Technology and Business of Mobile Communications - An Introduction

An intuitive and insightful overview of the technical and business aspects of the telecoms industry
 
In The Technology and Business of Mobile Telecommunications: An Introduction, a team of expert telecommunications researchers and consultants delivers a rigorous exploration of the technical and business aspects of mobile telecommunications. The book offers a complete overview of an industry that has seen rapid technical and economic changes while retaining the ability to provide end users with communications coverage and capacity.
 
The authors demonstrate the technical foundations of the mobile industry and show how a communications network is deployed. They detail many of the main innovations introduced over the last few years and some of the most salient challenges facing the industry today. The business models of major mobile operators are examined as well, from the purchasing spectrum to network deployment and customer attraction and retention.
 
The role of the regulator is also thoroughly discussed, with explorations of its role in encouraging the maintenance of a competitive market in which the needs of consumers are met.
 
Readers will also enjoy:
* Thorough introductions to the social and economic impacts of mobile communications, as well as a brief history of mobile and cellular communications
* Comprehensive explorations of the mobile telecoms ecosystem, from spectrum regulation to standardization, research, end users, operators, vendors, and standard bodies
* Practical discussions of the business models and challenges of mobile operators, including mobile virtual network operators and the implementation of international roaming
* In-depth examinations of telecommunications standards, including 5G
 
Perfect for anyone studying mobile telecommunications technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, The Technology and Business of Mobile Telecommunications: An Introduction is also an indispensable resource for practitioners within the telecommunications industry in a technical or business-oriented role.

