Important software solutions include:  dynamic policy control to differentiate data plans and services based on network service quality such as dedicated quality of service for HD-quality applications like voice and video, and subscriber-aware real-time charging for a personalized experience. Other key solutions are intelligent traffic steering between cellular and Wi-Fi for an optimal experience – moving seamlessly between networks to ensure the best, and most cost-efficient, consumer experience; and extensible HetNet (heterogeneous network) rollout solutions that reduce design time for multiple simultaneous projects such as small cell and WiFi.

On the horizon

The next few years promise to be a time of especially high activity, as service providers plan and implement the next-generation networks they will rely on to carry increased volumes of traffic – mostly data – in the coming years. Here are some of the developments we expect to see:

• More focus on heterogeneous networks to maximize capacity – uniting different types of macro and micro cells, licensed (2G,3G, 4G) and unlicensed technologies (Wi-Fi eventually LTE-U);
• Increased cost and operational complexity with micro to macro cell ratios upwards of 15:1 to deliver on capacity demands;
• More multi-vendor deployments where optimization becomes even more critical to maximize customer experience as a differentiator across a range of cell types which need to adapt to shifting traffic patterns; and
• 5G planning and trials.

Summing up: consumers are clearly demanding a consistent high-quality network experience to support the mobile digital lifestyle. Service providers need to start planning now to ensure that they can answer the call – literally and figuratively.  If they can’t, many of today’s always-connected consumers won’t hesitate to switch to a carrier who can.