June 2011 Synergy

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a p u b l i c a t i o n o f s y n i v e r s e — J u n e 2 0 1 1

IPX: The Onrampto 4G

4 Top

LTE Myths

3 Keys toLTE Success

4 G S p e c i a l e d i t i o n

l ’st a ke volution Getting from Point Ato Point 4G —p. 6



ex Corner

inside synergyvolume 5 / number 2

cover story

Understanding the fundamentalsof LTE

reGional uPdate

Latest global highlights

tHe onramP to 4G

The vital role of IPX for future-proof interworking

debunkinG tHe HyPe

Learn the truth behind fourpopular LTE myths

PlanninG for success

Three top considerations forshaping a 4G future

face-to-face enGaGement

How ubiquitous video makes theworld smaller

emPloyee sPotliGHt

Meet three individuals who makeLTE work

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9

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1 : 0 5 M G

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly our mobile ecosystem is evolving,driven by the growing number of ways end users leverage mobile to connectwith each other. Long gone are the days where it was a novelty to place a callor send a text message to anyone, anywhere. Now, consumers expect not onlyto have constant connectivity, but that the network also support the data-intensiveapplications and services that have become fully integrated into their lives, withmobile data consumption expected to increase 26 fold between 2010 and 2015,according to the Cisco Visual Networking Index.

4G is vital to satisfy nearly unquenchable mobile data thirsts, regardless ofthe type of mobile player or the unique customer segments it serves. The ques-tion isn’t “if 4G?”—it’s “when 4G?” That’s why we have dedicated this specialedition of Synergy to 4G, and LTE in particular, with the goal of simplifying

complex 4G concepts and considerations into easy-to-digest articles. Thinkabout it as 4G in 4,000 words or less.

The road to 4G has abundant twists and turns, and the first step is to under-stand the destination along with the potential obstacles that stand in the way.To help you achieve this, Syniverse’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gordon authoredan article on page 6 that helps to explain key LTE fundamentals, such as what itis, what it delivers, what its challenges are and what’s next.

The brave, new world of 4G brings with it a myriad of both business andtechnical complexities. You can read about three key business considerationsfor the move to LTE on page 9, and you also can learn more about the technicalbackbone that serves as the onramp to 4G on page 4.

At Syniverse, building linkages among networks, technologies and devices is

in our DNA. We’re keenly focused on bridging today’s technologies to the futureof 4G and everything in between. Our customers are our top priority, and we’reworking together to make the 4G transition seamless. I hope you enjoy thisspecial edition of Synergy!

Tony HolcombePresident & CEO



R g n U p d t

3

AsiA PAcific (AP)Syniverse has been busy making LTEwork for our customers in AP, conduct-ing a successful LTE roaming workshopin New Zealand for operators across theregion and world in addition to one-on-one LTE workshops with operators in

China and Korea. We announced ournew Mobile Video Broadcast Servicethis year with Korea Telecom (KT) as ourfirst customer, enabling any mobile useron any network around the globe theability to receive a live video stream ini-tiated by a KT subscriber. This first-of-its-kind mobile video communicationssolution is now a finalist for the AsiaCommunications Awards in the Inno-vation category and also is a finalist fora Global Telecoms Business Innovation

Award. We also recently implementedour RoamMonitor solution with a Tier 1AP operator, providing real-time alertingon data roaming usage and charging.

cAribbeAn & LAtin AmericA(cALA)Our CALA headquarters in Buenos Airesrecently made the move to a new build-ing. This larger office is convenientlylocated for both our employees and

visiting customers just 15 minutes fromJorge Newbery Airport. In addition tobeing home to our regional headquarters,this new office also hosts our tri-lingualLevel 1 support team, which is dedicatedto serving Syniverse’s more than 100customers across CALA. The contact

information for this office is included onthe back cover of this issue of Synergy as well as on the Syniverse website.

euroPe, middLe eAst & AfricA(emeA)After many years of dedicated service,Eugene Bergen Henegouwen, ExecutiveVice President, EMEA, has decided toretire from Syniverse. To ensure continu-ous superior support of our EMEA cus-tomers, Alfred de Cárdenas, President of

