BROWSING: Opinion

Reality Check: Steering a course to 5G across uncharted territory

Standards challenges could impede the move towards 5G, though industry adoption of NFV and SDN could ease the transition. Across a broad spectrum of industries, businesses are pinning their hopes for the future on the “internet of things,” and who can blame...

Kagan: Unlimited wireless data plans grow

Are you paying attention to the growing unlimited wireless data battle? Regional carrier C Spire Wireless is now joining the major national wireless carriers AT&T Mobility, Sprint and T-Mobile US in offering an unlimited data option. Funny thing, if you recall, this whole unlimited...

Reader Forum: Rekindling the flame of NFV

A perceived lull in NFV deployment and development can be overcome with the right model in place. When people run out of things to say in a conversation or a fierce storm dies down, we call that a “lull.” This is the...

Reader Forum: How mobile operators can minimize network outages

Network outages can haunt mobile telecom operators, but there are ways to avoid the long-term embarrassment. Too many users, not enough bandwidth, “busy hour congestion” and a plethora of other network issues – it's all run of the mill for cellphone service operators...

Worst of the Week: Has the FCC doomed low-band 5G spectrum?

The launch of 5G services will be highly reliant on spectrum, but has poor planning by the FCC undercut crucial low-band support? Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on...

Analyst Angle: MIT’s MoVR device sheds light on our wireless AI future

Recent breakthroughs in AI and wireless connectivity highlight an interesting future. Everything that was previously considered fiction is now becoming reality. So much so that the modern populace seems to think nothing is impossible anymore. Among the gargantuan trend shifts and technological...

Kagan: Sprint 2016 comeback story

Don’t you just love it when we see a real comeback story. That’s what seems to be happening at Sprint. If things stay on the current track, it looks like 2017 will also be a strong growth year for the carrier. This has happened...

Reader Forum: Cloud central offices – supercharging networks with SDN and NFV

Virtualization is critical to developing next-generation intelligent networks, with cloud central offices seen as an important part of bolstering SDN and NFV. Communication service providers are facing challenges on multiple fronts in today's digital-first world. Operators need to find ways to cope...

Reader Forum: The 5G future and the customer experience

Verizon’s recent release of 5G standards and protocols highlights the carrier push for next-generation network technologies. There’s a lot of hype around the next “G” generation. In July, Verizon Communications announced a key milestone in the journey to “5G” – a new...

Worst of the Week: AT&T draws ire, while Sprint throws shade

AT&T encountered some issues during the launch of its DirecTV Now platform this week, while Sprint kicked some sand in the face of 600 MHz spectrum. Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty...

Reader Forum: One size does not fit all for small cell zoning and regulation

Heavy-handed zoning for small cells is holding back connected cities and hurting consumers. Whenever you see “one size fits all” on a label, you should be a bit skeptical. The last two pairs of gardening gloves I’ve bought came in a single size,...

Kagan: AT&T DirecTV Now reinvents TV

AT&T is taking television to the next level with the new DirecTV Now. Imagine new thinking and new ideas like streaming channels and mobile TV all for a lower cost. So many customers who left the pay-TV market with its skyrocketing prices should love...

Reality Check: 10 things to keep in mind for when cellular networks meet IoT devices

The IoT market is rapidly encroaching on the cellular world, but steps needs to be taken to make sure the two can work together. Over the last two decades, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of devices designed and...

Kagan: IBM World of Watson left me breathless

After attending this year’s IBM World of Watson event in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, I was both stunned and overwhelmed by the advancements in artificial intelligence and cognitive. I have written about IBM and Watson several times over the last few years,...

Reader Forum: Is love of sports increasing mobile subscribers’ risks of malware attacks?

Mobile operators should look to sports fans as a way to educate them on potential security threats and the opportunity to sell new services. Mobile has changed the way people experience sporting events as fans shift to the digital arena to...

Reader Forum: Pokémon Go and mobile traffic flow after three months

Pokémon Go was a phenomenon with repercussions still being felt throughout the mobile telecom space in terms of security, information management and AR. I have a confession. Temptation got the better of me. It happened on July 6. Yes, I was amongst the...

Analyst Angle: Sensors to play a significant part in the age of technological disruption

Applications of sensors ranging from health care to automotive have introduced innovative approaches of operation, providing safety and convenience. Sensors have made their way into every aspect of human lives ranging from smartphones to health care. Consumer electronics products are utilizing the devices to...

Reality Check: DDoS attacks turning net neutrality into a principle of bias

Telecom operators are in a prime position to use their network insights and net neutrality legislation to counter DDoS attacks and target new business opportunities. Net neutrality is at the core of the internet’s guiding principles. The idea that internet...

Reality Check: What AT&T’s Time Warner acquisition says about the big data challenge

Big data and how telecom operators can extract information from their growing collection of services is set to determine success in the market. AT&T’s recent announcement that it is to acquire Time Warner for the eye-watering sum of $85 billion underlines two things:...

Kagan: PayPal predictions for the 2016 holiday shopping season

Last month I met with PayPal at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas. First, let me say this is one impressive company. It started in 1998, simply helping people pay for things and get paid. Since, it has become the leader in the...

Reader Forum: 3 levels of big data success for the telecom market

Big data is a gold mine for telecom operators if they can put the pieces in place to take advantage of the opportunity. Without a doubt the rise of big data within the telecommunications industry has allowed companies to redefine strategies and...

Reader Forum: Macro sites remain the workhorse of the tower world

DAS and small cells are garnering more attention, but macro sites are still the main deployment method for carriers. Macro sites are still a vital piece of the growing wireless network ecosystem in a time when some attention has shifted to distributed...

Analyst Angle: The road to network convergence

A year ago, when the Wireless Broadband Alliance announced its Vision 2020 program, it was moving away from a specific focus on Wi-Fi and towards a far broader platform based around many unlicensed spectrum bands and technologies. This recognized the fundamental and exciting role...

Analyst Angle: Fair returns on R&D from SEP licensing with smartphone success and upcoming 5G

Patent licensing remains a flashpoint for mobile telecom as it moves towards a future of 5G and IoT. Cellular technology pioneers are being marginalized with diminished financial returns on their research and development investments while leaders in devices and “over-the-top” services are flourishing....