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Emergency Response and Wireless Location Systems
When lives are at stake, public-safety agencies' first responders need the most reliable, most accurate location information for whoever happens to be in need, in whatever circumstance—and they need it in real time. The standard for what constitutes a "good enough" capability for locating mobile devices in emergencies has risen. In its E911 Phase II requirements, the FCC stipulates that wireless operators provide local public safety answering points (PSAPs) with the latitude and longitude of an emergency caller's mobile device to within 50 meters in some instances. What wireless location technologies are best suited for this mission?
Manlio Allegra
Interview: NSN's Sue Spradley on LightSquared's Wholesale Mobile Data Paradigm
LightSquared, a new company backed by Harbinger Capital Partners, plans to launch a wholesale-only, 4G-LTE network across the U.S. complemented by satellite coverage. LightSquared will provide wholesale wireless broadband capacity to a diverse group of customers, including retailers; wireline and wireless communication service providers; cable operators; device manufacturers; web players; content providers; and many others. NSN has been appointed vendor of choice in a deal valued at $7 billion over 8 years.
Sue Spradley
Mobile Backhaul Transition Requires New Testing
The move from TDM- to Ethernet-based transport does not come for free. TDM-circuits are well established at providing ultra-high reliability, voice quality of service, and accurate timing. Ethernet technology requires careful attention to match these capabilities. Testing for Ethernet-based mobile backhaul systems can be split neatly into performance testing and conformance testing. It is essential that wired and wireless components now be tested with the same types and scale of traffic seen in actual network deployments.
Joe Zeto
Cybersecurity Requires Public/Private Coalition
No longer is the task of cybersecurity relegated to IT offices and CIOs in the private sector, nor to a select number of government agencies. Instead, a call to action has been put forth to all entities -- especially the government -- to make cybersecurity a top priority. It is now recognized as one of the most important national security challenges of our time.
Greg Oslan
A Rethinking of Cloud Services and Network Architecture
The revenue potential of offering cloud hosting services is significant. To take advantage of this considerable opportunity, service providers must rethink both their network architectures and business models.
Jim Theodoras
Delivering Scalable Video Solutions
Advantages of SVC-Optimized QoS
Scalable Video Coding is a layered video codec that is an extension of the established H.264 standard. SVC operates by transmitting a base video layer and one or more enhancement layers. Here's a look at how SVC helps solve the issue of poor quality and unusable desktop video conferencing due to packet loss. The long-term goal of this technology is to enable enterprises to deploy desktop video communications on a wide scale.
Andy Singleton
Does Network Neutrality Impact DPI?
FCC Chairman Genachowski's adoption of at a "Third Way" in regulating broadband traffic once again raises the question of what is proper network management. What is the likely impact for vendors of deep packet inspection (DPI) platforms?
James Brear
Staying Competitive By Managing Services, Not Just Circuits
The challenge facing metro network planners is to find the most cost-effective way to deliver profitable services in the near-term while deploying a network flexible enough to support an array of new services in the future. Here's a quick look at MPLS, VPLS, and metro Ethernet Transport.
Mark Showalter
Rethinking VPN Architecture at Layers 2 and 3
Since the earliest days of packet-based networking, there has been a debate between switched architectures (Ethernet/Layer 2 functionality, which dominate local area networks) versus routed architectures (IP/Layer 3 functionalit, which dominate wide area networks. This debate lives on when considering the use of MPLS technology in metro area networks for the delivery of enterprise VPN, residential triple-play and mobile backhauling services.
Eylon Sorek
The SSL Encrypted Traffic Threat: Common Apps Pose Danger
SSL has become the ubiquitous choice to secure web-based transactions. New cloud based and enterprise applications such as Salesforce.com, Exchange, SharePoint and most of the web-based email applications on the market such as Gmail and Yahoo, all use SSL to encrypt traffic. However, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are essentially blind to SSL traffic. This is where the danger lies.
Darrin Coulson
Backhaul and the National Broadband Plan
The FCC's newly issued National Broadband Plan represents a sizeable "shift" toward supporting competition and making day-to-day broadband deployment tasks easier. Notably, the plan reconizes the role that backhaul plays in supporting end-user networks. Here is a look at key provisions impacting the backhaul.