Sales, has expanded his responsibilitiesto lead the EMEA sales organization.In addition, we welcome to SyniversePatrick George, Senior Vice President ofGlobal Solutions, who brings more than15 years experience, most recently atBelgacom International Carrier Services(BICS). Patrick is based in Luxembourgand is responsible for leading strategicprograms designed to drive businessoptimization for customers with an

emphasis on EMEA, India and Asia. Weare pleased to add to our growing EMEAcustomer roster through recent additionsof roaming, messaging and network cus-tomers in the U.K., Germany, CzechRepublic, France and more.

north AmericA (nA)A major Tier 1 operator in NA recentlydeployed Syniverse’s RoamMonitor solu-tion to provide its subscribers with real-time data usage alerts in both the homeand roaming environments, ultimatelyimproving the customer experience. Wealso recently achieved a significant certi-fication with a Tier 1 handset manufac-turer and application service provider(ASP) in NA, enabling us to offer brandsaround the globe direct IP connectivity to

this company. As a result, participatingbrands will be able to dramaticallyincrease the reach of their mobileapplications for enhanced connectivitywith consumers. In addition, Syniverseis providing messaging solutions to agrowing number of NA cable MSOs,enabling unique SMS applications, suchas on television set-top boxes.

we make mobile workE v E r y w h E r E .

At Syniverse, we make mobile work every day, everywhere in the world.

From California to Hong Kong, Buenos Aires to London, we maintainoffices in every region of the globe to ensure we have expert staff locatedon the ground where our customers do business.



The myriad of paths to 4G rangefrom long and winding walking

trails to high-speed bullet trains—all with differing waypoints, milestonesand travel times. In this diverse, ever-changing environment, roaming is auniversal requirement to deliver onthe global experience to which mobileusers have become accustomed. Tomeet this demand, how do disparatenext-generation networks connecttogether to exchange services betweentheir users? How will LTE networksinterwork with existing 2G/3G deploy-ments to ensure service continuity?How will customers take the 4G experi-ence abroad or outside of the operator’shome network?

The foundation of answering thesequestions lies in leveraging an IP PacketeXchange (IPX) solution, which providesthe essential onramp to LTE roamingand interworking. Regardless of an oper-ator’s sense of urgency for migrating,

IPX allows it to simply and easily getfrom Point “A” to Point “4G.”

Existing networks will need to be

overhauled in order to meet 4G’s newspecifications. As most communicationoccurring between operators uses SS7-based infrastructure, operators mustimplement a new flat, IP-based architec-ture, as well as new network elements,interfaces and protocols that match theIP-centric world of LTE. An IPX solutionsimplifies many of the technical aspectsof these required changes. Moreover, theformerly complex, hardware-intensiveprocess of increasing bandwidth issimplified to a software function whenoperators use an IPX solution.

IPX also delivers the interoperabilitythat will be such a vital element of thetransition to 4G. Because LTE coveragewill initially be limited to “hot spots” ontop of existing 2G and 3G networks,operators must ensure their LTE net-works have the flexibility to revert backto legacy technologies or Wi-Fi, so sub-scribers have a seamless experience asthey traverse coverage areas. An IPXsolution can help interpret the disparatetechnological languages required toallow signaling and exchange of servicesto occur between these distinct providerislands.

In addition to simplifying the roamingand interworking aspects of 4G, IPXdelivers benefits like increased efficiencyin an all-IP environment because opera-tors are able to run multiple services

through one connection point. IPX alsoprovides unprecedented access to net-work monitoring tools that allow opera-tors to ensure a high quality of servicefor subscribers as they use the premiumservices that drive investment in LTE.

The road to LTE roaming and inter-working is both full of complexity andripe with opportunity. Fortunately, IPXbuilds the intelligent highways to pointevery player in the mobile ecosystem inthe right direction to reach the ultimate4G destination.

