| |
Chetan Sharma and
Dr. Yasuhisa Nakamura
Published by
Cambridge University Press,
Jan 2004
Hardback, 400 pages,
85 figures
Foreword by Dr. Ahmad Bahai,
Prof. Stanford. CTO, National Semiconductor.
Rapid and widespread growth of wireless technology in 90s shaped one
of the largest technology markets after PC revolution in 80s.
Untethered connectivity, any time anywhere, fueled a major market
and technology disruption, which permeated in almost every consumer
market worldwide. The domino effect of wireless technology success
resulted a unique opportunity for innovation and creativity in
technology, marketing, and business strategy.
Unceasing innovation in technologies ranging from semiconductor
industry to network design set the stage for immense success of
wireless technology such that within a few years from its inception,
wireless phone transcended from a luxury gadget or business item to
a necessary tool in every day’s life. The personalized aspects of
mobile phones along with ease of use in voice centric applications
helped to make mobile phone an indispensable part of our life beyond
age, gender, or even social classes.
The next commonsense step was perceived to be further wireless
services in addition to voice. Yet wireless, as any other major
technology and market breakthrough, is no exception to cyclic nature
of high tech economy. Rapid market growth driven by innovation and
competition diminished the profit margins of the terminal market and
network access rate to the level that compelled the technologists
and marketers to search for new applications and markets. Sluggish,
or in some cases negative, growth of ARPU for voice services and
attractive promises of 3G systems motivated many wireless operators
to explore new opportunities of wireless data market and embrace
tremendous spectrum and infrastructure cost of next generation
networks.
Offering services beyond voice centric applications such as wireless
data, wireless Internet, and video streaming have been the main
focus of new systems such as 3G and wireless local area networks.
However, data services require a new paradigm shift on both
technology and business fronts. Technical challenges of data
services such as bursty nature of data traffic, high data rate,
variable quality of service measures, complex application software
requirements, and network design/optimization demand new standard
and creative solutions. Equally important business issues such as
complex wireless value chain for data services, pricing policies,
and critical role of content and applications have sent business
strategists back to drawing boards.
I
marvel at breathtaking rate of growth in wireless technology from
bulky brick size phone with basic network features a few years ago
to pocket size advanced communicator and complex networks of today.
Yet I believe the wireless technology will bear many future wondrous
achievements beyond our simplistic predictions. Ubiquitous wireless
connectivity will go beyond today’s applications and devices to the
extent that upcoming breakthroughs will dwarf the achievements we
have seen so far thanks to multiple effects that I briefly outline
below:
-
Astonishing advances in
semiconductor industry prompted diminishing cost of silicon real
state in complex system on chip solutions without compromising
power consumption. Therefore, wireless connectivity will not
constitute an inhibitive cost factor of future devices, beyond
wireless phone. Also, complex terminals including multimode and
adaptable devices capable of supporting multiple applications
and networks are more practical.
-
A major upward shift of
complexity to application processor from modem processor is
eminent. Software complexity continues to tilt the complexity
balance. Emergence of advance real time operating systems with
the goal of joint optimization of hardware and software will
facilitate support of many new application, some of which we may
not have envisage yet, in future wireless devices.
-
Heterogonous networks
offer an adaptive, scalable, and cost effective backbone for new
otherwise overwhelming wireless services. Seamless support of a
variety of services with different quality of service
requirements and multiple air interfaces demands an intelligent
network. Advances in IP backbone can facilitate fastest/shortest
access link with a combination of different wireless and wired
links to provide most cost effective and reliable link for
respective services. An integration of cellular, wireless LAN
and other ad-hoc networks can expedite the transition. Also,
security as one of the key concerns of pervasive wireless
network can more efficiently be addressed in an all IP network.
-
The wireless value
chain has been evolving from a basic voice centric model to a
more comprehensive structure to support new services and
technologies. Content provides, virtual service providers, and
service aggregators are among new elements of the new pyramid,
which requires a different business model and interaction.
Global perspective of wireless industry gives us a more
comprehensive prospect of the direction that overall industry is
taking. The ITU efforts during last few years proved that the
roadmap toward a single worldwide solution is more challenging
than many anticipated as cultural differences; intellectual
properties, economical conditions, and many other factors can
impact the direction of this market.
Authors in this book with great care have analyzed and articulated
the business and technology aspects of wireless data. A unique
global perspective of wireless market and technology presented in
this work offers a comprehensive view of the challenges and future
promises of one the most dynamic fields of modern technology.
|
|
