Mobile broadband policy works, but needs work, small operator says: RCR Mobile broadband panelists talk LTE, smart cities

HERSHEY, Pa.—Mobile broadband policy is working, but not working as well as it should, according to one regional wireless operator who spoke at RCR Wireless News’ Mobile Broadband Conference Series last week in Hershey, Pa. The conference followed the Utility Telecom Forum, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Wireless Association. To view all of the videos associated with this event, click here.
Linda Martin, COO of Keystone Wireless, which operates a GSM-based cellular network in central Pennsylvania under the brand name Immex, won a $36 million grant under the Broadband Stimulus Plan last year. Because the operator is small, it can be innovative, Martin noted. But the operator is also limited because the government is not helping small operators by creating policies that would help small operators compete against their larger brethren. Martin said she is not for heavy-handed regulations, but a policy on mandatory data roaming would be extremely helpful to small carriers.
Immex is an integral part of its community, and its relationships within the community helped it win the stimulus funds, Martin said, noting that the company had 40 letters of support from the community, including the hospital, the city and others. The carrier has to build its HSPA+ network in 18 months, Martin said, laughing that the company is a bit overwhelmed as it aims to get the network ready for commercial launch in 2012.
Beyond discussing rural operations, Verizon Wireless’ Harry Martin, director of advanced technologies, expounded upon the innovation that LTE will bring to people and machines. Speed is the first benefit of LTE, Martin said, but when you tie speed to cloud computing, the possibilities are endless. Martin gave the example of a wireless technician out in the field climbing a utility pole, who could video chat with a higher-level technician in the office to perform the service function. Companies using that type of service will cut costs out of their operations.
Industry experts also offered insights into Distributed Antenna Systems networks, the pitfalls of siting wireless towers and how smart cities, mostly being deployed in the Middle East and Asia today, are changing how cities function. To view all of the videos associated with this event, click here.