Wi-Fi has established itself as one of the most popular and widespread technology today reaching millions of homes, schools, enterprises and hotspot locations worldwide. Communication has become an essential part of our lives. The ever-growing Wi-Fi networks combined with integrated Wi-Fi chipsets into thousands of devices has matured and ensured that hundreds of millions of users worldwide now make regular use of Wi-Fi to access the Internet.
The following white paper, discusses the Wi-Fi effects of connectedness shifting from people to people into the connecting a billion of devices. Today’s network consists of multiple access network technologies playing a different role in different contexts. In the race to smart next generation networks, secondary markets in embedded mobile is beginning to garner attention with greater ambitions into tertiary markets of cloud-based solutions, where anything and almost everything will be connected, regardless of geographical boundaries with the ultimate aim of cost effective development and implementation.
Axa Assurance Maroc - Insurer Innovation Award 2024
Wi-Fi for a Connected World Towards Next Generation Networks
1. WHITEPAPER
Wi-Fi FOR A CONNECTED WORLD
TOWARDS NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS
www.greenpacket.com
2. WHITEPAPER
Abstract
The next generation networks that we envision to be would be unimaginable
with multitude of new generation of services, connected devices value chain
and emerging embedded systems like telematics and automation gaining
momentum in vertical industries. Mobile devices have transformed
communication and Internet access. Wireless technology has enabled the
concept of mobility and connectivity to expand beyond the days of laptops.
Most people if not all, have ownership of a smart device that is voice, data
and Wi-Fi capable. At this very moment of reading this and downloading the
paper, you would potentially be running an application.
The following sections of the paper, discusses the Wi-Fi effects of
connectedness shifting from people to people into the connecting a billion
of devices. Today’s network consists of multiple access network
technologies playing a different role in different contexts. In the race to
smart next generation networks, secondary markets in embedded mobile is
beginning to garner attention with greater ambitions into tertiary markets of
cloud-based solutions, where anything and almost everything will be
connected, regardless of geographical boundaries with the ultimate aim of
cost effective development and implementation. This will help open doors
to attractive new services that reflect the consumer’s desire for solutions
that they will be willing to pay for a premium.
Wi-Fi is vendor neutral technology and potentially more effective alternative
to operators building high bandwidth data networks without dependency
on spectrum licensing. Wi-Fi as a complementary technology can help ease
traffic by 20% with substantial impact of freeing up spectrum, when
implemented strategically. By delivering multiple service bundles of voice,
data, video, contents similar to quad-play can create “stickiness” and
improve the overall user experience. Of course, pulling together devices,
network services and applications creates complexity for operators and
solution providers. In particular, the following barriers need to be addressed
by operators and solution provider from the point of view of devices,
integration, scalability and TCO relevant to building strong business models.
Whichever the motivation for deploying Wi-Fi, be it value proposition in terms
of price sensitivity, market leadership, interoperability or scalability, operators
are quick to embrace faster time to market solutions to grow its business
model. Similarly, consumers benefit from a connected society that brings
them closer to families, enriching their lives and making it more efficient.
3. WHITEPAPER
Contents
Overview 01
Where is Wi-Fi 02
Pervasive Connectivity: From Billions of 04
People to Billions of Things
Getting Wi-Fi Right
Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi 06
Wi-Fi Usage
- What is the User Expectation – Performance and Capacity
- Where is the Spends
- Business Model – Consumer or Enterprise
Key Takeaways of Wi-Fi
Conclusion 12
Think Forward with Wi-Fi 14
4. WHITEPAPER Overview - 01
Overview
Wi-Fi has established itself as one of the most popular and widespread
technology today reaching millions of homes, schools, enterprises and
hotspot locations worldwide. Communication has become an essential part
of our lives. The ever-growing Wi-Fi networks combined with integrated
Wi-Fi chipsets into thousands of devices has matured and ensured that
hundreds of millions of users worldwide now make regular use of Wi-Fi to
access the Internet.
