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LTE Interview 3

(Written Interview with Perry LaForge, Executive Director, CDG, USA)

Question 1: What do you feel are the main business opportunities for LTE in the North American region?

The primary opportunity is to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband data services within the metropolitan areas of North America, especially in terms of delivering high-definition video content.

Question 2: What are the primary benefits that LTE deployment will bring to the customer?

Quicker access to high bandwidth content while preserving the 3G spectrum for voice and
data applications that don’t require what LTE offers.

Question 3: Is the LTE‐hype justified?

Every new technology breakthrough has its boosters who position the new offering to allow
it to gain market share; and, LTE offers some things that consumers will be looking for as
their mobile data needs continue to grow.

Do you believe it will be the sole network access technology for the future?

There will be several 3G technologies that coexist with LTE for the foreseeable future, as LTE gets its start as an overlay. LTE will be deployed in geographical regions that have a high demand for broadband data, where at least 10 MHz of clear and contiguous spectrum is available, and by operators that can afford to deploy the technology. Until all frequency assignments are harmonized to support a single technology, the future will continue to
consist of multiple network technologies that interoperate with each other.

Question 4:  How will regional carriers compete effectively in the increasingly competitive market of the region?

Many regional carriers are choosing to partner with existing nationwide operators or new
MVNOs for their LTE requirements. Others are focusing on different demographics who may not have needs for high speed mobile broadband. And a few who have the spectrum are choosing to deploy their own LTE overlay networks to compete. In all of these cases,
excellent customer service will remain key.

Question 5: Which M2M services do you see as most profitable and effective?

M2M services will be most profitable within those vertical market segments that have
business needs that are most difficult to fulfill, such as prescription healthcare. M2M
services may be most effective in markets where they provide efficiencies, such as smart
grid, telematics, and remote monitoring.

Will carriers have the expertise to make these effective and profitable?

Some carriers have the expertise to implement M2M on their own, and others are
partnering with M2M specialists. In our M2M Special Interest Group within the CDG we
have seen a mix of both models.

Question 6:  What role will LTE devices have in optimising QoS for the user?

QoS serves an important role in improving the user experience when network resources are limited. LTE devices that support large bandwidth transmissions may improve the user experience if the core network gateways, switches and backhaul transmission lines are all properly dimensioned to avoid congestion and sustain low latency.

Question 7: What do you feel are currently the main obstacles in achieving a ubiquitous wireless network?

The cost of extending the radio access network (including backhaul) into rural areas and the limited revenue opportunity (ROI) associated with providing coverage to sparsely populated areas.

Question 8: Why do you feel the topic on which you are presenting is key to the industry? What particular insights are you aiming to provide?

The CDG will be providing an industry perspective that reflects the views of most of its
members, which includes operators, integrators and suppliers. We will provide the audience with an assessment of the current situation and address what the industry needs to do to meet the future demands of enterprises and consumers. We will highlight the importance of M2M to help finance the higher capacity networks of tomorrow. We will also describe how different network technologies will coexist on a global basis for a very long time.