For years we’ve been constrained by broadband speeds that have struggled to move beyond the single digit barrier; now we have the prospect of 100 Mbps.
You’ve probably increasingly heard these three letters used by telecommunications companies, whether here in Bahrain or elsewhere — LTE.
This acronym stands for Long Term Evolution and offers wireless operators, such as Batelco, VIVA and Zain, the opportunity to deliver not only faster services but also a completely new experience when using mobile devices. Imagine, if you will, playing a game of tennis, via your handset, with your brother or sister half-way around the world, in real time. That’s what LTE will offer.
Most of us have experienced the impact that the iPad and other tablets have had on our lives in the past couple of years; does anyone now bother with a traditional PC to surf the web? In the same way that these devices have changed our patterns of behaviour, we can expect LTE to so the same.
It’s an exciting new world of possibilities and we can expect the three major operators noted above to be in a rush to get offerings to the market; being the first-mover in this arena has the potential to yield significant commercial benefits. The live streaming of Internet TV, video on demand and more responsive apps requires the implementation of LTE, or similar technologies, if they are to go beyond the ‘geek’ segment of the market, and into the mainstream.
To fully utilise and appreciate this technology we may have to consider upgrading the handsets (or other devices) that we use. That’s been made much more affordable with the sorts of bundled packages that include equipment now offered by Batelco, VIVA and Zain.
It’s not, though, just the mobile operators who are powering ahead with faster networks. Menatelecom is working on an equivalent capacity to run such services over its fixed wireless network, based upon WiMAX technology. This operator also has other clever services up its sleeve, such as the recently launched Mi-Fi Plus, a portable Wi-Fi device that allows multiple user access.
Opening the market
A subject of much discussion and contention over recent years has been the opening up of the Batelco fixed line network for use by other operators, primarily the new entrants into the market. This process is starting to gain some traction and operators such as Lightspeed Communications, who offer Internet speeds of 80 Mbps over a fixed line, are now reaping the benefits of a more open market.
While ‘fibre-to-the-home’ remains the Holy Grail for many within the telecom industry, sufficient advances in the technology deployed over existing terrestrial networks means these players have similar opportunities, in terms of applications and value-added services, to those operating in the wireless environment.
It all amounts to the same equation — the race for speed translates into even more benefits for consumers, now that the 100 Mbps has become a reality here in the Kingdom, and we can expect our lifestyle options to become much more interesting.
|
