Digital Dividend: Challenges and Efficiencies

Date/Time: Jun. 12, 2012

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For many emerging markets, the digital dividend symbolizes a unique prospect to advance quickly into the broadband sector. Due to the higher spectrum efficiency of digital technology, the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting will free some spectrum. The released spectrum is called “Digital dividend” and is considered to introduce increasingly important amount of spectrum. The spectrum being made available as digital dividend is of great value for telecom sector because this can be used to efficiently provide wireless broadband service, predominantly in rural areas. With the emergence of digital dividend in the region, new services will likely develop in the broadcasting and wireless broadband domains. With the digital dividend spectrum, Internet users in the SAMENA region, particularly in the remote areas, are expected to get more choice in the way they connect to the Internet. The telecoms landscape in SAMENA region substantiate that digital dividend provides one of the few opportunities for telcos to obtain additional spectrum to tape into the market more effectively.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• What is the digital dividend?
• What kind of new services and applications can use the digital dividend spectrum?
• Allocation of Digital Dividend Spectrum
• The foreseeable socioeconomic impact of the digital dividend spectrum technology and market developments
• Prospects for digital dividend in the SAMENA region

M-Health and Digitization

Date/Time: Jul. 10, 2012

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The integration of mobile phone technology with the medical facilities has enormous potential to promote healthy lifestyles, improve decision-making by health professionals. This convergence will improve the quality of health care by improving access to health information and facilitating its instantaneous communication. According to the Arthur D. Little, advances in mobile technology have the potential to transform the way health care is delivered in both emerging and developed markets, with revenue potential reaching ten billion dollars within five years. Mobile Health services are considered to have the potential to provide considerable health opportunities and new growth opportunities for mobile operators, there are also significant challenges to be faced.

The delivery of health information by SMS and MMS or medical help line that connects mobile phone callers to a health care call center can be used to raise awareness and to educate the population. Furthermore, health care providers can use Mobile Health services to provide remote diagnosis support to field staff and also to suggest treatments. Vendors are working with mobile operators and MNOs in the region to provide comprehensive health education by SMS and MMS.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• Digitization
• Digitization policy
• M-Health
• M-payments

Infrastructure Sharing

Date/Time: Aug. 07, 2012

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The fundamentals favorable for the development of healthy competition is increasing and becoming service based rather than the traditional facility based. It also includes regulatory policy designs and economic motivation for encouragement of telecommunications infrastructure sharing for the challenging players. The infrastructure sharing allows different players to minimize the risk related to investments, to distribute the cost of infrastructure upgrade and to maintain the budget.

• Healthier competition and ease of market entry for new players
• Focus on service innovation and service quality
• Expansion of network coverage to underserved areas, considering lesser investments would be required for already connected areas
• Reduction in environmentally adverse impacts, associated with space, radiation, and ecological disturbance
• Revenue generation opportunity for incumbent operators

Infrastructure sharing evolves from the traditional co-location and national roaming types as markets mature and technological advancements come forward. The cost of passive components has been considerably low in the SAMENA region as compared to the active components of the cell site. However this trend is changing with the development in electronics design and the resulting price reduction. Within the SAMENA region the concept of infrastructure sharing is currently one of the primary areas of operator-regulator investigation and is also expected to rise in the future.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• Economic motivation for encouragement of telecommunications infrastructure
• Distribution of cost for upgrading networks
• Expansion of network coverage
• Local loop unbundling
• Regulatory policy designs for infrastructure sharing
• Active infrastructure sharing and Passive Infrastructure sharing

OSS and its Efficiency Factors - Customer Satisfaction

Date/Time: Sept. 11, 2012

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The Operations Support System (OSS) is a system dedicated specifically for providers of telecommunication services. OSS includes defined processes for service management and the maintenance of network inventory and configuration of particular network components as well as fault management. The OSS is often associated with the BSS (Business Support System) that handles customer related processes such as billing. The architecture of the OSS system consist of four levels:

• Business Management Level (BML)
• Service Management Level (SML)
• Network Management Level (NML)
• Element Management Level (EML)

The present OSS systems consist of fully configurable modules which are capable of addressing individual needs. Also the OSS capability of integration with other IT systems such as BSS and CRM systems raises the flexibility of the flexibility of the system and allow for quick response to dynamic changes in the business environment. OSS systems allow for efficient management of services and the entire telecom network to reduce the number of problems, breakdowns, and defects to cause a rise in the ROI. Service providers consider the OSS high scalability and comprehensive approach as the key for gaining customer satisfaction along with numerous business benefits.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• What does the OSS stand for?
• The OSS architecture components.
• The Business benefits realized by service providers.
• The OSS role in enhancing customer satisfactio

Content Industry: The need for a win-win Model Between OTTPs and Operators

Date/Time: Oct. 09, 2012

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Services become commodities over time in a competitive world. The market price is determined by a combination of competition and consumer pressures. The solution is to rely on the progress and development of innovative applications and services which would bring substantial benefit to the service provider. So the major value is the asset and service network the real asset. Capitalizing on the new services such as OTT video is capped without the suitable bandwidth capabilities.

