The Competitive Carriers Association Annual Convention was heavy on policy, 5G and IoT, though response to the latter two depended on carrier size
As expected, the recently completed Competitive Carriers Association Annual Convention showed a heavy focus on policy, “5G” and the “internet of things,” with at least one of those three main topics actually something CCA’s majority member base seemed willing to discuss.
This year’s CCA Annual Convention included a heavy policy theme, which remains a significant area of focus for the Washington, D.C.-based trade association. The event included keynote address from three of the Federal Communications Commission’s five sitting members in Chairman Tom Wheeler, Democratic commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Republican commissioner Ajit Pai.
Wheeler garnered applause from the audience in announcing plans to update the FCC’s data roaming framework by the end of the year in an attempt to drive down costs for rural and regional carriers looking to bolster their nationwide LTE coverage through agreements with larger carriers. Wheeler said the move would include calling on his fellow commissioners to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the hotly contested topic.
“Tackling this issue will allow the commission to provide greater certainty in the marketplace, and promote consumer benefits and competition,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler also followed up on a previous commitment to tackle the ongoing issue of so-called business data services by the end of this year. Wheeler said he plans to present a reform proposal to the FCC that he claims will address the issue of access and charges tied to backhaul services.
“I will present the commission with a reform proposal that will tackle this issue and encourage innovation and investment in what we now call business data services, while ensuring that lack of competition in some places cannot be used to hold back wireless coverage,” Wheeler said, taking aim at AT&T in adding, “notably, reform is supported by the nation’s leading wireless carriers, save one.”
To a more muted response, Wheeler also said the FCC will look to move forward with Phase 2 of the Mobility Fund by the end of the year. The fund, which was previously known as the Universal Service Fund, looks to “spur deployment of advanced wireless infrastructure, and replace the old ‘CETC’ support, which the commission concluded was not well-targeted.”
In terms of 5G plans, while the event was full of content related to the next-generation network move, attendee response to the topic was linked to the size of the carrier. T-Mobile US, which is CCA’s largest carrier member and was attending in its own backyard, unveiled some of its latest work in the 5G realm, with CTO Neville Ray noting recent trials with vendor partners Ericsson and Nokia.
In its latest work with Ericsson, T-Mobile US said it completed trials of voice calls between “4G” and 5G networks using Ericsson’s 5G radio prototype system and the carrier’s LTE network and devices. With Nokia, T-Mobile US said it expanded its work with the vendor using prestandards test equipment and spectrum in the 28 GHz band.
However, many of the smaller carriers in attendance are either still in the midst of their “4G” LTE deployments or just finishing up the significant investment involved in those plans.
Slayton Stewart, CEO of Carolina West, said the carrier is just now getting toward the end of its planned LTE deployments, and is looking to perhaps recoup some of those costs first before jumping into a new network evolution. Similar caution was expressed by ATN International CEO and President Michael Prior when he noted the carrier is not quite yet seeing a use case for 5G, but that the carrier is in talks with vendors in terms of potential future plans.
Cellcom President and CEO Pat Riordan cited a more practical approach to the carrier’s network plans, claiming it instead just looks at advances as the “next thing” and not in terms of any numbered generation.
IoT interest was also somewhat muted by most carriers in attendance, with many citing similar hesitance to what Prior noted in terms of the current lack of a business case for rural carriers. Instead, the most unique revenue diversification example was provided by Cellcom, which has moved into drone repair and coffee houses as part of an overall company effort to expand revenue streams outside traditional telecom markets.
A dose of reality was also presented by wireless industry veteran John Stanton, who noted carriers are having to fork over significant investments for spectrum and infrastructure while at the same time seeing flattening revenue.
“The dynamic structure does not allow us to get paid,” Stanton said.
The long-time industry exec did note that there are “exciting services and partnerships” available to mobile operators that could allow for future growth, but that carriers needed to think differently about their position in the ecosystem and look toward network generational changes as a potential time in which to perhaps move on that potential differentiation.
While encouraging carriers to look outside their comfort zones, he did express skepticism in regard to new network entrants looking to serve the internet of things market. He did note that there was a great opportunity in the IoT space, but that if “existing players attack the new positions, you foreclose the opportunities for new entrants.”
Make sure to check out our extensive video coverage from this year’s CCA Annual Convention, including full coverage of keynote addresses.
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