4G Ahead

4

t c h n g s

By John WickSenior Vice President Network

IPX: ThO ramp to 4GRoami g &I t rwor i g

IPX



The topic of 4G is dominating conversations in the mobile industry. With naysayers, evangelists and everyonein between making noise about the topic, it’s easy for half-truths or misinterpretations to be represented as

fact. To set the record straight, let’s address four myths about 4G:

5

F U R t p t M Y t h s

By MarTin GuilfoyleVice President

Research and Development

Making Practical Sense out of 4G Hype D e b u n k I n G F O u R T O P L T e M y T s

myth 1: s d nn 4G y .There’s only one word to describe sub-scribers’ appetites for mobile data:insatiable. Just look at how traffic hasgrown in the past five years and is pro-jected to skyrocket moving forward. For

those who say this phenomenon exists only in highly devel-oped markets, consider that a number of industry analysts pre-dict the areas with the most rapid projected data growth inthe next four years are Africa, the Middle East, Latin America,and Central and Eastern Europe.

It’s a known fact that today’s networks are already feelingthe stress of these increased data demands. While there areways to temporarily alleviate the pressure, the only permanentsolution is through the increased capacity and speed of 4G.

myth 2: f gal op a W lln i v 4G.There’s no denying implementation ofan entirely new network infrastructurerequires significant capital investment.

However, cost-conscious providers know that the increasedefficiency delivered through IP-based technologies yieldslower capital and operational expenditures in the long term.Plus, 4G architecture is low latency and provides an unprece-dented capability to manage network performance, ensuringa high-quality, consistent subscriber experience and reducingchurn. In addition the potential of 4G allows operators to offerpremium applications like video that attract consumers, whileproviding new opportunities to generate revenue.

myth 3: 4G i flawl .The benefits of 4G are obvious, yet it’simportant to keep in mind the inherentchallenges that must be overcome. Akey consideration should be the sub-scriber experience, which must beseamless in order for end users to bewilling to invest in 4G devices andservices. This means that roaming is

a must, and operators should seriously consider options likeWi-Fi offload for subscribers outside of 4G coverage areas toalleviate network strain.

myth 4: t ’ o l o Pa 4G.

While it’s true that all roads eventuallylead to 4G, there are many differentways to arrive at this destination.Fortunately, solutions exist today thatbenefit operators no matter how theychoose to make the transition. Themost obvious and essential is anIP Packet eXchange—IPX—which

brings cost savings and operational efficiencies to existing2G and 3G networks while serving as the bridge to the all-IPworld of 4G in the future. Moreover, an IPX solution withbackward and forward compatibility between 4G and legacytechnologies is an absolute must to ensure a seamless,high-quality user experience.

Read more about how an IPX solution provides an onrampfor any type of journey to 4G on page 4.

4G 4G

$ £ ¤ ¥

ONE wAy

As the mobile ecosystem inevitably moves to 4G, these myths will eventually diminish, and the facts will emerge to provide guidance on how to best proceed.





7

By Jeff GordonChief Operating Officer

lTE can be daunting for operators,enterprises and consumers, bring-ing with it at times unbridled

promises or unfounded fear. In eitherevent, the reaction likely is prompted by

a lack of understanding around the impactof the anticipated “Long-Term Evolution.”I write that in quotation marks becauseit’s not so much a next-generation tech-nology as it is a now-generation reality.Ready or not, the evolution to 4G is hap-pening now, born of the necessity forgreater bandwidth and faster speeds.

As mobile communications inevitablyevolve to 4G, LTE will become the mostprominent and widely adopted networktechnology, promising a richer subscriberexperience with faster speeds, enhancedquality and a more cost-efficient deliv-ery. More speed simultaneously willboost data usage and average revenueper user (ARPU) —especially as sub-scribers increasingly demand newer,faster, more robust applications, whichin turn demand enhanced quality high-speed data services.

With LTE at the forefront of the 4Gfrontier, let’s take a step back and reviewkey LTE fundamentals.

