The role of public access Wi-Fi in mobile operator strategy

Nov. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- Public access Wi-Fi has stormed back onto mobile operators’ agendas as mobile data traffic growth has prompted them to seek ways of reducing the load on the radio access network. However, we believe that this renewed interest, and shift of emphasis from voice, will not lead to a flurry of public access Wi-Fi network building. Indeed, public access Wi-Fi can be useful to operators if they have it, but will not be essential in the long term if they do not.
Table of Contents :

Executive summary
In a nutshell
Key messages
Ovum view
Mobile data usage pushes Wi-Fi back on to the agenda
Mobile data traffic growth prompts operators to offload
Cheap capacity makes Wi-Fi attractive
Wi-Fi offers a potentially dramatic impact on data traffic
Improving performance for the end user
Orange focuses on indoor coverage too
Delivering the last mile via Wi-Fi remains an option
Interference and security concerns continue to rumble on
Someone still has to pay for Wi-Fi
There’s no such thing as a free lunch
Building Wi-Fi requires a return on investment, but the money may be better spent elsewhere
Wi-Fi is something of a stop-gap measure
Wi-Fi versus (or plus) femtocells
They’re not exclusive, but it all depends on what you have where
Wi-Fi device and network availability is the key decision driver
Wi-Fi device penetration continues to grow
Battery life remains an issue
Wi-Fi hotspot availability
Open Wi-Fi communities could increase the availability of Wi-Fi even further
Seamless technical and commercial Wi-Fi / cellular integration is a prerequisite for success
A connectivity client on the device is essential, but just part of the technical puzzle
Seamless authentication and handover is optimal
Not all devices make it easy to connect to Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi / cellular integration is not just a device issue
Standardization is critical for further adoption
Commercial integration is important too
Future opportunities for Wi-Fi
High international data roaming costs are an untapped opportunity
Wi-Fi case study: AT&T
Wi-Fi at the heart of wireless data strategy
Seamless handover is critical
Bundling encourages uptake
Scale provides the springboard for success
Still scope to expand roaming opportunity

List of Tables
Table 1: Wi-Fi openness by country

List of Figures
Figure 1: BT session usage by device (March 2010)
Figure 2: Wi-Fi and 3GPP technology maximum theoretical downlink speeds
Figure 3: Proportion of smartphones launched with Wi-Fi capability, 1Q09–1Q10
Figure 4: Bridgewater Systems HSPA / Wi-Fi handover architecture
Figure 5: Number of countries served by Orange Wi-Fi roaming partners
Figure 6: Number and quarter-on-quarter growth of connections made to AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots, 2008-2010


List of Figures :
Figure 1: Organizational tensions

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