Both cable operators and telcos are scrambling to keep swiftness with the new services demands through network capacity improvement. For constructing a Fiber- to-the-Home (FTTH) network, the service provider can get ahead of the growing service demands and create the value networks that can produce symmetrical bandwidth.

With the advent of over-the-top video and mobile applications video has become a medium of communication.OTT video is another popular way in which people can communicate as texting and email have displaced voice as the primary source of communication. The evolution of video as a communication tool translates to greater bandwidth demand from both the network and operator’s point of view. Service providers need to prepare for the performance and bandwidth levels required for the increasing demand of the consumers.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• Economic concerns for service providers related to encoding and transporting 3D streams.
• OTTP dependency on fiber optic networks
• Effect of IPTV video on Internet video
• OTTP trends in SAMENA region
• The need for local content in SAMENA region
• Content Regulations and a Sustainable Internet Model

Time for LTE is now, 4G and NGN Challenge - Broadband

Date/Time: Nov. 13, 2012

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Consumers want mobile broadband and they want it now. Smart phones and net-books are generating all kinds of applications that attract the interest of subscribers and are at the same time pushing available bandwidth to the limit. This is only the beginning as according to GSMA 80 percent of the wireless users around the world are voice-only GSM users. Many network operators believe that LTE can increase network capacity, improve quality of service, and significantly enhance data rates while reducing the total cost of ownership. Thus enable operators to keep up with the expected surging demand. However scratching beneath the surface reveals a set of nontrivial challenges that still needs to be overcome for a successful network deployment and most importantly for broad consumer adoption. The major challenges that need be addressed are:

• Spectrum Harmonization
• Interference
• Backhaul
• Self Organizing Networks (SON)
• Traffic Management
• Interoperability

Key Points to be Discussed:

• LTE Spectrum allocation: how far are we from Seamless Roaming?
• What impact shall the introduction of the digital dividend have on LTE?
• How will LTE address the bottle at the backhaul link?
• How far are from implementing “aware” self organizing networks?
• Requirements of Secure delivery of traffic over LTE networks.

International Roaming Rates in the SAMENA Region

Date/Time: Dec 13, 2012

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International Roaming is a very special type of service which requires huge investments from the operators. It is essentially different from all other types of telecom services virtually. The price of roaming service has been high due to which there always been issues especially with the pricing with it despite its attractiveness and usefulness.

It is important to realize the fact that all commercial decisions related to roaming have a major effect on the profitability and endurance of telecom operators while the government authorities have the power to create and maintain healthy market competition and also ensure that reliable and fairly priced telecom services are available to the customers. A survey on global mobile roaming done by Informa Telecoms & Media shows that by 2013 international roaming contribution to operators’ total revenues would be around 15 percent.

Without unnecessary involvement of the telecom regulatory bodies the players in the regional telecom can play a direct and voluntary role in helping to create a win-win roaming rates model for SAMENA region. SAMENA’s SIRG Group actively organizes its activities.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• Price of Roaming Service
• Roaming rates Regulations
• Unified Roaming rates
• Healthy market competition for roaming rates
• Future of Roaming rates in SAMENA region

The Internet - Sustainable Business Model - Players, or Participants

Date/Time: Jan. 10, 2013

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Internet has become the most important technology for users, service providers and business sectors as a whole. However, questions about the long-term sustainability of the internet arise. Providers call to re-design the compensation scheme for online business, to sharpen the debate on funding investments in internet infrastructure. Providers believe that while they do all the investment in deployment and maintenance, internet companies such Google and Yahoo operate the best networks at no cost to them. Service providers foresee saturation in the data networks due to the increasing demand on smart devices and its associated applications. Hence, providers are asking for incentives to continue investments. This necessitates defining new standards that align the incentives between the parties and to promote investments necessary to provide adequate infrastructure. Hence, the current regulatory framework must be updated to avoid network congestions in the future.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• How sustainable is the internet?
• Trends in data traffic growth
• OTTP threats and the future of telcos
• How to maintain fast access with sufficient quality to users?
• Who will participate in the regulatory framework definition?

Broadband Growth: Submarine Cables Trends in the Region

Date/Time: Feb. 12, 2013

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With an ever increasing broadband advances in the Middle East region, the potential is also accentuated by the positioning causing submarine cable links connecting Western Europe and South Asia to go through middle east. With the arrival of new international submarine cables to Africa, different markets in the continent are less dependent on the more expensive satellite bandwidth. The cost of broadband in some markets has reduced significantly, while other markets are poised to experience a remarkable drop in tariffs. Prices in markets, like Kenya, fell after liberalization of international gateway but prices have now decreased by more than 90 percent. Currently five undersea cables that will link Africa to other parts of the world are under construction. Other growing African markets are also expected to experience lower broadband prices. Broadband users in Nigeria are expected to increase to around 13 million by 2014.