WhAt is Lte?LTE has two components. The first is theair interface of wireless connection, whichitself comes in two types: LTE time-division duplex (TDD) and LTE frequency-

division duplex (FDD ). The secondcomponent is the core network—thephysical hardware associated with thisnew network architecture, which operatesusing a private Internet Protocol (IP) corebackbone—IPX—that comes with differ-ent protocols from GSM or CDMA.

Think of the transition to LTE as build-ing a new country with new languages—while simultaneously interacting withother existing countries with languagesof their own. In this context, it’s easy torecognize that there are clear challengesin making communications seamlesslyinteroperate between LTE and legacytechnologies.

WhAt does Lte deLiVer?LTE brings unparalleled levels of effi-ciency. This new technology maximizesuse of the radio spectrum, which con-tributes to faster mobile data transmis-sion speeds—like going from dial-upInternet to broadband on your personal

computer. But the real potential of LTEis that it is a flatter network built onInternet protocols. After the initial hard-ware investment, both capital and opera-tional expenditures will decrease overtime, since there is less physical hard-ware to manage and maintain. Addingbandwidth becomes a software opera-tion rather than a physical addition;therefore widening the “pipe” that car-ries LTE traffic is easier and less expen-sive than in today’s 2G or 3G solutions.

eXPL InInG T e FunD MenT Ls OF L

c v R s t R Y

(continued on p. 8)



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c v R s t R Y ( c o n t . )

WhAt Are PotentiALobstAcLes?There will be key challenges early on, as

with every new technology, including:• Roaming, spectrum fragmentation:

Worldwide, there are more than 30 radiofrequencies for LTE. A key initial conse-quence will be the inability to seamlesslyroam across those frequencies. In theUnited States, an LTE handset may needto cover up to six LTE frequencies tostretch among multiple carriers as thesubscriber roams off the network. Asimilar landscape will exist in other mar-kets around the globe.

• Handsets: They’re coming, yetthere are not a lot available at themoment. Spectrum fragmentation ispart of the reason, as device makersdecide what frequencies to cover.Some devices on the market now alsoare limited by short battery lives asdevices must support multiple radiosduring this transition period, requiringdisproportionate computing power.

• Cost: There’s an initial capital out-lay required for the infrastructure neces-sary to make LTE work now and intothe future.

WhAt’s the neXt steP?The LTE transition is happening now.Nearly 20 LTE networks are live todayaround the world—with operators plan-ning, testing and implementing at vary-ing paces. An additional 170 operatorshave publicly announced plans to rollout LTE networks in the near future.

These numbers clearly indicate thatthe assessment stage has passed. Nowis the time for operators to employ their

LTE strategies through the quick, timelyimplementation of an IPX interconnectnetwork, especially as demands formobile data increase. Every day, themobile device becomes less about talkingand more about sharing. Subscriberspunctuate their mobile lifestyles by send-ing texts, accessing the mobile Internetand engaging via video. That means ever-increasing bandwidth demands on 2Gand 3G networks that are already con-strained by capacity limitations.

To keep up with demand—immedi-ately and long term—operators need tomake the move to 4G. That means firstunderstanding and embracing IPX, whichis pivotal to 4G success. This IP networkis the backbone that enables LTE roam-ing, signaling, data traffic and messag-ing among operators and other playersin the mobile ecosystem, such as appli-cation service providers. And whilevoice over LTE is currently a challenge,it will eventually travel over IPX as well.

the PunchLineThough we’re early in this evolution to4G, today is a crucial juncture point.Subscribers demand services and plansthat can deliver on their data demands.They expect to engage via their mobiledevices in ever-changing ways to maketheir lives richer and more connected.The task of the operator is to make thisa reality, and it’s time to charge aheadas an industry.

“t e ime o make e ra i io o t i ow. nearly 20 te work are li e o ay arou e worl —wi o era orla i , e i a im leme i a a aryi a e. a i io al 170 o era or a e ubli ly a ou e la oroll ou t e work i e ear fu ure.”



