WiChorus' SmartCore platform provides cornerstone of Clearwire's open network architecture for mobile WiMAX

AUSTIN, USA: WiChorus, the wireless industry's Smart 4G Packet Core leader, announced that it has been chosen by Clearwire (CLWR) to supply its SmartCore platform as part of Clearwire's network. WiChorus is recognized as a 4G Packet Core leader because of SmartCore's unmatched performance, massive service flow capacity and unparalleled network optimization & content monetization capabilities.

"Clearwire's selection of the WiChorus SmartCore platform to implement an all-IP Packet Core demonstrates its leadership among 4G network pioneers," said Berge Ayvazian, Senior Advisor of Yankee Group. "This announcement demonstrates the market leadership and long term vision of WiChorus as a 4G Packet Core provider."

As the service-engine for 4G networks, the WiChorus SmartCore solution enables operators to offer a uniform and comprehensive layer of services on access networks.

SmartCore provides a key interface to millions of constantly moving mobile devices with their multiple service flows to the IP world, managing security, dynamic services, seamless mobility, paging, location tracking and dynamic charging. The platform provides key analytics about the network and enforces cross-layer optimizations to reduce OPEX.

"This contract is a strategic win and significant milestone for WiChorus and validates, the unparalleled multi-dimensional performance and benefits of the SmartCore 4G platform." said Rehan Jalil, President and CEO of WiChorus.

"The business model of mobile broadband is faced with the exponential growth of off-portal Internet traffic and SmartCore provides the un-matched performance and smarts needed to optimize the network and monetize content, improving the mobile broadband business model."

WiMAX broadband services to generate $15bn by 2014

HAMPSHIRE, UK: Mobile WiMAX networks are being rolled out more slowly than expected, meaning that service revenues will grow more slowly than forecast a year ago, a new study from Juniper Research concluded.

The report found that revenues from WiMAX 802.16e broadband subscribers will exceed $15 billion globally by 2014. WiMAX will provide an improved experience for broadband customers who are receiving low speed DSL or cable modem services, or at the limit of DSL coverage.

However, WiMAX is faced by spectrum auction postponements in several countries, funding problems from the credit crunch, and slow network implementations, all combining to handicap network operators signing up subscribers.

WiMAX hampered by significant hurdles
These factors -– some of which are outside the control of the WiMAX ecosystem -- are holding back the market.

Report author Howard Wilcox warned: "Whilst market leaders such as Clearwire are launching services and expanding internationally, there are also well-publicised challenges for WiMAX such as those highlighted by French regulator ARCEP. We’re on the cusp of make or break time for WiMAX."

In addition, the report determined that the WiMAX ecosystem needs to deliver by translating trials into reliable, commercial services that attract customers.
Further findings include:

• North America, Far East and China, and Western Europe together will account for 70 percent of market by 2014.
• Mobile WiMAX has role to play in providing broadband in developing countries where there is no wired network.
• Africa and the Middle East, South America, the Indian subcontinent and Eastern Europe will together be worth some $4bn by 2014.

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The April 2009 edition of The WiMAX Guide is now available! The online resource contains featured articles discussing industry trends, growth, deployments, and applications.

* Maravedis' WiMAX Market Overview By Region
* Mobile WiMAX Device Update
* WiMAX in Taiwan: Development in Taiwan
* WiMAX Backhaul: Wireless Ethernet is Making it Happen
* A Business Case for VoIP: Add Value & Drive Revenue
* WiMAX for Security: How WiMAX is Enabling the Surge in Video Surveillance
* Case Study: Airspan
* Case Study: Cisco
* Case Study: Alvarion
* Opinion: Making Enemies of Friends
* Top 10 Questions to Ask your WiMAX Vendor

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ARPUs up for most CDMA2000 carriers; UMB needs push

This blog is a part two of my conversation with CDMA Development Group's (CDG) Executive Director, Perry LaForge.

With China Telecom now pushing CDMA in China, CDG views this initiative, as a tremendous opportunity for CDMA in China. It has been working closely with China Telecom, a CDG member, as the carrier transitions China Unicom's CDMA assets.

LaForge says: "Having China's largest wireline operator focused on expanding CDMA2000 services and bundling them within their telecommunications portfolio will only increase their opportunities for success. We also look forward to seeing China Telecom introduce into China a large variety of new mobile broadband services enabled by Rev. A."

Let us now look at global operators and how they have attempted to crack the ARPU (average revenue per user) challenge.

According to LarForge, looking at recently-announced Q2 numbers, ARPUs are up across the board for most leading CDMA2000 operators and a lot of what is driving that is wireless data ARPU.

* In the US, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel have announced increased wireless data ARPUs in Q2 2008. Verizon's total data ARPU is up to $12.58, representing 24.41 percent of their total ARPU and a CAGR of 31.3 percent. The ARPU generated by Sprint's CDMA2000 subscribers has increased by 21 percent year-over-year to $14, representing 21.43 percent of their total ARPU.

* In Japan, KDDI continues to see wireless data ARPUs exceeding $20. LG Telecom increased its ARPU by 18 percent since launching Rev. A.

* In Europe and Russia, CDMA450 operators are seeing ARPUs well above $50. For example, Telefonica 02's non-SMS data ARPU now accounts for 43 percent of its total ARPU in the Czech Republic.

Since launching EV-DO, Skylink's profits from high-speed broadband data services in Russia have increased from 7 percent to 35 percent. In Norway, Rev. A is helping Nordisk Mobiltelefon get a 100 percent return on their investment in less than two years with only 100,000 subscribers.

* In Latin America, Centennial's ARPU from its Rev. A network in Puerto Rico is one of the highest in this market reaching $65 in a marketplace where the average for its competitors is somewhere in the $50s.

Data revenue is a key driver in delivering Centennial's competitive edge, currently accounting for approximately $7.50 per user on a monthly basis, and growing.

* In Africa, Starcomm's Rev. A subscribers in Nigeria generate in excess of $80 ARPU, which is more than three times higher than $24.25, which is the combined revenue they generate from voice and data from its average subscribers.

Clearly, technologies such as EV-DO Rev. A and HSPA are helping operators realize the expectations of 3G, which includes increased ARPUs from wireless data. CDMA2000 has cracked the ARPU challenge, for now, and is meeting the industry's expectations for 3G.

Finally, what's the status with UMB (ultra mobile broadband). Are the operators ready to embrace this technology?

As of now, no operators have made a commitment to UMB, yet.

LaForge says that LTE has garnered the most outspoken support when it comes to OFDMA-based mobile broadband technologies. The CDG is committed to assisting all of its members as they seek to complement their 3G CDMA assets through interoperability with LTE, Mobile WiMAX or UMB.