List of contents

Foreword xv
 
Preface xvii
 
About the Authors xix
 
Acknowledgements xxi
 
List of Abbreviations xxiii
 
1 A Technology that Changed the World 1
 
1.1 Social and Economic Impact of Mobile Communications 2
 
1.1.1 Social Impact 3
 
1.1.2 Economic Impact 5
 
1.2 A Brief History of Mobile (Cellular) Communications 8
 
1.3 The Journey of Mobile Communications as Seen from User and Operator Perspectives 18
 
References 20
 
2 The Mobile Telecoms Ecosystem 23
 
2.1 Introduction 23
 
2.2 Telecommunications Ecosystem 24
 
2.3 Regulation and Spectrum 26
 
2.3 Standardisation 27
 
2.4 Research 28
 
2.5 End Users 30
 
2.6 The Role of Operators (Carriers) 30
 
2.7 The Role of Vendors/Manufacturers 31
 
2.8 The Role of Standard Bodies and Regulators 31
 
2.9 Telecoms Ecosystem Dynamics and Behaviour 32
 
2.10 5G Ecosystem 35
 
2.10.1 Datacentres 36
 
2.10.2 RF Chip and Component Manufacturers 36
 
2.10.3 Telecom Operators (Carriers) 36
 
2.10.4 Infrastructure Service Providers 36
 
2.10.5 Gaming 37
 
2.10.6 Over The Top (OTT) 37
 
2.10.7 Low-Cost Processing Unit Manufacturer 37
 
2.10.8 Investors 38
 
2.10.9 Potential Disruptions in the 5G EcoSystem 38
 
2.11 Summary 41
 
References 41
 
3 The Business of a Mobile Operator 43
 
3.1 Business Challenges Faced by Operators 43
 
3.1.1 Third-Party Costs 43
 
3.1.2 Radio Access Network Costs 45
 
3.1.3 Transmission Costs 49
 
3.1.4 Physical Locations 53
 
3.1.5 Power Costs for Multiple Technologies 54
 
3.2 MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators 56
 
3.2.1 Economics of an MVNO 57
 
3.2.2 Modelling MVNOs and SPs 59
 
3.3 Operator Business around International Roaming 63
 
3.3.1 The EU Roaming Regulation 'Roam like at Home' 64
 
3.3.2 Covid-19 Impact on Roaming Revenues 66
 
3.4 The Likely Operator Business Models in 5G 66
 
3.5 Conclusion 69
 
References 69
 
4 Why Standards Matter 73
 
4.1 The Creation of a New 'G' 74
 
4.1.1 Research 74
 
4.1.2 Standardisation 75
 
4.1.3 Commercialisation 77
 
4.1.4 Continued Innovation 79
 
4.1.5 Intellectual Property as a Metric and Political Currency 81
 
4.2 Shifting Political Power and the Making of an Ecosystem 81
 
4.2.1 2G GSM - Europe Leads 82
 
4.2.2 3G UMTS - Universal (Except Not Quite) 85
 
4.2.3 4G EPS - Avoiding Old Mistakes (and Making New Ones?) 89
 
4.2.4 5G NR - New World Order? 94
 
4.3 Future Standards 97
 
References 99
 
5 The Mobile Network 101
 
5.1 Mobile Network Architecture 101
 
5.2 The Radio Access Network (RAN) 103
 
5.2.1 Synchronisation 104
 
5.2.2 Broadcast Messages 104
 
5.2.3 Paging 104
 
5.2.4 Random Access 105
 
5.2.5 Scheduling 105
 
5.2.6 Power Control 106
 
5.2.7 Handover 106
 
5.2.8 Link Adaptation 108
 
5.2.9 HARQ, Error Correction 108
 
5.2.10 MIMO Techniques 109
 
5.2.11 The Control/data Channels and Reference Signals 109
 
5.3 The Core Network (CN) 110
 
5.3.1 Circuit Switching and Packet Switching Networks 110
 
5.3.2 Tunnelling and Encapsulation 111
 
5.4 The Protocol Stack 112
 
5.4.1 The OSI Model of 7 Layer Protocol Stack 113
 
5.4.2 Protocol Stacks for Mobile Communications 115
 
5.5 The 2G

About the author

Mythri Hunukumbure earned his PhD degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Bristol in 2004. He is currently a Principal Research Engineer and a Project Lead at Samsung Electronics R&D Institute UK. He has contributed to and later led mobile communication research, standardisation, and product development activities. While at Samsung, he has participated in flagship EU projects mmMAGIC, ONE5G and 5G LOCUS as a work package leader. He is actively contributing to 3GPP RAN1 and SA2 standardisation topics, securing vital IPR. He has filed around 50 patents to date and has also published extensively in leading conferences and journals, receiving the best paper award at the World Telecommunications Congress (WTC) in 2012.
Justin P. Coon received his PhD in Communications from the University of Bristol, UK in 2005. From 2004 until 2013, he held various technical and management positions at Toshiba Research Europe Ltd. (TREL). Professor Coon also held a Reader position in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol from 2012 until 2013. In 2013, he took a faculty position at Oxford University with a Tutorial Fellowship at Oriel College. Professor Coon is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications (FIMA) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Ben Allen completed his PhD degree at the University of Bristol in 2001. He completed a Royal Society Industry Fellowship with the University of Oxford and Network Rail, and has led several R&D activities involving telecoms for railways, several of which exhibit state-of-the-art advances. He is now working in the satellite communications industry. He has published numerous papers and several books on radio and telecommunications research developments. Dr Allen is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, Institute of Telecommunications Professionals and the Higher Education Academy. Tony Vernon graduated from the University of Glasgow, UK, in 1987 with a Joint Honours in Electronic Engineering with Physics. After a few years in the cellular industry, he obtained chartered status and in 2002 received a PhD in Mobile Telecoms from the University of Bristol, UK. His main interests and career contributions lie in the planning and optimisation of digital mobile networks ranging from the dawn of 2G in 1991 to 5G in 2021. Dr Vernon's focus has moved to the vehicular channel (V2X) and the future use of soon-to-be-ubiquitous mobile broadband networks for national and public-access broadcasting. He is based on the Scottish Outer Hebridean island of South Uist and is passionate about expanding 4G and 5G mobile broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas.

Summary

An intuitive and insightful overview of the technical and business aspects of the telecoms industry

In The Technology and Business of Mobile Telecommunications: An Introduction, a team of expert telecommunications researchers and consultants delivers a rigorous exploration of the technical and business aspects of mobile telecommunications. The book offers a complete overview of an industry that has seen rapid technical and economic changes while retaining the ability to provide end users with communications coverage and capacity.

The authors demonstrate the technical foundations of the mobile industry and show how a communications network is deployed. They detail many of the main innovations introduced over the last few years and some of the most salient challenges facing the industry today. The business models of major mobile operators are examined as well, from the purchasing spectrum to network deployment and customer attraction and retention.

The role of the regulator is also thoroughly discussed, with explorations of its role in encouraging the maintenance of a competitive market in which the needs of consumers are met.

Readers will also enjoy:
* Thorough introductions to the social and economic impacts of mobile communications, as well as a brief history of mobile and cellular communications
* Comprehensive explorations of the mobile telecoms ecosystem, from spectrum regulation to standardization, research, end users, operators, vendors, and standard bodies
* Practical discussions of the business models and challenges of mobile operators, including mobile virtual network operators and the implementation of international roaming
* In-depth examinations of telecommunications standards, including 5G

Perfect for anyone studying mobile telecommunications technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels, The Technology and Business of Mobile Telecommunications: An Introduction is also an indispensable resource for practitioners within the telecommunications industry in a technical or business-oriented role.

Product details

• Authors: Ben Allen, Ben et a Allen, Justin Coon, Justin P Coon, Justin P. Coon, M Hunukumbure, Mythr Hunukumbure, Mythri Hunukumbure, Mythri Coon Hunukumbure, Hunukumbure Mythri, Tony Vernon, Vernon Tony
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2021
• EAN: 9781119130291
• ISBN: 978-1-119-13029-1
• No. of pages: 448
• Series: Wiley - IEEE; IEEE Press
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Electronics, electrical engineering, communications engineering; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Advertising, marketing; kommunikationstechnik, Business & management, Mobile Telekommunikation, drahtlose kommunikation, Mobile & Wireless Communications, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Elektrotechnik u. Elektronik, Wirtschaft u. Management, Communication Technology, Unternehmenstechnologie, Business Technology