0 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Lte Roaming Customer Expectations / Requirements

Dr. Mohamed Jamoussi Senior Technical Advisor Saudi Telecom, Riyadh, KSA Email: mohamedj@stc.com.sa

1 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Global Mobile Technology Evolution

1.2

Mbps

168

Mbps

326

Mbps

Target

1 Gbps

Evolved

EDGE HSPA+ LTE LTE-A

2G – better mobile voice services, based on the maximum offered by EDGE

3G – more and better quality data services , based on the maximum offered by HSPA family

4G – LTE, extending significantly data services in line with demand growth

0.384 Mbps 0.064 Mbps

14.4 Mbps 0.384 Mbps

14.4 Mbps 5.76 Mbps

28.8 Mbps 11.5 Mbps

42.5 Mbps 11.5 Mbps

173 Mbps 58 Mbps

Commercial Speeds (DownLink) (UpLink)

326 Mbps 86 Mbps

2 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

2015 2015 2015 World

population

distribution

2011 2011 2011 0%

100%

Urban

Suburban

87%

Metro

Rural

36%

3%

90%

80%

30%

3G/HSPA GSM/EDGE LTE

Global Mobile Technology Coverage

Source – Wireless Intelligence April 2012

3 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Countries with commercial LTE services

Countries with LTE commercial networks deployments ongoing or planned

Countries with LTE trial systems (pre-commitment)

Global LTE Evolution

72 Commercial LTE networks launched in 37 countries

319 Operators in

97 countries

investing in LTE

258 commercial LTE

network commitments

in 84 countries

61 pre-commitment

trials in other 13

countries

4 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Global Mobile Data Traffic by Technology (2008 – 2016 )

Source: Informa Telecom & Media, Wireless Intelligence (Q1, 2012)

Global Mobile Traffic Evolution

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Co

nn

ecti

on

s (m

illio

ns)

Global LTE Connections by Region (2011-2016)

Africa Americas Asia Pacific

Europe: Eastern Europe: Western Middle East

USA/Canada

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Traf

fic

(PB

pe

r ye

ar)

HSDPA HSUPA LTE WiMAX

5 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Operators Challenges

Technology complexity

Spectrum scarcity / fragmentation

Network interoperability

Seamless LTE deployment / migration

Roaming in other networks (LTE / Legacy technologies)

LTE deployment strategies

Managing LTE and already existing technologies

Lack of LTE Smartphones (mobile data traffic drivers)

New business models

6 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Fragmentation in LTE (driven by spectrum scarcity)

700, 850 MHz 1.7, 1.9, 2.1, 2.5 GHz

2.3 GHz 2.6 GHz

800, 900 MHz 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 GHz

450, 700, 850, 900 MHz 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 GHz

450, 700, 850, 900 MHz 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.5 GHz

450, 800, 850, 900 MHz 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, 2.5 GHz

≈ 40 different radio frequency combinations may be used in LTE deployments in the next few years (GSMA's Wireless Intelligence 2011).

Devices built for one band of radio frequency won't work on other bands.

Negative impact on the handset industry, losing economy of scale

Negative impact on the overall mobile telecom ecosystem

Most likely heading “regional LTE roaming”, but less chances for “worldwide LTE roaming”.

Building devices accommodating the most widely used spectrum bands (even 40+ different frequencies)

7 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Interoperability

Security

Scalability

Network

Complexity

Roaming Challenges

3G LTE

Switching Circuit Packet

Voice bearer TDM voice Packet voice

Roaming signaling SS7 Diameter

Subscriber data HLR HSS

8 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Roaming Challenges

LTE Roaming scenarios

LTE–to–LTE and LTE–to–Legacy Technologies

Definition of LTE roaming partners

Roaming

Strategies

LTE compliance of all services

New types of traffic

Agreements with LTE roaming partners

Roaming

Business

Operation

New players entering the LTE space

LTE new/additional revenues

Re-definition of traditional wholesale models

Non-readiness of existing partners

Wholesale

Roaming

Pricing strategies for LTE roamers (inbound/outbound)

Charging plan/ tariffs (volume based / duration based)

Separate processes for LTE and legacy technologies

Retail

Roaming

9 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Customer Expectations

Broadband access everywhere – home, business, mobility

Ubiquity – anywhere, anytime

Higher speeds – Faster downloads / uploads

Higher voice quality

Enhanced Quality of Service (QoS)

Improved end-user experience

New / more services and applications

More attractive prices, packages & offers

More Speed

More Services

Higher QoS

10 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Customer Expectations

Entry barrier: Free as subscribers need not initially pay

Components: 4G SIM, 4G modem, 10 GB of free data to be consumed in three months maximum

Prices: The monthly fee is SAR 350 for unlimited HSPA+ data. To get LTE access, a premium price of:

• SAR 99 for 5GB

• SAR 199 for 10 GB

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Coverage Expected

QoS

More

Services

Offers/

Prices

LTE Smartphone (data / voice)

Data Card

Mobility

11 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Consumer Mobility

(Globalization)

Technology Evolution

(LTE Deployments)

Consumer Expectations

(Seamless Migration)

Enabling seamless evolution to LTE / 4G

Properly define LTE deployment strategy in all areas –

technical, business, commercial and operational aspects

Considering both interoperability & roaming for all services

Enhancing basic roaming solutions to adapt for LTE

Redefining partnerships / roaming agreements with the

different players and ecosystems that LTE will bring along

Collaborating with partners much closer to LTE than to 3G –

securing a better migration towards LTE/4G

In Conclusion …

12 LTE World SUMMIT 2012 – Barcelona (May 2012)

Dr. Mohamed Jamoussi Senior Technical Advisor Saudi Telecom, Riyadh, KSA Email: mohamedj@stc.com.sa