LTE ROAMING VENDOR VIEW
Operators must ensure that decisions regarding initial LTE deployments consider the long- term expectations of mobile users to connect seamlessly and roam anywhere.
operators using RTI to monitor the quality of their roaming partnerships, allowing them to address those that underperform and invest only in reliable partners. Operator-focused RTI can be leveraged across an operator’s entire organisation, such as network operations, messaging, finance and marketing, where each department can leverage the data in unique ways. For example, a finance team could recognise and anticipate fluctuations in revenue. Subscriber-focused RTI centres on provid- ing proactive alerts directly to consumers, such as informing them when they approach previously determined usage thresholds. With this real-time information, users can confidently take advantage of data services without incurring large monthly bills. This enhanced experience establishes subscriber comfort both at home and while roaming, and it strengthens brand satisfaction, translat- ing into more frequent use of services and increased revenue for operators. Using tools like RTI to be proactive in
improving the subscriber experience will become more and more valuable as subscriber expectations continue to rise and competition steepens in the world of 4G.
Use wifi roaming to extend the 4G experi- ence outside of LTE deployment areas Another critical component to delivering the farthest-reaching 4G experience to subscribers is considering wifi offload and roaming to sup- plement in areas where a 4G connection is not available. Wifi speeds are comparable to those of 4G, so a quality solution can allow operators to leverage this inexpensive and widely avail- able service in a way that subscribers don’t even realise they have left a 4G coverage area.
Although operators have dipped their toes in the wifi waters, most have yet to tap into the potential of wifi offload and roaming to deliver better service to subscribers. This is because wifi serves up a whole new set of complex technical specifications that have yet to be standardised, as many wifi providers that come from the traditional internet space are only beginning to understand the complexities of mobile roaming agreements. These challenges do not outweigh wif’s significant benefits—high capacity and avail- ability at low cost. Operators must look at their wifi plans now if they are to truly capitalise on its potential in the future. One of the best ways to ensure wifi is fully
integrated into long-term business plans is to choose what is known as an AAA proxy provider to enable roaming and offload. By connecting to an AAA proxy, operators gain one-stop access to wifi roaming partners across the globe while maintaining a higher level of control over individual relationships than afforded by a traditional aggregator. This gives operators the opportunity to
negotiate better agreement terms, and offers robust clearing and settlement services. It also eliminates the burden of converting the wide range of proprietary file types used by wifi providers into operator formats (e.g., TAP), providing a seamless integration into existing accounting services.
Define an LTE strategy based on available spectrum and harmonisation across key roaming markets One of the major challenges to any global LTE deployment is the availability of spectrum. Auctions of various bands are taking place around the world in a staggered, disjointed
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fashion, increasing fragmentation of the LTE environment.
Band planning is very important to the
interworking of LTE networks. Devices need specific radio components for each spectrum block at which LTE services are operating. Creating a device that could function over nu- merous frequencies would require expensive, high-power consumption radio technologies that could drain wallets and battery life, mak- ing them impractical for subscribers in even the most advanced markets. Steps are being made in the LTE dongle
space, where space and power consumption are less of an issue. But in smart devices, these elements are of premium importance. Handset technologies will evolve to mitigate the challenges, yet there are decisions that operators can make now that will facilitate interworking in the short term. Operators need to plan their LTE strat-
egy carefully to maximize the opportunity to interconnect with their most important roaming markets and partners. This means working closely with partners and collabo- ratively deciding which band plans are being adopted, similar to the process undertaken when determining 3G roaming standards. So what’s next? The mobile ecosystem is making strides each day toward delivering the high speeds and capacity consumers demand, yet those players that want to truly thrive in a 4G environment must keep roam- ing a high priority to deliver the expected ubiquitous reach and availability. These five considerations are essential for
operators to keep in mind today to establish the strategy that will ensure the flawless end- user experience necessary for LTE success in the future. n
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