Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy!
While this week’s Mobile World Congress 2014 event dominated the news, wireless carriers managed to squeeze out announcements un-related to the mega-event.
—AT&T Mobility announced that beginning Feb. 28, all of its Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value plans will include unlimited international text messaging from the United States to more than 190 countries and multimedia messaging to more than 120 countries. The offer will included for both new and existing customers.
In addition, AT&T Mobility also said its World Value Connect international calling plan would include one-cent-per-minute calling to any phone number in more than 35 countries. Those markets include Canada, Mexico and a large number across the Caribbean and Latin America. The World Value Connect plan is available to postpaid customers for $5 per month.
AT&T Mobility’s move follows one by T-Mobile US where the smaller operator expanded its Stateside International Talk & Text plan to now include calls from the United States to landline and mobile customers in more than 30 countries. The plan previously was limited to just calls made to mobile devices.
–AT&T also announced the first group of partners to work on its Domain 2.0 supplier program strategy, which is set to re-shape the carrier’s cloud-based architecture.
The initial partners include Ericsson, Tail-F Systems and Metaswitch Networks, who have been selected to begin “further discussions on design and deployment,” while Affirmed Networks was picked to work on a virtualized evolved packet core. AT&T also said it would work with Ericsson on integration and transformation services, with plans to announce additional partners later this year.
AT&T said the program will result in a user-defined network cloud architecture that will be integrated through its cellular network and utilize network function virtualization and software defined network technology. The goal is to separate hardware and software functionality; separate network control plane and forwarding planes; and improve management of functionality in the software layer.
AT&T announced its Domain 2.0 initiative last September as an update to its Domain 1.0 iteration launched in 2009. The 2.0 version was to bring to the table more reliance on a cloud-based architecture that the company said will “reduce the time required to pivot to this target architecture while accelerating time-to-market with technologically advanced products and services.”
–Verizon Wireless, which late last week was fully absorbed by parent company Verizon Communications, selected Samsung to provide indoor LTE solutions, including femtocells, core network elements and a complete element management system. Verizon Wireless said it plans to begin deploying the femtocell solution later this year, with a focus on the enterprise market.
Samsung said the LTE femtocells can support more than 60 simultaneous connections. Samsung, which is one of the top players in the femtocell space, had previously supplied CDMA-based 3G femtocell products to Verizon Wireless.
—Vodafone struck deals with equipment vendors Ericsson and Nokia Solutions and Networks to upgrade the carrier’s network as part of its Project Spring initiative. Both deals were for five years.
NSN said its part of the deal included its single radio access network platform, operating support systems and related services and to provide a common subscriber data management solution. Ericsson said its portion of the deal calls for upgrading and expanding Vodafone’s 2G, 3G and LTE network, including equipment from its RBS6000 portfolio, Antenna Integrated Radio product and support services.
Financial terms of the contracts were not released, though Vodafone previously stated it plans to invest more than $11 billion by early 2016 in its Project Spring program designed to bolster its various networks targeting data services, enterprise customers and emerging markets.
“Our Project Spring organic investment program – now increased to [$11 billion] – will accelerate further our plans to establish stronger network and service differentiation for our customers,” explained Vittorio Colao, group chief executive for Vodafone.
Vodafone noted that it currently offers HSPA+ services at speeds up to 43.2 megabits per second across 56% of its European footprint and that it offers LTE services across 14 markets. The Project Spring initiative is set to add $4.8 billion in spending across Europe to “deliver deeper 3G coverage and capacity, and will accelerate our 4G network build, supported by single RAN and high capacity backhaul.” The carrier added that its plans would include the use of small cells and Wi-Fi to “differentiate our network performance.”
Vodafone recently had its coffers balloon by $130 billion following Verizon Communications acquisition of Vodafone’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. That deal also provided Vodafone with Verizon’s 23% interest in Vodafone Italy, thereby providing Vodafone with full ownership of its Italian operations.
—Sprint launched free Wi-Fi calling for select devices that it said would allow customers to make voice calls in locations that lack traditional cellular coverage. The offer includes both unlimited voice calling and domestic messaging.
Currently, the service is only available using the Samsung Galaxy Mega and Galaxy S4 Mini device, though the carrier said it plans to expand the offering to additional devices throughout the year. Kineto Wireless is providing its Smart Wi-Fi client to power the offering.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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