Coherent Technologies – Taking DWDM into the Terabit Age
by Geoff Bennett
Topics: Main | Archive
European Parliament Approves Mobile Data Roaming Deal
The European Parliament approved a deal that will cut the costs of using mobile phones, smartphones and tablets when travelling abroad within the EU from 1 July this year. The cost of using data services will be capped at 70 Euro cents per megabyte from 1 July 2012 and will then fall in stages to 45 cents in 2013 and 20 cents on 1 July 2014.
The new rules will also enable clients to buy roaming services from suppliers other than their home service suppliers and open up the market to new entrants, so as to boost competition and thus reduce prices.... > More
Wi-Fi Alliance Kicks Off "CERTIFIED Passpoint" for Carrier Wi-Fi
The Wi-Fi Alliance is promoting a new certification program aimed at transforming Wi-Fi into a true extension of service provider networks.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint certifies that devices are able tp automatically identify and join Wi-Fi networks, and users are not required to complete a cumbersome manual login process. Passpoint also automatically configures WPA2 security protections without user intervention.
Passpoint certification for network equipment and end user devices is expected to begin in June, and is based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Specification.
According to a survey conducted on behalf of the Wi-Fi Alliance, 90% of mobile users said they would likely stick with their current service provider if it offered the ability to connect automatically in Wi-Fi hotspots, and 72% said they would pay more for it. Seventy percent said they would switch providers if necessary to access this type of offering.
The Wi-Fi Alliance also plans to launch two other certification programs:
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Enterprise is designed to support good voice call quality in large enterprise networks that require support for advanced WPA2-Enterprise security mechanisms. The program builds on the existing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal program to support fast transitions between access points APs and provide management for voice applications.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WMM-Admission Control provides bandwidth management tools to optimize the delivery of voice and video traffic in Wi-Fi networks.
U.S. Senate Confirms Two Washington Insiders for FCC
The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai as FCC Commissioners.
Jessica Rosenworcel takes the place of Michael Copps, whose term ended in December. She previously served as Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She has worked for Senator Jay Rockefeller IV since 2009. Rosenworcel worked at the FCC from 1999 to 2007, serving as Legal Advisor and then Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Michael J. Copps (2003-2007), Legal Counsel to the Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau (2002-2003), and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Policy Division of the Common Carrier Bureau (1999-2002). She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Ajit Varadaraj Pai takes the seat abandoned by Meredith Baker, who took a job as a lobbyist for Comcast shortly after voting to approve the Comcast-NBC Universal merger. Pai is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Jenner & Block LLP. Previously, Pai worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago.
FCC Adopts TV Channel Sharing Rules
The FCC adopted new rules that allow multiple broadcast stations to elect to stream individual programming while sharing a single channel. The order is seen as a first step toward making a significant portion of spectrum currently used by the broadcast television service available for new uses. The FCC is also planning a future incentive auction to address the nation's growing demand for wireless broadband.Specifically, the Report and Order establishes a framework for how two or more television licensees may voluntarily share a single six MHz channel in conjunction with the auction process:
While stations will need to retain at least one standard definition programming stream to meet the FCC’s requirement of providing an over-the-air video broadcast at no direct charge to viewers, they will have the flexibility of tailoring their channel sharing agreements to meet their individual programming and economic needs.
Stations sharing together will employ a single channel and transmission facility but will each continue to be licensed separately, retain its original call sign, retain all the rights pertaining to an FCC license, and remain subject to all of the FCC’s rules, policies, and obligations.
The new rules apply to full power and Class A television stations, including both commercial and non-commercial educational television stations. The rules neither increase nor decrease the cable and satellite carriage rights currently afforded broadcast licensees.
FCC's Connect America Fund Gets Underway
The FCC adopted an official reform order for establishing the Connect America Fund, which replaces the outdated universal service and intercarrier compensations systems.
CAF will eventually replace all of the existing high-cost support mechanisms. The annual funding target is set at no more than $4.5 billion over the next six years. The goal is to help make broadband available to homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions in areas that do not, or would not otherwise, have broadband, including mobile voice and broadband networks in areas that do not, or would not otherwise, have mobile service, and broadband in the most remote areas of the nation. The CAF plans to adopt incentive-based, market-driven policies, including competitive bidding, to distribute universal service funds more efficiently than previously.
"Unleashing white spaces spectrum will enable a new wave of wireless innovation. It has the potential to exceed the billions of dollars in economic benefit from Wi-Fi, the last significant release of unlicensed spectrum, and drive private investment and job creation."
Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman 14-Sep-11
Search
this site
Search
the Web
Coherent Technologies – Taking DWDM into the Terabit Age
by Geoff Bennett
Staying Ahead of the Curve for Network Data Inspection
by Dr. Hongwen Zhang
Tailoring 100G for Metro Networks
by Stephan Rettenberger
The "Flattening Effect" and Network Intelligence
by Terence Martin Breslin, CEO, and Andy Huckridge, Director of Marketing
Focus on a Premium Mobile User Experience
by Ray Greenan
Service Delivery Networking: The key to 4G Network Success
by Ray Vinson
Buy a Subscription Unsubscribe Update email address Our Videos Advertising & Sponsorships Promote a Whitepaper See Back Issues Contact Us
