NTCA's The New Edge » Steve Fravel

ClearSky Launches Regional LTE

Steve Fravel — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:05:49 +0000

ClearSky Mobile Media, Inc., announced the launch of its hosted Long Term Evolution (LTE) Services Suite on February 7. Designed and implemented especially for regional mobile network operators, cable MSOs and wireless broadband providers, the new service makes state-of-the-art 4G LTE service available to their customers at a low cost.

ClearSky’s Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and the Radio Access Network (RAN) are bundled in a variety of ways to accelerate and simplify launch of LTE services. As the three largest U.S. carriers rapidly build LTE networks, regional carriers benefit by not having to bear the high costs of implementations on their own. Participating carriers are able to offer 4G data services, high-speed and low costs to rural subscribers keeping pace with the large carriers.

According to ClearSky, the LTE Services Suite includes: hosted EPC, RAN, integrated billing and provisioning, and installation and ongoing support. Customers are able to scale the EPC to support very small numbers of base stations or an unlimited number. The RAN is designed using the latest technology with an eye on reducing size and cost. The RAN provides a wide range of features including macro/micro/pico cell configurations that simultaneously support LTE, GSM/UMTS and CDMA.

On launch day, ClearSky’s CEO Bill Poellmitz said, “We are working diligently to address every aspect of the LTE network deployment and operations so that our carrier clients can deliver the best possible user experience to their subscribers. Not only will our clients have access to superior network technology and support services, but our commitment to an open LTE ecosystem of devices and roaming partners will ensure access to all the key services needed to build the converged 4G network of the future.”

Read the release.

Dakota Central Telecommunications Selects APMAX Middleware

Steve Fravel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:55:26 +0000

“The ability to run the middleware on the same platform that we are currently using for our voice services was an advantage both technically and economically,” commented Keith Larson, general manager of Dakota Central Telecommunications Cooperative. “The final piece that made sense for DCT was the Virtual Remote®, that lets our service center take control of the customer’s set-top-box (STB) without having to send a truck out, in some cases fifty miles or more. We believe this functionality will save us a lot of money over the long haul.”

DCT, faced with changing out its IPTV middleware platform elected to go with APMAX® from Innovative Systems to serve nearly 5000 subscribers in South Central North Dakota. Larson added, “Finding qualified people to maintain your system, especially in the head end and picking a stable middleware provider should be two of your high ranking considerations.”

In addition to IPTV, DCT provides customers in the Carrington and Jamestown areas with high-speed Internet and voice services. In business for more than 60 years, DCT customers receive their services via a state-of-the-art fiber optic network.

According to a press release regarding the Innovative Systems APMAX middleware, the IP Multimedia System (IMS) Applications server is the only platform that delivers enhanced voice services together with IPTV solutions. In addition, eLation®, a fully integrated open source software (OSS) solution that includes billing, financials, staking and mapping applications, is bundled with the communications and IPTV features.

For additional information see Innovative Systems’ website.

NetAmerica Begins Testing Newly Installed SuperCenter

Steve Fravel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:34:02 +0000

Last week NetAmerica Alliance announced that it would begin testing its recently completed SuperCenter and Network Operations Center (NOC) in Dallas, Texas.

The SuperCenter is home to the alliance’s IP Multimedia System (IMS) framework. A recent press release to announce completion of the SuperCenter describes the IMS as the key element in the delivery of a “full range of integrated Internet Protocol (IP) based multimedia services.” The IMS core allows the independent carriers who make up the alliance to offer high-quality features and applications and a 4G LTE service to their customers in each member’s license area.

Crucial to the alliance’s members is that the IMS core enables independent carriers to protect their wireline and/or cellular business while including 4G LTE in their service offering, making true convergence of the technologies a reality.

The NOC is staffed 24-hours per day, seven days per week by NetAmerica personnel. It provides the alliance’s members with network monitoring and support.

“Completion of the world class SuperCenter is a milestone for the Alliance,” said Scott Donlea, Executive Vice President and COO of NetAmerica. “It allows members to compete on a level not possible without the Alliance and provides the services they need, together with the 24/7 support, to offer advanced services to the citizens of rural America.”

For more information, read the release.

AT&T and Dish: Rumor or Cage Rattling?

Steve Fravel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:58:32 +0000

According to Credit Suisse analyst Stefan Anninger, a seven-page FCC exparte AT&T penned may be a strong indicator of the carrier’s interest in buying up the 40Mhz S-band spectrum currently controlled by Dish Network.