Virtually every smartphone in the market is Wi-Fi enabled. In 2010 alone,
more than 1,9501 device models supporting Wi-Fi were certified by the
Wi-Fi Alliance, including almost 250 Wi-Fi enabled smartphones.
Connections to Wi-Fi networks were historically dominated by the nomadic
device such as laptops, but the rise of smartphones haven taken
precedence as the primary device connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, as
more and more people are connecting to the Internet conveniently, anytime
and anywhere. With the penetration of smartphones, tablets and other
connected devices, operators are driven to enter the Wi-Fi domain at some
level to remain competitive. Internet connectivity has gone beyond
conventional communication for business processes. Increasingly, it has
permeated into the lifestyles of people, ranging from more than one aspect
of M2M, NFC, telematics, healthcare, automation that directly impacts how
and when interactions govern inter-connectedness.
In this new era of explosive mobile data growth, rapid rise in mobile
broadband services, rich digital content such as video streaming, online
gaming, social networking and a plethora of web2.0 applications are
contributing to unprecedented level of stress on mobile networks and
disruption to operator business models with the arrival of iconic devices
such as the Apple iPhone, Google Android devices and iPad; leaving
network operators in anxiety and incapable to respond to the deluge of data.
1Source : WBA/ Informa Telecoms &
Media industry survey
5. WHITEPAPER Where is Wi-Fi - 02
Where is Wi-Fi
According to a recent report by WBA2, the unprecedented growth in Wi-Fi 2Note: WBA Industry Report 2011,
hotspot deployments is predicted to rise 350% by 2015. It found that 58% Global Developments in
Public Wi-Fi
of operators - including 47% of mobile operators - believe Wi-Fi hotspots
3Source: Cisco Visual Networking
are either very important or crucial to enhance their customers’ experience; Index: Forecast and
offload busy mobile broadband networks; and provide a value-added Methodology, 2010–2015
4Source: http://www.gartner.com/it/
services platform.
page.jsp?id=1848514
Improvement in connection speeds and innovative consumer devices,
applications and content has driven an exponential growth in demand,
especially for data consumption. As operators roll out or upgrade to LTE,
this improvement in connection speed and capacity as we know, will drive
even greater bandwidth consumption; eventually outpacing LTE
deployments and filling up very quickly. The overall data traffic projection is
expected to increase by an annual CAGR of 32%3 from 2010 to 2015.
As the world migrates inevitably and substantially towards LTE for wireless
connection of both voice and data, the question beckons whether Wi-Fi has
a value proposition in a LTE world. True enough, Wi-Fi is embedded in
virtually every mobile Internet device and common hotspot services have
formed to fill the gap in ensuring effective coverage for today’s service
providers worldwide that offer smartphones. A total of 440.5 million devices
sold in 3Q11, of which 115 million were smartphones4 evident that demand for
connectivity is real. In a nutshell, Wi-Fi is here to stay for the foreseeable future!
6 5.8
5
4.5
Public Hotspots (mil.)
4
3.3
3
2.1
2
1.3
1 0.5 0.8
0
Figure 1 : Global Public Hotspots, 2009-2015
Source : Informa Telecoms & Media
6. WHITEPAPER Where is Wi-Fi - 01
Overview 03
700
646
600 571
492
Public Hotspots (mil.)
500
416
400
345
300 282
233
200
100
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Figure 2 : Global Public Hotspots, 2009-2015
Source : Informa Telecoms & Media
As a measure to reduce congestion on their network, several tier 1 operators
have discontinued unlimited data plans and launched tiered plans to ensure
network performance, in a similar move by AT&T in the US. At the same
time, operators do not want to risk losing a significant growing market of
smartphone users that are looking for value added services. With greater
foresight and methods, operators are turning to mobile data offloading to
relieve the network congestion and to monetize their 3G and 4Gnetworks
more effectively. Some operators aggressively build-out extensive networks,
whereas some choose to build partnerships via Wi-Fi aggregators such as
Boingo and iPass. Whichever way, operators are now seeing their strategies
to pragmatic practice to strengthen its market position.
7. WHITEPAPER Pervasive Connectivity - 02
Where is Wi-Fi 04
Pervasive Connectivity:
From Billions of People to Billions
of Things
Wi-Fi is an enabler to transcend connectivity to the Internet of Things.
Emerging wireless networking technologies—and the ability to embed
connectivity to these networks in virtually all types of devices—are creating
a new connected future. The tremendous expansion and evolution of
wireless technologies together with growing user demand for ubiquitous
voice and data access has encouraged a new generation of smart devices
– giving new meaning to connected world.
Handset Unit Sales Per Region, 2011
12% AME
11%
APAC
14% CEE
43%
LATAM
12% NA
8%
WE
Figure 3 : Smartphone Handset Sales 2011
Source : Pyramid Research, except from UBM TechWeb’s Light Reading
Communications Network
Transforming customer experience is obviously a huge challenge. If the
customer interaction isn’t smart, fast and effective, it will fall short of
expectations. Transactions become more immediate and the entire
experience more cohesive and visible. It’s common for a user to juggle a
smartphone, a personal phone, a laptop and a tablet, depending on the
task at a given time. As such, users are becoming more productive in the
way the conduct work. Much attention has been focused on the
convenience and productivity associated with the flexibility of mobility and
ultimately leads to cost reduction for operators to deliver its services.
8. WHITEPAPER Pervasive Connectivity - 02
Where is Wi-Fi 05
As operators modernize their networks to address its business needs,
it presents opportunity for re-shaping old approaches to build and deliver
new value add service by exploiting the various usage models around Wi-Fi.
In order to further monetize their next-gen networks, operators have to
move from simply providing access to creating new revenue streams from
subscribers, verticals and advertisers for a broader role in the wireless
communication value chain.
Getting Wi-Fi Right
The perceived network performance on offer, as well as perceptions of
usability, security and privacy, will be focused on delivering access in key
venues with high traffic demand, such as airports, hotels and urban
hotspots. Users continue to show willingness to pay for Wi-Fi services,
wherever there lacks any form of connectivity. The direct relationship of
equating the usability and quality of experience will be the determining
factor on the adoption of Wi-Fi as a genuine wireless data technology that
is compelling and seamless user experience, regardless of the location or
delivery mechanism.
Connectivity has transformed the way consumers and enterprises interact
with their devices and assets. The following trends have led industry players
and end-users across the value chain toward embedded connectivity:
• Consumers demand a compelling customer experience.
• Consumers demand connectivity at all times.
• Device manufacturers can target new segments of the
consumer population.
• Network providers can monetize new services.
• Businesses can gain a competitive advantage over their peers.
The world is changing for Operators as they offer an ever increasing array of
services and intelligence in smartphones. While these advances have great
income potential for the Operator, they also bring a whole array of
responsibilities. Users expect a level of protection as they use applications like
mobile banking or mHealth where privacy and personal data need to be
secured. The users whether a consumer or enterprise, expects a user
experience where they are protected under any and all circumstances. The
stakes are high since users will churn if they don't feel confident of the service.
9. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 01
Overview 06
Maximize Capacity,
Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi
One of the more significant hurdles operator deal with when considering
connected device solutions is building a business case. On one side,
operators are looking toward connectivity as a way to widen additional
business models both internally and externally. On the other side
meanwhile, operators are challenged with reducing TCO for their
connected device investments.
From a business case perspective, most successful implementations begin
with an objective of focusing on either the customer service-oriented
benefits or internal cost-efficiencies. By focusing on a key internal or
external pain point, companies can identify KPIs that will drive ROI.
However, the benefits derived from connected device implementations is
subject to both internal and external (customer) metrics.
Wi-Fi Usage
Many if not all operators are jumping onto the Wi-Fi space to strengthen
and protect its market position. Integrating Wi-Fi within the cellular network
today can more effectively leverage on the advantage of capacity increase
that Wi-Fi brings in a unified framework. In the likely scenario of operator
requiring capacity boost needed in the near term, along with the flexibility
and compact form factor needed for highly-localized deployments in
high-traffic environments, overlaying Wi-Fi over existing 3G/4G networks
would be a viable option.
While the macro network will continue to provide essential wide area
coverage and support for high-mobility users, operators have started to
look at other solutions to increase capacity in high-traffic areas. Wi-Fi
offload is the most widely and successfully adopted solution in areas where
subscriber density and usage is high such as urban areas, and locations
such as airports, cafes, stadiums etc. Operators can gain incremental
revenue per connection but take on more customer service responsibility,
when strategically implementing Wi-Fi. Some of the more important
10. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 02
Where is 07
considerations fall into usability, security, robustness and mobility when
deploying a WLAN network.
Mobile operators can further improve network utilization by actively
managing the traffic beyond the RAN within the core, using content
caching, mobile device management, tiered pricing, and policy
enforcement through intelligent analytics. These solutions do not increase
capacity per se, but make data transmission more efficient, allowing
operators to pack more content within the same network infrastructure.
What is the User Expectation –
Performance and Capacity
How much data traffic deteriorates the network quality and upsets a user?
Can a user on 256kbps plan have the case to declare a network as
congested just because video streaming is slow? Would complaints be
justified when the user’s neighbor, also a subscriber to the same network,
enjoys uninterrupted instant messaging sessions with his girlfriend overseas?
There is never a perfect solution in network planning. What matters is to
deliver a throughput level that is justifiable to subscribers and a data rate
which is sufficient to satisfy subscriber usage with the correct definition of
service level agreement in place.
Where is the Spends
Simply put, Wi-Fi deployment into cost per byte investment to real
monetary gains is key. The cost savings can be demonstrated via the
optimization of RAN and core network as in Figure 4. Any such modeling is
very sensitive to many assumptions and situations in different regions,
affecting these underlying assumptions. However, with the fundamental
assumptions of backhaul is suffice, the network planning on direct capital
expenditure spends is one of the most significant hurdle operator encounter
when considering a business case to build Wi-Fi deployments.
11. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 08
Investments are often compared to the potential ROI and effectiveness of
the proposed solution to derive benefits both internally and externally.
Secondary to that, the critical questions beg to have a clear focus of
targeting a pain point. The likely high density demands occur in central
business districts, major shopping areas, commuting hubs, airports and
stadiums. There is periodic surge of activity which is fairly predictable and
manageable with the right fit of network planning by densification. Together
with association of service aware and subscriber aware mechanism,
operators can proactively execute policy enforcement and thus generate
enough business intelligence to dynamically control access and offload
based on the criticality level.
Zero spectrum fee
Wi-Fi offload DPI / Policy Control
Billing / OSS
CRM
IMS /
WAC Application
Server
UTRAN P-GW
RNC
e-NB Internet
Backhaul
HSS / HLR
EPC
Macrocell
Radio Access Core Network Application and
Services
Figure 4 : Optimization of Radio Access through Wi-Fi offload and
Smart Traffic Management
Source : modified from IDATE Consulting and Research
12. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 09
The choice of densification of the cellular macro network by cell splitting and
adding additional carriers can be useful to serve wide area coverage radius and
mobility. Conversely, Wi-Fi hotspots can serve targeted capacity needs and
applications that require burst data performance. Although Wi-Fi is limited in
range of 100’s of meters in comparison to cellular range of 10’s of kilometers,
there is considerable difference that arises in cost; the cost per bit or service
charge of 3G is remarkably high, while Wi-Fi is almost free. As a matter of fact,
spectrum is a rare resource. Wi-Fi being non-dependent on spectrum licensing
is a significant advantage over cellular technology to deploy.
Most data usage occurs in indoors (i.e. home, office and public spaces). As
with Wi-Fi hotspots, it provides the same capacity or even more than the
macro cell at targeted locations and suitable for burst data, depending on
the number of subscribers that concurrently accesses the AP. Macro
networks is challenged by the physics of indoor penetration. By providing
Wi-Fi hotpots it can significantly improve the performance, whereby macro
cells take considerably longer due to zoning, approval permits,
environmental issues and other factors. Not forgetting, the operating
expenditure it takes to maintain the useful lifetime. Similarly, some operators
may choose to deploy femtocells to enhance indoor coverage, depending
on their business needs.
The usage of data is affected by the amount of byte (MBs, GBs) and the
intensity it is used. For example, a user in the office consumes large amount
of data ranging from emails, conference calls, file sharing applications and so
forth. Similarly, a user at home which is streaming a youTube video would be
consuming a lot of data. However, if the user is walking (i.e. mobile) the user
may probably be using a navigation application, which is less data intensive
and unlikely to be streaming video and watching it at the same time.
Henceforth, the user is more likely to associate or describer their experience
based on their behavior and the perceived benefit they gain from the using
the device as opposed to the amount of bytes consumed. To this extent, the
applicability of home and office usage reflects behavior that can be fairly
predicted and provides a business case to reduce macro cellular traffic and
offloading onto Wi-Fi, so that revenue and cost trade-off is balanced.
Through offload cost savings, it will benefit operators while it also benefits
consumers as it may offer a higher quality of service (e.g. bandwidth) for the
mobile data connection. Although residential Wi-Fi in the home (e.g. video,
music, games, voice) do not contribute to much to chargeable bytes, it
makes it appealing to consumers for reasons other than coverage and
capacity. In enterprise Wi-Fi the office can provide a growing range of
services (e.g. VPN, email, data sharing).
13. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 10
Central to the external factors of Wi-Fi, it is also important to consider the
inter-network roaming among multiple networks of different standards. The
various means of addressing this is already in practice if not fully endorsed
yet, such as 3GPP based iWLAN, ANDSF specification that allows
inter-working between WLAN networks and 3GPP based networks. With
Wi-Fi Alliance and WBA driving the standardization of frameworks for the
Next Generation Networks (hotpot 2.0), it will indeed represent a milestone
feat, and is a vision that will motivate industry players even more. The real
end-to-end (E2E) application of wireless broadband will emerge with
technological maturity that will allow a single terminal to seamlessly roam.
Business Model – Consumer or Enterprise
The other issue being, the business model and ownership of network is
commonly debated. Some operators choose to partner aggregators for
various reasons of lack of support, coverage or purely for convenience.
With variation of the level of connectedness, which will be the winning
recipe for operators? There are several ways to incorporate Wi-Fi access
into a mobile operators’ service mix and the choice of solution has
long-term implications.
Data subscription plans and charging methods will need to adapt change
from the current ones in offer. Operators know that revenues will not keep
up proportionally with increased data traffic, and therefore have to come up
with other alternatives. According to an ABI Research paper, data revenues
will only grow at a CAGR of about 15 to 18 percent until 2015, while data
traffic is expected to have a 42 percent CAGR rate.
From the perspective of mobile cloud computing, this is imperative. Users
will always be sensitive to unexpected or unreasonable charges for data
traffic exceeding their monthly limits. They are unlikely to accept the current
pricing plans offered by operators that don’t support the expected
performance and growth in data traffic. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to
follow both how the mobile cloud will proliferate and how operators will
adapt in this premature stage.
The business model for consumers and enterprise can be brought closer in
terms of the moving up the content value chain. In the longer run, price
factor will become less of a contributor, but the biggest differentiator
between operators will be user experience, customer service and
convenience. Together with cloud solutions, enterprise communication can
diminish and reduce the fragmentation of siloed systems while at the same
time give a reasonable level of operational efficiency to the operators and
deliver by the same token of convenience and performance to the end-user.
14. WHITEPAPER Maximize Capacity, Minimize Costs with Wi-Fi - 11
Key Takeaways of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi itself has evolved through the times from being merely a connector to
a key technology enabler of the Internet of Things in the last decade. Once
considered a poor cousin to the wireless technology, it is now a found in
almost all smart devices in the market.
Being an affordable and widely accepted in the wireless ecosystem, Wi-Fi
is becoming the favored alternative to address the ever growing consumer
needs to access data, applications, voice, OTT services wherever available
with most Operators bundling Wi-Fi as part of the mobile broadband
strategies. The obvious reason for adopting Wi-Fi has its benefits for both
the consumer and operator level.
• Savings
• Acquisition
• Retention
• Value Added Service Platform
• Enhanced User Experience
• Data Offloading
Wi-Fi offload is an appealing option for operators that are looking to
optimize its network, while maintaining a balance and check mechanism in
its investments.
15. WHITEPAPER Conclusion - 12
Conclusion
Cellular networks such as GPRS/EDGE/EVDO/HSPA/LTE offer broad
coverage, roaming capability, and high-speed mobility. While Wi-F is
suitable for high-rate and large volume indoor data services which is similar
to carrier-class quality. These technologies have specific core applications,
but they can be mutually supplementary.
For example, subscribers can expect lower cost and high speed Wi-Fi
access in the home, while Wi-Fi hotspot coverage is more suited for airports
or other places where broadband access needs to have a wider range and
guaranteed throughput. In areas that lack Wi-Fi, cellular networks can
maintain basic service availability. Undoubtedly, the resulting QoE will be
consistently high and seamless, and the intelligent combination of
technologies will be welcomed by subscribers. End users are most
concerned with the balance of price and quality, and the latter is mostly
judged by download rates. A convergence-oriented combination of
technologies is urgently required to satisfy subscribers’ increasing demands
on fees, performance, coverage, and mobility. Moreover, these demands
span multiple networks that are embraced by a range of different standards.
The convergence of technologies will become significant to synchronize
business processes, control and deliver services across multiple networks
is an integral part of the user experience. Also, evaluating device
management can profoundly impact the way consumers connect to
services. Virtualization of consumer web experience means, Operators
must quickly adopt social and mobile practices like Google, Amazon and
Apple. The human context i.e. user that is using the technology is driven
through mobile-centric applications and interfaces, while the business
context primarily driven by business opportunities to turn apps stores and
developer marketplaces into profitable ventures by bringing the most
talented designers. The application model of Wi-Fi is limitless, ranging from
delivering mobile centric applications and interfaces, contextual, personal
and social experiences. The evolving cloud computing architecture will
impact how and which applications are designed and linked and thus
encourage diversity in terms of the pricing models for consumers or
enterprises as part of broader mobile strategies including Wi-Fi.
16. WHITEPAPER Conclusion - 13
Operators are recognizing the need to responding to changing demands
from end users to drive the development of frameworks to further enhance
the Wi-Fi user experience. Based on common standards and interest of
industry players, WBA and Wi-Fi Alliance are harmonizing the Wi-Fi
ecosystem in a move towards Next Generation Hotspot and Hotspot 2.0
certification respectively. Wi-Fi serves as a powerful enabler of pervasive
wireless technology in terms of data traffic transmitted and transformation
of the wireless data business model in years to come. Whilst the world is still
in early stage development of high speed, high capacity networks, there will
continue to be a need for Wi-Fi infrastructure to manage both capacity and
cost of service delivery.
Ultimately, ability to keep up with achieving cohesive user experience
through robust networking is a competitive business advantage for bringing
high quality service and sustainability in the long run with no particular
technology platform and form factor dominance.
17. WHITEPAPER Think Forward with Wi-Fi - 14
Think Forward with Wi-Fi
Greenpacket welcomes you to embark on Wi-Fi solutions for optimizing your
network operations and drive revenue. At Greenpacket, we understand the
demands placed on Operators like you. Our solutions are designed to give
you the flexibility to constantly deliver cutting-edge offerings without
exhausting your capital and operating expenditures.
With Greenpacket, limitless freedom begins now!
Free Consultation
If you would like a free consultation on how you can apply Wi-Fi solutions,
feel free to contact us at marketing.gp@greenpacket.com. Kindly quote the
reference code, SWPS1211-A when you contact us.