MWC 2012: Know Before You Go

A preview of the news, the trends and the potential traffic nightmare that awaits you in Barcelona

Light Reading
February 26, 2012
URL: http://www.lightreading.com/mobile-world-congress/mwc-2012-know-before-you-go/240141400

Mobile World Congress 2012 will get into gear in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, and the show proper kicks off on Monday.

So Light Reading Mobile has put together a concise click-through and video guide to the news that's going to be coming from the massive mobile show:

News & Views

Video Previews

But that's not all, folks! Continue reading for expected technology trends at the show and the latest -- at time of writing -- on the planned transit strike in Barcelona during the show. And don't forget to visit our show site for our latest MWC coverage.

Page 2: Hot trends!
Page 3: Travel Nightmare!

The Staff, Light Reading Mobile

Dig into three technology areas Light Reading Mobile expects to make big news in Barcelona:

Smarter 4G networks
Concepts like self-managing and heterogeneous multi-standard networks have been marketing crack for infrastructure vendors for a year or more, and 2012 appears to be the year where these pipe dreams might become a more tangible reality.

Simply put, a Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) is a radio network that comprises layers of different-sized cells, big to small, to best deliver maximum 4G speed and coverage. Add self-management features for better performance and coverage on the user's side of the network and support for other wireless technology, and you have a concept that is taking baby steps from slideware to the real world at MWC.

Get hip to the HetNet, SON:

VoLTE
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) will be the talk of MWC this year. With more LTE smartphones coming onto the market, operators need to be able to deliver voice services over their LTE networks. Last year, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based VoLTE technology was showcased for its potential to deliver not only voice but also video and other media-rich services. This year, the spotlight on VoLTE will reveal more practical concerns about the technology, such as: When can we realistically expect commercial service launches, and when will devices support the technology?

VoLTE won't be the only LTE voice on the show floor. Alternative, interim solutions like Circuit-Switch Fallback (CSFB) will also get some attention. If VoLTE proves to be more difficult, or costly, to deploy than some operators thought, then operators could rely on CSFB for longer than expected.

Also, expect more questions this year about whether VoLTE is really the right way to deliver voice services on LTE networks. Do operators have to deploy IMS to do LTE voice services? And how do operators perceive the threat from over-the-top (OTT) voice providers? Is IMS-based VoLTE their last resort to compete against OTT players?

Wi-Fi offload
The steady stream of Wi-Fi offload news leading up to MWC gives a good indication of how big the topic will be in Barcelona. Right now, the operators are focused on three related initiatives: The first is simply to get Wi-Fi access points deployed to ease network congestion. Second, operators are looking at how to integrate Wi-Fi with small-cell base stations as part of a wider HetNet strategy. And, third, they'll soon begin tackling the network elements of adding intelligence to the offload to manage and monetize subscribers across the different technologies.

There's no shortage of vendors stepping up to the Wi-Fi challenge. This year alone, Ericsson AB has announced its plans to acquire BelAir Networks Inc.; Ruckus Wireless Inc. has been readying itself for an IPO; and several vendors, including Ruckus, BelAir and Ubiquisys Ltd. have begun tackling the all-in-one Wi-Fi/3G/4G challenge.

Here's the Wi-Fi news that's setting the stage for the show next week.

— The Staff, Light Reading Mobile

Next Page: Travel Nightmare!

A planned public transit strike could make the week of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona very painful for the thousands that will flock to the city.

Bus and subway workers are meeting this weekend to make a final decision on whether to strike. Here's what we know so far:

The best site that Light Reading Mobile has found for regular updates on travel outages is Easy Travel Report. The show's organizer, the GSM Association (GSMA), also says it has contingency plans in place and will update attendees this weekend before the show.

— The Staff, Light Reading Mobile