Latest Trends in Carrier Wi-Fi

Carrier Wi-Fi will get bigger in 2013 as operators expand their 802.11 footprints and look for smoother ways o move between hotspots and 4G.

Highlights of the report

As carriers' 4G data traffic grows, Wi-Fi offload with a seamless user experience will become an increasing requirement for CSPs, due to long-term network savings and customer benefits.

Hotspot 2.0 Wi-Fi offload will soon emerge as a carrier-grade offload solution.

CSPs are looking at solutions for better in-building coverage, like femtocells, but Wi-Fi, which has a larger installed base of compatible user devices, can also be leveraged.

Telecom equipment vendors will be evolving solutions by combining femtocell with Wi-Fi capabilities and localized routing to save on bandwidth for shared content.

Chipset vendors like Picochip, have announced converged gateway solutions by integrating 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi with 21 Mbps Release 7 High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) followed by Hotspot 2.0 and Long Term Evolution (LTE) support.

Smartphones/tablets will also join the march.

Deployment measure will be large especially in emerging economies like APAC region.

Main Players and Their Strategies

Telecom Equipment Vendors

Telecom equipment vendors Strategy:

Support the ecosystem of Wi-Fi access point (AP) functions or leverage the emerging trend of combined femtocells with Wi-Fi AP functions, with localized routing.

Support session continuity with voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications servers, such as IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMSs), voice call continuity (VCC), data session continuity

mobile Internet Protocol (IP) standards and potentially, video adaptive bit rate functions, to allow users to have a better experience in more cost-effective Wi-Fi locations.

Communication Service providers

Deploy policy-based control of the network, including seamless exchange of authentication certificates for both Wi-Fi and cellular. Plan for policy exchange with Wi-Fi ISPs leveraging peering relationships as needed.

Plan now for newer Wi-Fi offloading functions in the core, such as IMS VCC applications servers, session border controllers with mobile IP support and newer functions providing traffic shaping and optimal redirection.

Here's a look at the trends CSPs and Vendors will be riding.

Gigabit Wi-Fi

The new 802.11ac standard -- sometimes known as 5G Wireless -- could push Wi-Fi speeds beyond 1 Gbit/s on the 5GHz public band. Chips from Broadcom, Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and others use multiple-antenna arrays and channel-bonding techniques to further bump up the speed of Wi-Fi. Broadcom is expecting that 802.11ac will be interesting to carriers as a means of delivering video traffic over-the-air.
Integrated Wi-Fi & LTE
After the individual expansion of 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi services. Now, 3G and 4G small cells that integrate Wi-Fi into their connectivity buffet will make the scene in 2013. Vodafone Group plc is expected to be among the first carriers to deploy the new technology.
Larger deployments
In Future large size Wi-Fi deployments will capture Telecom Headlines. Cisco Systems Inc. has just won a deal to deploy 100,000 access points across Indonesia. KDDI Corp. has already rolled out 120,000 access points in Japan. Expect to see more big numbers of Wi-Fi radios deployed for offload and faster access especially in Asia in 2013 and the trend may continue in coming years too.
Roaming between Wi-Fi & LTE
Asian carriers such as SK Telecom, which already has large Wi-Fi hotspot deployments and 7 million 4G LTE subscribers, are likely to push seamless roaming between 4G and Wi-Fi. The move will require Hotspot 2.0 support in handsets and other devices to enable a smooth move between networks.
Smartphones & tablets driving Wi-Fi in 2013
The Wireless Broadband Alliance reports that smartphones already overtook laptops as the main access method to hotspots in 2012, with tablets already representing 17 percent of the access devices. This number is likely to grow in 2013, with increased sales of Wi-Fi-only tablets from Apple Inc, Google and others boosting the market next year.
Impact of Wi-Fi Boom on Market Players and End users

Impact on CSPs:
Newer revenues with the HD experience being sold across network access methods (cellular and Wi-Fi). Newer network elements supporting policy-based control of sessions, session continuity gateways, real-time charging systems and subscriber management systems supporting tiered services. Savings from Wi-Fi offload, backhaul savings and reduced churn.
Impact on vendors:
Newer Hotspot 2.0 solutions. Newer core network elements supporting policy-based control of sessions, session continuity gateways and real-time charging systems. Newer upgrades to the LTE core, supporting the functions.

Impact on end users:
Newer devices to be purchased supporting Hotspot 2.0 and femtocells supporting Wi-Fi.
Reduced data usage costs.

Extended battery life if less power is used.

A better user experience if sessions are flowing seamlessly (and with consistent quality).

A single authentication, shared across cellular and Wi-Fi, means less stop and go.

One single charging and billing function within the same plan.

Carrier-grade QoS, security and resiliency, compared to ad hoc and unmanaged Wi-Fi AP deployments.

-Vishwa Nigam
Market Researcher & Analyst.