U.S. Mobile Operators' Next Generation Network Deployments

Consolidation Leads to Clearer Network Technology Preferences

Historically, the presence of a large number of mobile operators had meant that various network technologies were being considered for high-speed wireless services. With the possibility of multiple technologies being used to offer mobile broadband services, this created fragmentation and device availability was an added concern. However, consolidation among mobile service providers has led to a clearer picture in respect to the network technologies being employed. As a result, both service providers and device vendors stand to benefit with big service providers being able to negotiate lower rates and device vendors being assured of greater demand for their products.

This Frost & Sullivan research service examines the various network deployments of leading U.S. mobile operators as well as discusses the rollout schedules and marketing strategies of different companies. It also looks at the regulatory developments with regards to spectrum availability and analyses the different options available for high-speed wireless Internet connectivity.

Next-generation Networks Allow Advanced Wireless Applications and Help Improve Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

Presently, U.S. mobile operators offer simpler data services such as text messaging, ringtones, 2D graphics, and others over their 2G and 2.5 G networks. However, the higher bandwidth facilitated by the deployment of next-generation mobile networks is allowing operators to offer advanced multimedia applications such as mobile video services and 3D games. Offering wireless Internet connectivity is also a major benefit of deploying high-speed networks, and together, all these data applications are helping mobile operators in increasing their data revenues and consequently, their ARPU.

"Intense competition in the market is leading mobile operators to constantly initiate better service offerings as voice is no longer a differentiating tool, though pricing may still be," notes the analyst of this research service. "This in turn has provided a boost for network infrastructure deployment as all major mobile operators in the United States are deploying high-speed 2.5 G or 3 G networks, some of them just to maintain parity with the service levels of competitors."

Regulatory Support helps boost Deployment of New Technologies such as WiFi, WiMAX, UMTS, and TDSCDMA

In keeping with the advances in mobile technology, industry standardization bodies as well as mobile service providers are working together to develop and offer commercial grade services that employ technology standards such as WiFi, 802.16, 802.20, FLASH-OFDM, and others. The potential of such technologies to operate in a non-cellular spectrum and achieve fixed-wireless convergence makes them a serious contender in the U.S. wireless broadband space. Realizing this potential, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken several steps to make available additional spectrum and is also working on simplifying existing spectrum-related issues.

"The U.S. high-speed mobile data market is divided into GSM and CDMA, with GSM operators preferring Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)/ High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and CDMA operators opting for the CDMA2000 set of network technologies for offering high-speed mobile data services," says the analyst. "CDMA2000 mobile operators are likely to lose their advantage in terms of network speeds to HSDPA before again competing on even terms with the CDMA2000 1xEVDO Rev. A technology."

1. U.S. Mobile Operators' Next-Generation Network Deployments
        1. Next-Generation Network Deployments
                1. Network Deployments
        2. Introduction to Network Technologies and Advances
                1. Network Evolution
        3. State of the U.S. Wireless Industry
                1. U.S. Mobile Industry Market -Details
        4. Cingular Wireless-Next-Generation Network Deployments
                1. Cingular Wireless Deployments
        5. Verizon Wireless-Next-Generation Network Deployments
                1. Verizon Wireless Deployments
        6. Sprint-Nextel-Next-Generation Network Deployments
                1. Sprint-Nextel Deployments
        7. T-Mobile USA-Next-Generation Network Deployments
                1. T-Mobile USA Deployments
        8. Frost & Sullivan Awards
                1. Best Practices and Market Leadership