UMA Technology for Dual-Mode Handsets, Femtocells, and More

Friday, 18 May 2007

Mobile operators and mobile services have traditionally relied on licensed, well-managed, and expensive connections between the subscriber and the network. The use of licensed spectrum over the last mile and the use of private, dedicated backhaul connections have served mobile operators well, enabling them to deliver a range of voice and packet services throughout cities and regions.

Recently, the rise of the public Internet, and subsequently of wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, has put low-cost, high-performance mobile (inside the home or office) access technology within reach of millions of consumers and mobile subscribers. However, without an appropriate means to control Wi-Fi and IP, many mobile operators viewed these technologies as a threat to their licensed radio technologies and private backhaul capabilities. Until UMA, that is.

UMA technology, also known as Universal Mobile Access, is the 3GPP standard for enabling access to mobile voice, data, and IMS services over IP access technologies. Defined by mobile operators, for mobile operators, UMA provides a secure, managed, seamless extension to deliver circuit and packet services to subscribers over broadband and IP access networks. Said another way, UMA makes IP and Wi-Fi friendly to the mobile operator.

Accelerate Fixed-Mobile Substitution
Since the advent of cell-phone technology, there has been a steady decline in the use of fixed-line phones in the home and office. In August 2006, Harris Interactive conducted a survey that revealed 74 percent of U.S. adults currently subscribe to wireless phone service, while only 58 percent indicated they subscribe to wireline services. In addition, 24 percent of mobile phone users consider their cell phones their primary means of communication.

Subscribers appreciate the convenience of mobility and of having a single number and single device for all communications. Yet mobile service has always been at a cost and performance disadvantage to fixed-line services.

For mobile operators, accelerating the migration from fixed-line voice to the mobile network represents a no-brainer service opportunity. Subscribers like mobile service, and making mobile services work better and cost less, specifically in the home and office, will increase their usage and accelerate Fixed-Mobile Substitution (FMS).

Broadband connections to homes and offices represent a service-provider-agnostic transport, piped directly to consumers. Broadband and IP separate the transport from the service. For example, Skypes IP-based service is free, but subscribers pay for the broadband transport.

Mobile operators can leverage the same cost-effective access network to offer subscribers compelling new services based on dual-mode (cellular/Wi-Fi) handsets and femtocells.

Block the VoIP Threat
VoIP and broadband have experienced dramatically increased usage in the home and office, while the rise of Wi-Fi has begun to encroach directly on mobile operators sacred business territory. With Wi-Fi enabled handsets, subscribers can move around the home or office with a direct Wi-Fi connection, thus bypassing the service offered by a traditional mobile provider.

UMA technology enables mobile operators to leverage the same technologies (broadband, IP, Wi-Fi) to offer similar services, while at the same time maintaining control of subscribers access to existing mobile voice, data, and IMS applications.

UMA is the tool mobile operators are using to fight back against VoIP providers that are looking to bypass traditional mobile services.

UMA-Enabled Services
Operators today are deploying UMA technology for two reasons: to accelerate FMS and block the VoIP threat. The four primary applications of UMA technology fit directly into those two key drivers. Companies such as Orange, T-Mobile US, Telia Sonera, and others are finding UMA helps them accomplish business goals and keep customers satisfied.

In addition, UMA is able to evolve with the market and new technology. Both UMA-enabled dual-mode handsets and UMA-enabled femtocells can be used for FMS services, while UMA-enabled terminal adaptors and UMA-based softmobile clients are ideal services for going head-to-head with VoIP providers.

Dual-mode handsets : FMS represents one of the largest growth opportunities for mobile operators. Unfortunately, the continued cost and performance challenges of delivering mobile service within homes and offices has limited operators ability to capitalize on this tremendous market.

To complicate matters, VoIP operators are entering the market every year seeking to capture fixed-line minutes of use and targeting indoor mobile use through wireless VoIP (wVoIP).

With UMA-enabled dual-mode handsets, operators can deliver high-performance, low-cost mobile service over home, office, and public Wireless LANs. As a result, mobile operators can accelerate the tremendous FMS opportunity, while addressing the growing threat from new VoIP operators.

Femtocells : Mobile operators have been searching for licensed indoor coverage solutions since the beginning of wireless networks. Unfortunately, the bulk of this opportunity (i.e., residential environments) has been beyond the addressable market for cost and operational reasons.

To be successful, a residential licensed access-point (i.e. femtocell) solution must include low-cost femtocells, a reasonable approach for managing RF interference, and a standard, scalable, IP-based approach for core network integration.

While recent developments from silicon and femtocell access-point vendors promise to address the cost and interference issues over the next several years, a solution for core network integration has remained a challenge. As UMA provides standard, secure, scalable, and cost-effective IP-based access into core mobile service networks, carriers are now leveraging it to address this challenge. In fact, ABI Research forecasts there will be 102 million users of femtocell products on 32 million access points worldwide by 2011.

Terminal adaptors : The market for fixed-line VoIP telephony service continues to grow rapidly, with more than 10 million lines in service worldwide at the end of 2006. These services typically generate between $15 and $25 in monthly revenue for a fixed-line telephone service delivered to a subscriber over an existing broadband access connection.

With the introduction of UMA-enabled terminal adaptors, mobile operators can participate in this large and growing service opportunity. UMA-enabled fixed-line VoIP is an ideal service offer for mobile operators seeking to increase FMS and capture additional in-home minutes of use.

Softmobiles : Connecting laptops to broadband at hotels and Wi-Fi hot spots has become a part of everyday life for international business travelers. Many travelers are now taking the additional step of using their laptops and broadband connection for the purpose of voice communications. Rather than use their mobile phones and pay roaming fees, many travelers are turning to softphone/VoIP services when making calls back home. This trend represents a real threat to mobile operators.

Fortunately, mobile operators can now leverage their UMA deployments to turn this threat into an opportunity. By offering UMA-enabled softmobile products, mobile operators can enable subscribers to make mobile calls from their PC/laptop as if they were in their home country.

Conclusion
Mobile operators need a solution that will harness the cost and performance advantages of Wi-Fi and IP. UMA technology has become the universal access technology for operators, giving them the ability to manage and control access to mobile voice, data, and IMS services over the public internet.

Applications such as dual-mode handsets, femtocells, terminal adaptors, and softmobiles give operators new tools to use to accelerate FMS, but more importantly, prepare them for the imminent onslaught of alternative VoIP providers.

Contributed by Steve Shaw, AVP of marketing, Kineto Wireless