The age of encryption is upon us. Data gathered from mobile operator networks around the world reveal that between 50% and 65% of all mobile data traffic is now encrypted. This is up from a level of only 10-20% in 2013. Right under our...
AT&T Mobility announced the Federal Communications Commission has given it approval to offer Wi-Fi calling to customers on smartphones. This will start with the iPhone 6 and 6s, and I expect it to spread to other devices as well. While I am very happy...
The future of "5G" is the talk of the network. Despite its relatively undefined status, this next-generation network technology is one that many other emerging technologies are pinning their hopes on due to the capabilities beyond what the current 4G network can offer. In...
The real reasons behind 5G
Some people believe that faster is always better, particularly in regards to wireless networks. That's why it’s easy to get excited about “5G” wireless systems, which are the next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the 4G LTE technology...
The remaining top Q3 events
Last week, we covered five events/trends that will impact third-quarter, total year and 2016 results (these are in no particular order):
1. The announcement and launch of the Apple iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which included significant network radio improvements...
Why has there been so much written about Sprint cutting costs in the last few days? This is not a surprise. This is exactly what it should be doing. This is exactly what every company is supposed to do. Sprint is supposed to focus on...
With more than 110 sports and entertainment venues currently being built or proposed for construction worldwide over the next few years, it makes sense to design stadiums with advanced networks that can meet future bandwidth demands for both visitors and venue operators.
When thinking of the...
Subscriber data management has gone from being the technology that would be a “nice to have” to an essential tool that operators are looking to adopt. Infonetics Research reported that the worldwide SDM market grew 29% in 2014 over 2013, to $1.4 billion. This...
Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....
This week, we will examine five of the top 10 developments for the third quarter and determine their short- and long-term effects on the telecommunications industry. These events are in no particular order and several of them have been suggested by readers.
Apple launch: Quién...
There was a time when sports fans brought transistor radios to games to listen to the play-by-play while they watched the game. Even then, fans were finding ways to get access to information to improve their in-stadium experience. Today, fans are engaged with smartphones.
Like...
BlackBerry is introducing its new Android device, the Blackberry Priv, which sounds like a wireless device that focuses on privacy and security. While that has always been the strength of BlackBerry and something that set it apart from the competition, it was not enough over the last several...
Businesses have realized tremendous efficiency gains with the advent of cloud-based services and mobile computing, driving down operational costs and creating unprecedented growth opportunity. However, these technologies, along with the arrival of the “app store economy” and the deployment of intelligent connected devices, are...
Multiprotocol label switching has been around for 20 years and has served the enterprise well as the go-to method for global connectivity. It’s popular as a response to business needs for reliable and predictable network performance across the wide area network. MPLS provides access...
When Forrester Research came out with a report claiming that traditional telcos could become an endangered species, many thought the industry was doomed for a swift decline. With increased changes in the market and commoditization around the services that telcos provide, the simple reality...
Last week when iOS9 came out I upgraded my Apple iPhone 6. It worked. In fact, things went so well that this morning I upgraded an iPhone 5S and an iPad. Big mistake. That’s when I was hit by an Apple tidal wave so...
3.5 GHz spectrum rules create opportunities for equipment makers and service providers
The explosive growth in mobile broadband traffic and its concomitant strain on limited spectrum resources has required the Federal Communications Commission to engage in creative frequency allocation. To that end, the Commission...
End of summer greetings from Charlotte and Dallas. This week we will cover comments from two wireless CEOs as well as update the latest iPhone 6S Apple ship dates.
Apple orders: Thank you, China!
In a couple of events related to last week’s Sunday Brief on...
With all the challenges facing mobile network operators around the world – increasing competition, diminishing average revenue per user, network management costs, demanding customers who want more bandwidth – it’s no surprise that mobile virtual network operators are taking flight. Indeed, even big names...
Just 10 years ago, enterprise technology was tied to a desktop or workstation, iPhones did not exist. Social collaboration meant instant messaging. Can you imagine a world today without mobile connectivity? Without the instantaneous access to information, or the inclusive social nature of mobile...
Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way....
All the press coverage around Apple's event has included the obvious territory: the specs and sizes of the new products, etc. I'm less interested in covering the same ground. One of the points most interesting to me was how clearly Apple is focused on a...
The CTIA Super Mobility conference last week showed the wireless industry as an incredible growth engine. While that is true, not every company will win going forward. The latest carrier to fail is Syringa Wireless, which offers service to rural areas in Idaho. Companies...
Because of upcoming nonstop travel over the next two months, I took a hall pass from this year’s CTIA Super Mobility show. There was plenty of news, however, from Verizon Wireless’ announcement of its “5G” strategy and establishment of 2016 testbeds (more here); to...