Joseph M. Sandri, Jr.
Femtocells and LTE Symbiosis
Both LTE and Femtocells have received much attention in the industry press. While LTE has been accepted as the undisputed future of macro wireless networks, Femtocells have been seen as the technology that will help service providers address critical issues such as coverage and capacity. Moreover, while both technologies have received support and commitments from major service providers, the question of commercial uptake and return-on-investment still looms large in the minds of many service providers. How do they fit together?
Sanket S. Nesargi
LTE -- What Voice Services?
LTE is almost here. Service Providers are faced with the decision of whether to also offer LTE voice services in order to better utilize the new network infrastructure, or deploy LTE data-only networks. For the most part, it seems that the desire is there to transition to LTE voice sooner rather than later. But how will LTE voice be delivered?
Jose Deras
Framing the Next Wave of Carrier Ethernet
The initial generation of Carrier Ethernet deployments are exhibiting signs of wear. What comes next? A more holistic framework of Carrier Ethernet that encompasses infrastructure as well as a service perspective. By leveraging Carrier Ethernet's existing benefits and combining them with application-aware service delivery and cost-optimized packet transport, network providers can deliver additional value that accomplishes these objectives and drives new revenues.
Umesh Kukreja
Network Interconnection and Evolution for Super Carriers
In the Telecom world, the term "super carrier" refers to the largest telecommunications providers which own multiple, geographically separated, heterogeneous wireless and wired networks. As most super carriers have grown through acquisitions, they often operate a patchwork of network technologies and protocols, including both TDM and IP, across various regions. And with the advent of technologies such as 4G, super carriers are hastening to move to an all-IP core network. To remain competitive in today's market, super carriers must lower costs and continue to support existing services while moving to newer, IP-based technologies. In order to accomplish this, network interconnection is key.
Dawn M. Hogh
Carrier Challenges for Tomorrow's Connected Enterprise
More and more office equipment -- printers, whiteboards, monitors, projectors, cameras, etc.-- is being used by employees remotely, whether they're in the office or not. And technology is already coming to market to enable "smart" meeting rooms that will interact with the people meeting in them whether or not they are physically present.
Dr. Badri Nath
Dynamic Performance Management for Mobile Data Networks
Most wireless data networks are being managed in a "static" fashion. On the "supply side," network management systems and drive tests provide snapshots of congestion and quality levels, and capacity is then allocated to maintain target performance and utilization levels. On the "demand side," traffic can be managed in two ways - Through pricing plans, which can increase or decrease usage based on their structure, or through policy management, which is currently based on core IP traffic consumption by end-users and devices.
Michael J. Schabel, Ph.D.
To 4G or not to 4G: Supporting Exponential Mobile Traffic Growth
We often hear debates about the best 4G access technology, typically framed in terms of LTE vs. WiMAX. While there are technical differences between the two in terms of maximum peak user data rates (often touted through demonstrations on unloaded test networks), these access technology differences are of secondary importance when it comes to what really matters to subscribers. In order for users to experience 4G services that are not just incremental improvements on 3G, there must be major increases in typical user data rates, as experienced on actual loaded networks. Consider the networks.
Joe Schraml
Rethinking Access/Backhaul to Minimize Costs and Maximize Opportunity
Cell phone users are inhaling bandwidth as fast as service providers can offer mobile broadband services. Let's examine some of the access/backhaul options that have been available to mobile operators for shouldering all of this cellular backhaul.
M. Vijay Raman
Shedding Light on the Dark Cyber World
Part II
As the 21st century criminal has moved into realms and dimensions never before dreamed of by yesterday's cop on the beat, law enforcement agencies are in hot pursuit. The vast reach of the Internet continues to shrink the world - there are more than 200 million Internet users in the United States alone - increasing the likelihood that you or someone you know will become a victim of cyber crime. There are certain steps to be made before we can successfully combat cyber crime.
Antonio NucciSend us your response to this article.
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