After separate bankruptcy proceedings last year, Dish Network now holds DBSD North America, Inc. and TerreStar Networks, Inc. and their satellite spectrum licenses. Dish recently petitioned the FCC for an ancillary terrestrial component waiver that it says it will use to provide a wireless-hybrid 4G LTE network.

In its letter to the FCC dated January 26, AT&T states that it supports Dish’s efforts to gain approval in transferring the DBSD North America and TerreStar licenses to facilitate the new service. However, AT&T is advocating an aggressive network build out for the service, requiring network availability to 100 million people in 33 months, arguing that Dish Network should be held to the same build-out schedule as that required of LightSquared, currently waiting for FCC approval for a similar venture.

The Dish build-out schedule request also may be a very strong signal that AT&T, currently trailing rival company Verizon in controlling requisite amounts of spectrum to support high-speed Internet and video services, has eyes on buying Dish Network.

AT&T abandoned the $39 billion T-Mobile USA acquisition at the end of 2011 after the Department of Justice and the FCC both issued notices opposing the deal. Considering the reversal AT&T is making in the January 26 letter on the Dish Network petition from comments filed late last year concerning the Dish Network project, AT&T may have revealed its purchase target in its quest to attain additional spectrum.

In a January 31 Bloomberg article on AT&T and Dish Network, Stefan Anninger of Credit Suisse values the Dish spectrum at $8.6 billion, using the recently announced and pending Verizon $3.9 billion purchase from Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications of unused spectrum as his base of measure.

ViaSat’s Exede: This is Not What They Promised

Steve Fravel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:53:34 +0000

Existing users of ViaSat were pleased to learn that the new Exede service would be faster with more bandwidth. Exede has reportedly launched and, from early reports, those who have been waiting for the upgrade aren’t getting the new service yet. Instead, new subscribers are at the head of the line.

Additionally, the higher priced Exede comes with a few restrictions that have customers less-than-thrilled with the service. While the bandwidth is larger than before, the daily usage is capped. Called the “fair access policy or FAP,” the bandwidth cap is set to a lower total bandwidth than existing customer’s WildBlue service.

Considering the high cost for satellite service and a need to add new customers quickly, it is likely that any additional increase in speed or relaxation of the FAP restrictions will take time. Any improvement is good except when it comes with a crippling restriction.

Verizon Smart Energy Home

Steve Fravel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:47:46 +0000

With little fanfare, Verizon launched its smart home products. The product allows customers nationwide to remotely lock and unlock doors and windows, manage thermostats and lights, and monitor video cameras.

According to Verizon Director of Product Development, Home Monitoring and Control Ann Shaub, most customers opt-in to the complete smart home package that includes door sensors, door locks and cameras, along with the energy package.

While Verizon doesn’t claim that use of the energy control package will save money or energy, it is clear that for most customers the added advantage is the level of security and media management the complete package performs, according to Shaub.

According to Verizon, approximately 95% of smart home customers install their own devices, although Verizon continues to work with Ingersoll-Rand for security systems and Aeon Labs for energy and thermostats.

The LightSquared Week in Review

Steve Fravel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:45:27 +0000

Early last week, LightSquared announced that it had signed its 39^th wholesale agreement, welcoming Telcom Ventures to the 4G LTE service. Telcom Ventures operates two services, Assist Wireless and New-Talk. Both services carry the FCC certification of Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC), which allows them to provide lifeline services to low-income subscribers.

LightSquared‘s plans are currently on hold, waiting for approval from the FCC before it can begin operations with its wholesale partners.

To that end, the FCC last week requested public comment on a petition from LightSquared requesting a finding that global positioning systems (GPS) do not merit legal protection from interference that may occur once LightSquared becomes operational. LightSquared also released a statement encouraging the GPS device manufacturers to release details concerning how their devices performed under the government testing of the LightSquared spectrum. Although shielded by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), LightSquared urged the GPS makers to voluntarily withdraw the NDAs to add clarity to the findings.

Also last week, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Philip Falcone, CEO of Harbinger Capital Partners, the primary investor in LightSquared, concerning “questionable” communications with his office.

According to Sen. Grassley, he has been asked to tone down and back away from his investigation and criticisms regarding the FCC handling of the petitions and requests for operations by LightSquared. Sen. Grassley described a conversation with Todd Ruelle, chairman and CEO of Fine Point Technologies. Mr. Ruelle is alleged to have remarked that his company “only gets paid if the deal goes through.” Mr. Ruelle then apparently commented that a call center would be built in Iowa, once LightSquared received the go ahead to operate its network. Mr. Grassley indicated that he would not pull back.

