Next Generation Communications Blog

Broadband

Bell Labs Helps Mobile Service Providers to Understand and Meet Video Calling Quality of Experience (QoE) Challenges

By Michelle Amodio

The explosive growth of smart mobile devices capable of making video calls is placing intense pressures on service providers to configure their networks to assure users have experiences that meet or exceed their expectations. However, providing a superior quality of experience (QoE) is a complex challenge.

As part of its support of mobile service providers around the world, Alcatel Lucent’s Bell Labs recently looked at the factors that influence QoE) to help service providers full understand all of the issues and what needs to be done to resolve them.

The questions the Bell Labs researchers explored were:

  • What are the key factors that influence QoE for mobile video calls?
  • Are residential broadband networks ready for them?

There was good news on both fronts. The challenges could be identified and categorized in terms of importance, and viable solutions can help operators meet consumer expectations in a timely and cost effective manner, as well as lay the foundation for new profitable services.

The main finding of the researchers was that service providers require not bigger (more bandwidth) networks but faster ones (in terms of response time). They validated that speed, combined with the proper provision of a consistent quality of service (QoS), are the critical determinants in mobile video calling QoE.

HP and Alcatel-Lucent Creating the Cloud-Ready Data Center

By Erin Harrison

Cloud computing has already transformed the way we live and do business. Consumers like the idea that they can access low-cost applications anywhere, anytime, on any device – and enterprises are moving applications to the cloud to reduce costs and streamline operations.

The movement toward to the cloud gives service providers an opportunity to deliver cloud services from their data centers as a natural extension of the network and hosting services they already offer. According to Alcatel-Lucent’s whitepaper, “Creating the Cloud-Ready Data Center,” with the right infrastructure, service providers can leverage their greatest assets: 

Small Cells Technology Fuels New Consumer Market Opportunities

By Erin Harrison

By now, you have probably heard about and read the hype about small cells technology – tiny indoor cellular base stations installed in a household that connect the fixed broadband network to mobile devices within the residence. By increasing service quality and connection speeds indoors, small cells can improve voice calls and provide faster, more reliable data connections and coverage.

Small cells are low-powered radio access points that improve indoor and outdoor coverage to increase capacity and offload traffic – as much as 80 percent during peak times. Alcatel-Lucent, one of the leading femtocell companies, offers the 9360 portfolio of small cells.

According to Alcatel-Lucent research findings from five countries across North America, Europe and Asia, the small cells marketplace in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore and Taiwan will be worth €6.1 billion in total by 2014, with over 34 million subscribers predominantly using unlimited voice, video calling and SMS services.  The findings are highlighted in Alcatel-Lucent’s whitepaper titled, “Small Cells Technology Fuels New Consumer Market Opportunities.”

Mobile Internet: The Opportunity of 'White Spaces'

By Mae Kowalke

After analog TV broadcasting in the U.S. was converted over to digital in 2009 as directed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the freed-up spectrum, referred to as “white spaces” became available for free, unlicensed use.

This change opened up a big opportunity for just about anyone to become a provider of Wi-Fi-like wireless services for commercial and retail customers. Existing operators are likely to face increasing competition from new providers.

Accelerating the Positive Impact of Mobility in Developing Nations

By Beecher Tuttle

Widespread access to mobile communications is a well-known signifier of economic and social prosperity in the developing world. In fact, a recent study by the World Bank found that every 10 percent increase in mobile penetration correlates to a 1 percent increase in a developing country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Bell Labs, the research arm of telecom giant Alcatel-Lucent, believes that an appropriate mix of action and investment can accelerate the impact of mobility well beyond this model.

Research experts from Bell Labs and the World Economic Forum’s Telecommunications Industry Global Agenda Council recently conducted a series of studies that show how certain strategies can boost the impact that mobile communication services can have on a nation's GDP, by up to 36 percent.

High Leverage Networks: How and Why

Developing a High Leverage Network requires a two-pronged approach: develop new business models and introduce or improve personalized service offerings. These go hand-in-hand and must be pursued simultaneously.

Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of TCP

By Beecher Tuttle

The explosive growth of streaming video traffic has elevated Transport Control Protocol (TCP) to the position of a ubiquitous technology.

Service providers can leverage TCP, along with HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS), to effectively transport non-real time video. These technologies have become increasingly popular because they provide a number of benefits, including familiarity and a widely deployed infrastructure.

That said, TCP is not an ideal solution for every environment. The technology carries with it certain inherent limitations that need to be understood for service providers to take full advantage of its benefits.

How Can Enterprises Utilize Business Communication Solutions to Improve Their Bottom Line?

Using the Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch 8400 Instant Communications Suite (ICS) and the Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch 8600 My Instant Communicator, the Dynamic Enterprise gains access to consistent, robust and secure communications solutions.

The Move to LTE Helps Companies Meet their Wireless Demands

To show off the potential of LTE technology in the most demanding of circumstances, Alcatel-Lucent and the Texas Energy Network (TEN) recently announced that they will hold a live demonstration in New Mexico later this month.

Best Practices for Using On-Demand QoS Upgrades to Improve Network Utilization and Efficiency

By David Sims

Connie Torres, director of market advantage research, Alcatel-Lucent, recently authored a piece titled "Meeting Application Demand Profitably with a Smart Network." She notes that the Information Age "has evolved from a Web 1.0 Read Only environment to a Web 2.0 Read/Write and share world," where networks "have evolved from 2G to 2.5 G to 3G. The growth of broadband has helped to shift user focus from voice and personal communication to multi-media and content communication, and that's just the beginning for a smart network that makes application enablement a reality." The iPhone, Torres says, was the real game-changer: "The increase in data traffic has network providers racing to keep up with the demand for bandwidth, a continuous demand for bigger pipes. The challenge is to do so at a profit and in a way that uses the intelligence of the network - a smart network." But this race isn't just for more bandwidth or greater coverage, it's about creating sustainable business models that allow for the combination of high value network capabilities, Torres maintains, "with the speed and innovation of the Web to provide consumers and enterprises a richer and more trusted Web experience -- what Alcatel-Lucent calls application enablement." There's much in the paper of value for those looking to build smart networks to take advantage of this. One thing Torres focuses on is the value of consumer research. "In the consumer market, a driving force behind much of the growth is youth and young adults," she says. "They are still asking 'why,' 'what if' and 'why not' questions.

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