9

t s U c c s s

By Mary clarkSenior Vice President

Roaming

3 key business considerations for the move to LTE

Advance PlANNiNg for

Future Success

The move to 4G is not a question of “if” but “when.”Each mobile player will approach LTE in its own waywith its own different technology options and migration

timeline, and there are a few decisions that should be plannedin advance to best serve the organization’s business goals. Nomatter a company’s ultimate LTE vision, there are several keyconsiderations to think about now to ensure a successful tran-sition when the time is right.

considerAtion 1c s B st l g-T m P n w: Operators can takemany paths to 4G. Some will choose to enjoy the quick-to-market benefits of a stand-alone IP network, while others willexperience coverage challenges due to lack of interoperabilitywith legacy technologies. Some will opt to invest the time andresources to launch a fully integrated “heterogeneous” networklayered within their existing architectures. Regardless of thechosen approach, this key decision will guide many aspectsof an operator’s strategy, so it must occur in the preliminarystages of LTE planning.

considerAtion 2P i t p b t : Interoperability is essential tothe long-term viability of an LTE network because it is the onlyway to give subscribers the seamless connectivity they havecome to expect from today’s networks. Many new complexi-ties must be considered in the world of 4G to ensure maximumreach and seamless access. One of the most vital steps in this

process is to select an IPX solution capable of bridging dispa-rate 2G, 3G and 4G islands around the globe for forward andbackward technical compatibility that is seamless to end

users. (Read more about the important role IPX plays as theonramp to 4G on page 4). Operators also must be prepared toconduct a strategic evaluation of roaming partners, verifyingthat partners are fully compliant with the new standards forclearing and settlement across LTE-to-LTE, LTE-to-other-4Gor LTE-to-legacy scenarios.

considerAtion 3d t m r t c g g St t g s: Retail chargingstrategies must be well planned and established in advance.LTE brings an endless array of potential premium data services,as well as visibility into individual sessions to see which typesof services are being used. With this in mind, new options arisefor charging models, such as charging for individual services,like video, email and web usage. Operators must determine ifthese types of approaches will be congruent with their busi-ness plans, or if they will stick with an existing model, such astiered pricing, per-megabyte charges, or a flat fee for all dataservices. Of course, charging models in the world of LTE mustalso address voice and SMS.

While these are just three of the myriad of decisions inher-ent to LTE, they are essential to ensure operators have a solidplan in place now to ensure the flawless end-user experiencenecessary for LTE success in the future.



1 : 0 5 p m

4 G

E n d C a l l

1 0

M v d

By charleS landrySenior Vice President Messaging

M

obile devices have made theworld a smaller place andhuman connections a little bit

closer, enabling us to easily connect nomatter where we travel. But the world isabout to get much smaller thanks to theengagement possibilities unlocked by4G technologies like LTE. Imagine travel-ing for business, five time zones awayfrom home and thinking how badly youwould like to watch your son take hisfirst steps, or to talk face to face with aloved one after a long day.

Mobile video communications willsoon take center stage and enable usto be a part of the experiences we valuemost whether we are working late inthe office, or visiting another continent.In fact, almost 66 percent of the world’smobile data traffic will be video by2015, according to the Cisco VisualNet working Index.

As exciting as face-to-face videoengagement can be for end users, itrequires operators to prepare their net-works now to ensure subscribers’ videoexperiences work seamlessly from per-son to person, regardless of location,network, device type or any other poten-tial limiting factor. Although mobilevideo can work on older 2G and 3Gtechnologies, the quality of service forthis bandwidth-heavy activity sufferswithout the optimal speed of 4G.

A constantly buffering video means thepossibility of missed moments and apoor user experience. 4G solves this

issue and opens the door to the advancedapplications subscribers demand.

The move to 4G means operators willhave the network strength to supportsubscribers that are streaming experi-ences in real time to multiple recipients,replacing voice calls with video calls.With the proliferation of smart devices,users can leverage video to engage innew ways via their social networks, pro-viding further opportunities to shareexperiences with their extended circle offamily and friends.

These new layers of mobile engage-ment will result in a number of benefitsfor operators. Not only will operators seerevenue growth and reduced churn as aresult of subscribers being more satis-fied with their service, but they also canreplace diminishing voice revenues

with the potential of video—the nextand natural evolution of voice interaction.

