Give me five: preparing for 5G roll-out
5G is the next big thing, expected for roll-out around 2020 – but preparations are being made right now and have been since even before the introduction of 4G. In this special report, Abi Millar asks Chris Bilton, director of research and technology at BT, what mobile network operators’ plans are for the migration to 5G and unpicks the areas that pose the greatest challenges.
Big deal: driving innovation with data analytics
Telecoms operators all attach a high level of importance to big-data initiatives, but they currently feel neither ready to take on this task nor very willing to have someone else do it for them, though they sense the potential. Pyramid Research explains how analytics can drive innovation for telecoms providers, as well as addressing some of the challenges that need to be overcome in their implementation.
Ahead in the cloud: how can telcos compete?
Cloud services are reshaping the playing field for telecoms operators, with each looking for the next big opportunity. But with the market dominated by large vendors, can telcos truly compete? And if so, how can they incorporate cloud technology into their already well-established business model and product offering? Aamir Hussain, executive vice-president and chief technology officer for CenturyLink, tells Global Telecoms Insight how his company is breaking the mould.
Open forum: the adoption of small-cell technology
The combination of virtualisation with small cells is viewed as a critical aspect of the continued development and improvement of mobile networks by operators seeking a radical overhaul of architecture and cost-efficiency. Alan Law of the Small Cell Forum discusses the work the organisation is doing to drive the adoption of this technology throughout the industry.
Rise of the machines: M2M and mobile network functionality
M2M technology is changing the traditional priorities of telecoms companies, with devices autonomously intercommunicating and monitoring each others’ processes. Sophie Peacock speaks to Mobeen Khan from AT&T about how mobile operators are gradually actualising the possibilities of connecting a vast spectrum of assets to their networks, finding new sources of revenue and improving efficiency across a range of industries.
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