In an article published by TR Daily, Mr. Falcone was reported to have disavowed the suggestions and behaviors of Mr. Ruelle, indicating that Mr. Ruelle was acting entirely on his own.

Staff members from the FCC recently met with Sen. Grassley in a two-and-a-half-hour meeting concerning LightSquared.

In a related story: AT&T issued recommendations in an ex parte filing concerning the Dish Network’s request for an ancillary terrestrial component waiver similar to the waiver granted to LightSquared, and approval of license transfers that would allow Dish Network to begin operating a 4G LTE satellite/terrestrial hybrid network.

AT&T indicates that Dish Network should be held to the same build-out requirements as LightSquared and that Dish should adhere to the same performance standards. AT&T asked the FCC to hold Dish to the same 700 Mhz interference rules applicable to other 700 Mhz licenses.

AT&T said that like LightSquared, Dish should provide terrestrial coverage for 100 million people in 33 months and 260 million people in 69 months. AT&T also indicated that the Commission should “reject calls to impose on Dish the same unlawful and anticompetitive spectrum use restrictions as were adopted in the Harbinger/SkyTerra Order.” The order restricted SkyTerra from providing any bandwidth via the terrestrial network to the top two wireless carriers, AT&T and Verizon, without first gaining approvals from the FCC. Also under the order, SkyTerra was forced to restrict access to its terrestrial network, banning access to AT&T and Verizon in economic areas that carry more than 25% total data traffic absent approval from the FCC.

AT&T is quoted as saying that such restrictions and barriers to specific companies “would be anticompetitive, discriminatory, and the height of arbitrary and capricious.”

Report Details Needs of Machine-to-Machine Growth

Steve Fravel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:17:10 +0000

This past week, Mobile Future released a report addressing the needs of federal officials to allocate more spectrum in support of wireless services. The report specifically singled out the expected explosive growth of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

The report, written by Jim Kohlenberger, president of JK Strategies and former chief of staff in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for President Obama, highlights five core steps to insure that our collective communications future is carefully and pragmatically engineered.

The report goes on to illustrate how these five steps and additional key targets should be utilized to further achieve broader national goals. These goals include “smarter ways to grow the economy, protect our environment, improve public safety, [and] raise standards of living.” In addition required initiatives like enabling the smart grid, advancing smart cities, accelerating smart transportation, building smart infrastructure, delivering smart health care, constructing better buildings and infusing connected intelligence into the manufacturing process for a brighter connected future.”

According to Mobile Future Chair Jonathan Spalter, “Machine-to-machine technologies hold the promise of transforming how our economy and communities will connect and interact.” He added, “But policy makers must act now to make more spectrum available to ensure that Americans fully benefit from tomorrow’s tremendous mobile possibilities.”

Read the report.

New Hanover County Uses TV White Space

Steve Fravel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:04:30 +0000

New Hanover County, N.C., was recognized last week as the first FCC approved Smart County in the United States. In achieving this goal, New Hanover also attained another first by using the first commercially available TV white spaces.

Spectrum Bridge supports this cloud-based technology with its FCC certified spectrum management technology. Those residents of New Hanover County in range of the deployment area will have access to several useful implementations including telemetry, remote security and remote utility monitoring in addition to other applications.

“We are extremely pleased with the installations of the white spaces systems at our parks and gardens,” said Chairman of New Hanover County Ted Davis. “This technology has proven to be an unobtrusive, environmentally friendly way to offer services to our citizens and the visitors at our parks and to give our staff more efficient ways to manage these locations.”

Cox Rolls Out a Low-Cost Package

Steve Fravel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:56:17 +0000

As American consumers find themselves with less discretionary income and more video choices, large cable operators are seeking new ways to attract and retain subscribers. Last year, Time Warner Cable rolled out a $29.99 TV Essentials plan and Comcast soon followed with a $24.95 offering. It is worth noting that neither line-up includes ESPN, often the most expensive of the program networks.

This past week, Cox Cable followed suit and un-wrapped a new collection called TV Economy priced at $34.99. It also does not include ESPN. When comparing the low-cost packages with the typical expanded basic packages that might run in the $60 to $80 per month range, the multi-system operators may have created a small “bridge” to get them past the continued drain due to high consumer retail rates.

Looking ahead, one must wonder if consumers will be willing to forgo access to certain expensive programming in exchange for lower video bills. Time and continued package modification will tell.