Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

LTE fuels the race for the fastest network

Noam Green of Flash Networks writes:

The introduction and deployment of LTE networks offers real promise for both subscribers and operators worldwide. It brings the potential for revolutionary improvements in quality of experience for mobile broadband, and even faster downloads and video streaming.

Image

Those operators who enter the market quickly and decisively with LTE gain substantial market share and revenue. Operators that take a slower, more conservative approach get left behind. As a result, operators are quick to implement and measure and then take credit for having the fastest networks.

Because speed is so important, PC Magazine, PC World, Connect Magazine and others measure and compare LTE network speeds on an annual basis to see who comes out on top. The results are announced with fanfare and typically become the mantra of the winner’s advertising campaign.

However, the promise of speed can’t always be guaranteed.

Maintaining first place is difficult for operators because subscribers’ insatiable appetite for mobile data, including high definition video, is increasing faster than LTE network capacity. The ability to download more data at faster rates only makes subscribers crave mobile data more. On US LTE networks, 20% of mobile Internet traffic is Netflix video, compared with only 5% on 3G networks, and overall 50% more traffic travels on LTE networks compared with 3G networks.

As a result, operators are putting a lot of emphasis on acceleration technologies. For example, TCP optimisation gives all network traffic a boost by overcoming inherent protocol inefficiencies and dynamically adjusting transmission rates based on real-time network conditions. Last year, five operators from around the globe won first place in network regulator speed trials after implementing TCP optimisation solutions, most of which improved their former years’ competitive position.

Mobile video and especially the smooth-playing of streaming video has become one of the leading methods for users to gauge their network quality. According to a recent Flash Networks survey, over 72% of users blame their mobile operator for bad video quality experience (even if the source of the problem may be the original video quality or handset capabilities). Video optimisation that can improve the customer experience by adapting the video bitrate to real-time network conditions without perceptive degradation in video quality, has continued to be an important part of the toolkit operators adapt to maintain a superior user experience.

Operators are very eager to understand their subscriber’s usage patterns. Insights on data usage and customer experience are becoming increasingly important as well as connecting these inputs to customer care. Since subscribers have become so demanding about network speed and video quality, there is a need for operators to become more proactive in updating users if there is degradation in the customer experience.

For example, by adding messages and notifications overlaying the browsing session with notifications about irregular network congestion, operators can acknowledge that they are aware that a problem exists, and are implementing a solution. These types of messages are a proactive way of handling customer experience issues before they reach customer care personnel, or worse, through churn.

With the launch of LTE, maintaining a positive customer experience by delivering top network speeds and superior video quality has become the most important operator differentiator. Subscribers demand faster and smoother networks and operators have opportunities to deliver a superior customer experience, including acceleration, mobile video optimisation, and proactive engagement with subscribers.

Noam Green is Vice President of Marketing at Flash Networks, having joined the company in January 2014 following its acquisition of Mobixell. He'd previously been Mobixell's Vice President of Marketing and Monetization. Flash Networks is a specialist in mobile internet optimisation and monetisation.
Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

You can’t stop the news when it goes mobile

Mark Bridge writes:

A couple of weeks ago I was wandering through London, wondering whether mobile streaming could erode personal privacy… and whether anyone cared.

But there’s a positive site to the immediacy of streaming, as Bambuser reminded me today.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile phones give you wings

Mark Bridge writes:

James's recent trip down memory lane reminded me of a moment in 1998 when a major mobile phone manufacturer promised phones that 'gave you wings'. No, not Red Bull. No, not Red Bull Racing partner LG. It was Motorola.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A time before Android

James Rosewell writes:

Whilst flicking through my drawer full of old handsets I thought back to a time when Apple produced a new MP3 player, newspaper editors didn't know what a smart phone was, and Android was only a press release. A quick flick through YouTube threw up the following interview with Microsoft's Steve Balmer offering his thoughts.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

SAP, HP and Oracle: a simple view of what's happened recently

Mark Bridge writes:

This sequence of recent events involving SAP, HP and Oracle – although unconnected – seemed deserving of a simple diagram.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Why I don't care about the Google Nexus S

Mark Bridge writes:

The Google Nexus S. Search for it online and you’ll find over a million web pages talking about it.

But I don’t care about the Google Nexus S. Or the Nexus Two or the Samsung i9020 or whatever else you call it. Quite frankly, it’s not any use to me. My current rapidly-aging HTC TyTn II has more features than the Nexus S.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First8788899092949596Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«December 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2526272829301
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
303112345

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement