Monthly News Digest - June 2016
WiFi: Why not?
CSPs and device manufacturers alike are embracing WiFi as an effective solution that addresses a number of service concerns will provide value-added benefits for consumers. As a result, increasingly varied WiFi-based products and services are being introduced almost daily. This month there were several newsworthy introductions.
Ericsson unveiled the industry’s first self-contained mobile WiFi unit on wheels at INTX 2016. The customized Ford Transit 350 cargo van is outfitted with multiple network access connections, microwave backhaul, onboard backup power, and modular deployment elements that enable CSPs to launch operations in minutes. Comcast was the first provider to take delivery of the new WiFi on wheels.
Samsung announced a new mobile communications platform that provides small-to-medium-businesses (SMBs) with a powerful collaboration tool. The new platform is an all-in-one IP communications solution that provides SMBs with enterprise-class mobile workforce collaboration utilizing WiFi and cellular networks, along with legacy wired systems.
Thailand-based international consortium of developers and entrepreneurs 12FreeWiFi is bringing to market an innovative new small business WiFi router that combines free WiFi access with powerful marketing tools to help local business owners capture and keep new customers.
In May, Kansas City launched a WiFi-based “Smart City” initiative in collaboration with Cisco and Sprint and Think Big Partners. The program includes Sprint WiFi, a free outdoor public WiFi deployment across more than 50 square blocks downtown, 125 "smart" streetlights along a two-mile stretch of the new KC Streetcar line and 25 interactive kiosks to engage citizens. Sprint, in collaboration with Cisco, constructs, owns and manages the intelligent WiFi network, which connects to a broad range of smart city applications.
Safety First
Broadband technology is changing the face of public safety and emergency management. This month, several key emergency communications announcements highlighted how fire, police, and emergency medical personnel need so much more than simple portable radios to operate effectively.
A new report released reveals that LTE is emerging as the leading candidate for public safety mobile broadband networks, replacing the traditional voice-centric Land Mobile Radio (LMR).
The new report from SNS Research, "Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts," says the bandwidth limitations of traditional voice-centric LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks make public safety agencies keen to leverage commercial cellular network technology to support their growing broadband application needs. As a result, LTE has emerged as the leading candidate for public safety mobile broadband networks. In addition, with the recent approval of the MCPTT (Mission Critical Push to Talk) voice standard as part of 3GPP Release 13, LTE has also become an attractive substitute for providing LMR-like voice services.
A new wireless router from Sierra Wireless solves the challenge of connecting multiple high-bandwidth, in-vehicle applications with LTE Advanced Gigabit Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. According to the company, the AirLink® MP70 is an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) vehicle router for connecting more technology and mission-critical applications in and around vehicles to enhance safety and responsiveness in public safety, transit and field services. The device is a purpose-built, high-performance vehicle networking solution that enables multiple high-bandwidth applications to work simultaneously, more than 10 times faster and four times further from the vehicle than previously possible. It also provides IT departments with the flexibility to manage fleet and mobile assets in the cloud or in the enterprise data center.
