Heterogeneous networks are generally considered a tool for individual mobile operators to in-crease capacity and efficiency by combining various technologies, spectrum bands and cell sizes in a seamless wireless pool. However, some governments are looking at the possibility of creating national HetNets, which could guarantee service availability and a minimum level of quality of service.
The Netherlands has experimented with this idea, providing automatic rerouting and roaming for users in the event of a failure of their own network. This followed a massive outage on the Vodafone network in 2012, which lasted for several days.
Now, the Singapore government is considering taking the idea further, supporting automatic free roaming between different carrier and Wi-Fi systems, in order to guarantee a minimum speed to all citizens as well as providing services in case of outages.
The Singapore proposals are part of wider discussions of the state's 10-year Infocomm Media Masterplan, which will run from 2015 until 2015 with the goal of establishing the already hi-tech country as a “smart nation” with minimum levels of broadband and mobile services in all areas.
Communications and information minister Yaacob Ibrahim outlined the HetNet idea to Parliament recently, arguing that it would enable operators to manage their traffic more efficiently.
“Users will be able to connect more seamlessly and operate their devices across different wireless networks such as cellular and Wi-Fi. Their devices will also connect to and utilize the best available network in range,” he added.
The 14-person committee in charge of the Masterplan will unveil its full set of proposals this month, with a particular focus on convergence of IT, telecoms and media, and how to harness that for national competitiveness, business benefit and social progress. The project is a successor to the previous 10-year Intelligent Nation Masterplan, which will end next year.