Tips for Network Monitoring & Management

Long Term Evolution (LTE) provides the bandwidth necessary to deliver advanced and compelling services. It will no longer be good enough to maintain the quality of the network. Service providers must differentiate themselves by monitoring the user experience or quality of experience. Mobile providers face a number of challenges with technologies and standards at and beyond 3GPP / LTE. From new, emerging technology to increasing scale and growth, 3GPP / LTE promises to challenge mobile providers in a variety of disciplines.

 

Scaling will be a factor as well. The introduction of new services and features that come as a result of LTE deployment will drive an increase in individual mobile adoption rates. While per-user usage will also increase, resulting in an increased per-user revenue growth, individual mobile adoption and usage will expand as well. This will result in an increased need to quickly and smoothly scale the configuration, deployment and provisioning of all parts of the network from devices to gateways.

Another challenge facing mobile providers will be the requirement of maintaining a hybrid environment for years to come. TDM and the more traditional telco technologies will not just go away with the advent of 3GPP / LTE. The typical mobile operator will need to maintain a TDM / Ethernet environment through several device lifecycles. The interface / integration requirements for these hybrid platforms will be a challenge.