The demand growth has resulted in the progress of new undersea cable systems globally. New terrestrial systems and different undersea systems are providing new connectivity within the SAMENA region and the rest of the world which shows a world leading growth rate. The older systems lifetimes are being enhanced through the application of new upgraded technology. The major content providers are changing the demand face and affects new development of systems. The trend will continue in the future as growth will be increasing in the region and worldwide.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• Bandwidth growth in submarine cables
• International traffic exchange
• Demand growth for the development of new undersea cables
• Application of new upgraded technology for submarine cables
• Regional submarine cables trends

FTTH Planning: Principles of Regulation

Date/Time: Mar. 12, 2013

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With the emergence of bandwidth intensive applications, the need for higher bandwidth and speed is growing rapidly. Copper based networks are unable to support the enormous increase in traffic that has resulted in the need for higher data rates. Operators worldwide are planning to upgrade their access networks to be able to fulfill the demands at the bottom of the pyramid. While planning FTTH network deployment the bandwidth requirements must be strategically considered and taken into consideration thus developing a future proof network. The regulatory bodies should take necessary initiatives to help support the operators in deploying the infrastructure by making fair and transparent policies. Investments in fiber-optics will allow operators to attract high-end customers with better quality of services. Most importantly ensuring customer's satisfaction must be the priority at the same time. Initiatives such as Infrastructure sharing, public private partnership and joint ventures can have a major effect on the investment in the area of optical access networks. At the same time, the regulatory bodies should also ensure a fair competition among the service providers to maintain a healthy market.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• FTTH: An overview
• FTTH in regional markets
• FTTH deployment strategies
• The role of FTTH in broadband proliferation
• FTTH as an enabler of triple play
• The future of FTTH in the context of the existing regulations

FTTH Network Essentials and Deployment Strategies

Date/Time: Apr. 09, 2013

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The need for high speed connectivity is growing day by day all around the world and especially in the SAMENA region. With the emergence of bandwidth hungry applications and the growing demand for cost effective network upgrades and deployments, the need for FTTH appears to be evolving globally. Traditional copper based networks are not able to support the recent increase in traffic and the speed demand.

In order to choose the right FTTH strategy, it is very important to consider the bandwidth requirement and to develop a future proof network. The regulatory body should take such step to support investors in deploying the infrastructure. Investments in fiber-optics will allow service providers to attract high-end customers with better quality of services. The costs for developing infrastructure for FTTH technology can be lowered by sharing the infrastructure between the operators.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• FTTH in the context of PONs
• FTTH and the need for energy efficient access networks
• Essential element of an FTTH network
• FTTH deployment strategies in the region
• FTTH deployment and the need for cost effectiveness

GPON: How is it Changing the Access Network Energy and Design

Date/Time: May. 14, 2013

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Gigabit capable Passive Optical Networks (GPON) are the latest and future proof access networks supporting services such as Triple-play. GPON supports high bandwidth transmission to overcome the bandwidth limitation of the traditional copper based access networks thus making it feasible for the service providers to offer bandwidth intensive services such IPTV, VOD, and video conferencing, among others. At the same time the energy consumption of the telecom networks is growing over time, and industry stakeholders are striving for energy efficiency in this regard. GPON, being passive optical networks are considered to be energy efficient networks. There are however certain barriers in the deployment of GPON networks at wider level. These challenges could be tackled by strategically designing the network architecture, considering initiatives such as public private partnerships and infrastructure sharing etc.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• An overview of GPON.
• GPON and its increasing demand
• The cost and energy efficiency of GPON
• The power consumption of GPON

Regional FTTx Deployments: Lessons Learned and Future Forecasts

Date/Time: Jun. 11, 2013

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FTTx appears to be emerging into the mainstream thus globally transforming the ICT industry. This technology is set to have a multifaceted impact on the entire supply chain, including the technology itself, the infrastructure vendors, the service providers, and most importantly the policy and regulations. Traditional copper access networks worldwide are largely being replaced by a fiber access network.

FTTx is emerging in several regional markets and will transform the telecom landscape in the Middle East over the next few years. Hence, optical fiber has largely replaced copper from the core networks while its deployment in the local loops is limited for the time being. Challenges such as regulatory uncertainty, ROI, growing CAPEX-OPEX, among others have been a hindering factor in the deployments of FTTx.

Key Points to be Discussed:

• An overview of regional FTTx deployments
• FTTH Trends in the SAMENA region
• FTTx deployment challenges
• The role of FTTx in the overall broadband scenario in the region
• FTTx case studies from the region