Wi-Fi will be embedded in AT&T's small cell plan
Executive tells conference the cellco will deploy 40,000 small cells and all will have Wi-Fi integration from 2014
Published: 10 January, 2013
READ MORE: Spectrum | US | AT&T | LTE | Wi-Fi
As operators start to formulate their plans for broad-scale small cell roll-outs, one of the key decisions will be how tightly to integrate Wi-Fi. AT&T, one of the biggest proponents of using Wi-Fi hotspots for data offload, sees the unlicensed technology moving closer to the heart of the network in future, claiming all small cell and in-building build-outs from 2014 will incorporate Wi-Fi.
This was the message from John Donovan, senior EVP at AT&T Technology and Network Operations, speaking at this week's Citi global internet, media and communications conference. Reiterating his commitment, made at the operator's developer summit earlier in the week, that AT&T would "densify" its urban LTE network from next year using small cells, he told the Citi audience that his firm could deploy over 10,000 macrocells, 40,000 small cells and 1,000 DAS (distributed antenna systems). This national roll-out will be part of the multibillion dollar Project VIP to expand 4G and fiber.
"We expect that over half of our densification over the next three years is going to be the result of deploying small cell technology," Donavan said, with Wi-Fi a critical part of that. That will be helped by emerging standards for seamless hand-off and authentication between cellular and WLan access points, and some carriers are going as far as to plan fully converged Wi-Fi/4G small base stations in future.
All this activity may show, in the end, that AT&T did not need to buy T-Mobile USA after all. The failed bid to acquire TMo was its first-line strategy to increase spectrum capacity but now, although it has acquired some new frequencies, notably in the WCS band, it is focusing on squeezing more capacity out of the airwaves it has via small cells, offload and techniques such as carrier aggregation.
As of the end of 2012, Donovan said, AT&T had extended its total HSPA+ footprint to 288m POPs and its LTE coverage to over 170m. The latter figure will reach 300m by the end of 2014.
COMMENTS
BYOD: Market Analysis and Forecasts
An in-depth insight into the rise of BYOD policies within the enterprise and analysis of the impact the trend will have on IT departments,...
Voice Command, Control and Search on Mobile Phones: Market Analysis & Forecasts
This report provides a comprehensive insight into the growing importance of voice command, control and search on handsets, analysing...
Data Centre Network Equipment: Market Analysis and Forecasts
This report provides a global assessment of the data centre network equipment market. Besides assessing the key market trends, sub-markets...
HetNet Market Summary & Forecasts: Macro Cells, Small Cells & Wi-Fi Offload
Carriers are struggling to cope with the explosion of data traffic on their networks, and the additional deployment of LTE and legacy...
Over-the-Top Communications: Threats & Opportunities for Mobile Operators
This report examines the implications of widespread adoption of mobile over-the-top IP communications for mobile operators, handset...
Portable Gaming Consoles: Market Analysis and Forecasts
This report provides a global assessment of the PGC market. In addition to assessing the key market drivers, market barriers, vendor...
Satellite Phones: Will Dual Mode Help the Phoenix Rise from the Ashes?
Satellite phones have followed an arduous path since their much-hyped launch more than a decade ago. The hype was followed by an e...
