falls far short of the spiraling demand for broadband services.
The nineteenth FIFA World Cup in 2010 will be hosted by South Africa. Some doubt that the nation' s communications infrastructure can meet the needs of football fans throughout the world. However, there is little cause for concern. Operators in Africa have been making thorough, long-term preparations.
After research and repeated tests to solve the broadband access coverage problem, WiMAX network deployment has already begun. Football fans will be able to enjoy World Cup news, images, and videos via WiMAX phones, laptops, and PCs, and upload exciting moments to the Internet or share them with friends.
WiMAX suits Africa' s needs
Why WiMAX has been chosen in Africa?
As the latest high-speed wireless access technology, WiMAX is a multi-service, ALL IP, mobile, and broadband platform. Embodying high-speed mobile Internet, WiMAX is inexpensive and features easy management, wide coverage, seamless handovers, and smooth upgrade potential. It enables African operators to quickly deploy networks, cut construction costs, and reduce OPEX. In addition, WiMAX supports various coverage modes to fully cover sparsely populated areas and densely populated hotspots. Given Africa' s vast landmass and low population density, weak fixed communications infrastructure and budget limitations, WiMAX represents an optimal choice for operators to minimize investment and maximize subscriber numbers.
WiMAX delivers a theoretical access rate of up to 70Mbps. Its guaranteed high access rates provide operators with an apposite tool to launch high-rate mobile Internet services. WiMAX is applicable in five scenarios - fixed, nomadic, portable, simple mobile, and full mobile. Its networks can be integrated with 2G/3G mobile networks to enrich both 2G and 3G services. Operators with 2G/3G mobile networks can thus raise their service convergence capability and enhance their overall competitive ability.
Partner with Huawei
The CEO of one mobile operator in Africa believes that "We must be able to present something different to remain in a leading position" given the steady rise of operators entering the newly emerging African market.
The operator can capitalize upon WiMAX to deliver differentiated services and proactively seek dominance in the wireless broadband market. WiMAX network planning and construction requires the right strategic partner. To this end, the operator scoured the globe to find the equipment provider capable of providing its required solution.
WiMAX' s increasing prominence has gradually matured the industry chain in recent years. Compared with other equipment vendors, Huawei stands out with its state-of-the-art end-to-end WiMAX solutions that have arisen from years of experience coupled with a solid telecom foundation.
The operator highly regard Huawei' s R&D capabilities and advanced product planning in the wireless field. Huawei' s unified hardware platform for WiMAX, GSM, UMTS, and LTE represents a platform that, for it, effectively protects investment and forms the backbone for future smooth evolution in a way that reduces both investment and risk. The strategic alliance between it and Huawei will deliver an effective solution for commercial WiMAX 16e construction that is customized for the needs of both operators and Africa.
Enhancing competitiveness through WiMAX
Integrated mobile broadband solution
The operator successfully adopted Huawei' s end-to-end WiMAX solutions to realize WiMAX and existing 2G/3G network convergence. The service diversity has been greatly improved, which has helped guarantee a leading position of its network infrastructure in Africa.
For the operator, the legacy 2G and 3G networks and its integration methods with WiMAX form a key concern of the company. Huawei' s mobile broadband solution integrates its legacy systems with WiMAX to yield high-speed access, low cost, and maximum efficiency. The solution produces complementary results - the 2G/3G networks are used for voice services and low-speed data services, and the WiMAX networks are used for wireless broadband services. In this way, competitive ability is greatly improved via a moderate investment. The solution inherits existing services and conveniently provides rich broadband multimedia services and high-speed mobile Internet access. The operator can meet the increasing demand for seamless high-speed access, provide service variety, and raise ARPU.
The solution features site and transmission resource-sharing between the new and legacy networks. WiMAX distributed BTSs are both flexible and convenient. Existing sites basically meet installation requirements, and network construction is economical and fast. Huawei unifies service platforms, core networks, verification, billing, and authentication. The operator can minimize construction costs, O&M expenditure and OPEX by using existing equipment such as AAAs and DHCP servers. The standard, abundant northbound interfaces provided by Huawei' s WiMAX NMS support interconnection with the existing NMS to realize unified network management.
Excellent performance ensures competitiveness
Thanks to cutting-edge technologies such as MIMO, OFDMA, and HARQ, WiMAX' s spectral efficiency and network coverage are significantly improved. This reduces BTS numbers and increases network stability. With Huawei' s WiMAX solution, the operator can increase power amplification efficiency by 25%. This means that they can use fewer resources to enlarge network coverage and minimize electricity consumption, reducing TCO by at least 30%.
WiMAX networks can raise wireless data access rates for subscribers - the downlink and uplink rates can reach 8Mbps and 2Mbps respectively. This greatly boosts data service provision capability.
To guarantee high-quality broadband data services, great importance is attached to WiMAX' s QoS features. WiMAX can provide connection-oriented telecom-class services with excellent QoS features to meet subscriber demands.
In addition, WiMAX' s fine mobility enables subscribers to enjoy broadband access services even when moving at speeds of up to 120km/h.
Outstanding network performance brings the operator more subscribers. Market share, profitability, and competitiveness are all thus elevated.
With the strong communication support provided by WiMAX, we have the very reason to believe that the FIFA2010 will be free from worries, for both end users and operators.