The increasing availability of LTE connectivity in parts of Asia promises better connection speeds and a more expansive internet experience overall. The infrastructure upgrades definitely benefit both businesses and consumers alike as it enables higher-bandwidth applications and more interactive experiences to be delivered to the mobile device.
However, as the number of LTE subscriptions in Asia is forecast to almost double to 72.1 million by the end of 2013, mobile operators will have their hands full in managing the additional network load while maintaining the quality of service for existing customers.
Despite obvious speed and productivity benefits for end users, not every MNO has fully embraced LTE as there are also challenges. Operators need to carefully think through the selection of the range of spectrum bands to support LTE, as the lower-spectrum ones provide better signal strength indoors while the higher-spectrum bands are better able to support heavy data volumes due to their larger bandwidth. At the same time, the process to develop the LTE network is complex and cost-intensive.
Another concern is that LTE has the potential to disrupt MNO business models and plans based on voice and SMS. LTE’s ultra-fast connection speeds mean that calls and messages using IP networks like Skype or Whatsapp will eventually replace traditional communication methods. This could lead to a decrease in revenues from calls and SMS which will need to be adequately offset by new income streams from LTE services.
Yet, judging from the successful deployments in countries like Singapore and Japan, most MNOs will find ways to overcome these problems and proceed with their LTE rollouts. Asia has some 773 million mobile broadband connections and a 50% annual growth rate in this area (according to Wireless Intelligence), which bodes well for the future of LTE in this region.
But aside from deciding on LTE speeds and bandwidth through spectrum selection, what are some areas which MNOs need to consider when planning for an LTE rollout? Network security and fuss-free application delivery are just as important as they will help bolster the transition over to the LTE network. It is imperative for MNOs to secure their networks especially due to the security challenges that come with the increasing exchange of data on LTE networks.
One crucial element of an LTE deployment in ensuring high-level security and application delivery is the universal integrated circuit card or UICC. The UICC is the smart card used in mobile terminals and authenticates the subscriber to the network. MNOs very often combine their LTE deployment strategy with a strong mobile payment initiative (such as NFC). In this case, the UICC card comes with banking-grade security that gives users complete peace of mind and allows mobile network operators to deploy payment applications like a mobile wallet with confidence.