Without question, video communica-

tions will be the driving force for mobileengagement going forward, and it takesthe support of 4G to provide the qualityexperiences end users demand.

Ubiqui ou mobile i eo e ure ub ribern v R M s s M M n t

Makes the World A Little Bit Smaller4G



M p l y S p t l g h t

1

Every day around the globe, Syniverse experts are navigating the 4G frontier, including the evolving LTE stan-dards, the disparate technologies and the mobile ecosystem. From leading task forces, sharing their expertiseat industry forums and contributing to industry standards bodies, these 4G specialists are on the frontlines providing Syniverse customers with all the tools and expertise necessary to make a smooth transitionto the next generation of mobility. Synergy recently sat down with three of these experts—Katrina Cashman,Pradeep Bhardwaj and Dayo Abiodun—to discuss how they make 4G work today and into the future.

Katrina casHman Strategic Program Manager and LTE Task Force Lead

H i 4G : “I coordinate Syniverse’s activities to solidify Syniverse as the mobile industry leader in LTE roaming, messaging and network solutions, so our customers transition seamlessly to this advanced technology.”

Katrina Cashman is focused on ensur-ing Syniverse’s solutions accommodatenew 4G standards along with unparal-leled features and functionality that allowits customers to provide an exceptionalLTE experience to their subscribers.Katrina initiated the company’s internal“LTE Task Force,” which oversees prod-uct assessments and enhancements,coordinates customer workshops, leadsLTE roaming trials, and even providesLTE training for employees. Katrina rec-ognizes the value in Syniverse’s prod-ucts supporting the 4G standards to bestserve Syniverse’s growing, diverse cus-tomer base.

pradeep BHardwaj Technology Program Director

H i 4G : “I provide technical insights and innovative approaches on LTE to Syniverse customers and the industry. My focus is keeping us at the forefront of the 4G evolution and certify- ing our customers’ existing Syniverse solutions are future proofed.”

Monitoring ever-changing industrydevelopments, open issues and emergingsolutions, Pradeep Bhardwaj is a recog-nized LTE expert, positioning Syniverseas a leading player in the LTE revolution.Pradeep represents Syniverse in keyindustry forums and working groupstasked with adopting and evolving LTEstandards, including the GSM Associ-ation’s Interworking Roaming ExpertsGroup (IREG) , Interconnect WorkingGroup (IWG) and Roaming in LTE (RiLTE).He also provides consultative supportand insight, helping develop the cur ri-culum for customer and employeeLTE training. Senior System Engineer

dayo aBiodunSenior System Engineer Support

H i 4G : “I simplify the addition of 4G to existing legacy technologies for global roaming solutions, so Syniverse can provide its customers withthe most comprehensive forward and backward interoperability.”

While the endless acronyms andspecifications of mobile telecommunica-tions technology can easily overwhelmthe most experienced, each set of lettersis a piece to a global puzzle for DayoAbiodun, who is part of Syniverse’s net-work line of business and also workswith the data roaming team of the com-pany’s research and development group.Dayo simulates real-life global LTE roam-ing scenarios to identify and simplifyany potential challenges. Dayo’s teamprepares Syniverse’s solutions to seam-lessly integrate into the 4G environment,assisting customers to meet the diverserequirements of providing end-usermobility across all technologies.

mk lteWork



www.syniverse.com

© 2011 Syniverse Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Syniverse and the Syniverse logo areregistered trademarks of Syniverse Technologies, Inc. To subscribe to this magazine, [email protected].

1: Photo of sunset in downtown Tampa, Florida, USA, taken by Joe DiFonzo, using an Apple iPhone 3GS. 2: Photo of spring flowers taken by Edwin Siu in Hong Kong, using an Apple iPhone 3GS. 3: Photo of magician taken by Greg Ernest in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, using a BlackBerry Bold.4: Photo of ArtScience Museum taken by Jonathan Corrigan in Singapore, using an Apple iPhone 4.

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June 2011 Synergy

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