The document discusses the relationship between mobile operators and Wi-Fi technology. It describes how Wi-Fi was initially seen as competing with mobile networks but operators are now embracing it to offload traffic. Two approaches to integrating LTE and Wi-Fi networks are discussed: using LTE in unlicensed spectrum bands or linking LTE and Wi-Fi to aggregate traffic across both networks. The document concludes that mobile operators will eventually provide unified connectivity across Wi-Fi and mobile networks using self-organizing networks to manage traffic across the heterogeneous network.

1. 18 CommsMEA December 2017 www.commsmea.com
COMMENT HETNETS
• On the mobile front, the situation is of a mixed kind: WiMAX has lost the
very high broadband war to LTE, while a handful of emerging countries’
operators have embraced the technology for fixed-wireless access.
• As far as Wi-Fi is concerned, the situation is a bit more “complicated”:
there always has been a Wi-Fi world, covering home or office broadband
connections, public hotspots; and a mobile world, dedicated for “mo-
bility” scenarios (Wi-Fi being labelled as “nomadic”).
Since the beginning of times, Wi-Fi has been in “frenemy”
territory (at best) for mobile operators: when broadband
customers become increasingly reliant on Wi-Fi hotspots
availability, they would opt for lower mobile data “bucket”
plans, or opt not to buy mobile-enabled tablets or other
connected devices.
The fundamental problem lies in the licensed/unli-
censed nature of mobile and Wi-Fi technologies. In most
countries, one can operate Wi-Fi service without the need for a dedi-
cated license (with no strings attached to the quality of service level, as
there is no “guaranteed QoS” on Wi-Fi network access), whereas mobile
connectivity is not only subject to licenses, rules and regulations but also
to the measurement of KPIs (and enforcement) by local regulators.
As a result, not only the number of telecoms operators venturing in Wi-
I
n 2010, the telecoms dividing lines were quite clear: on the one hand,
there was a “canon” telecoms universe with a specific framework and
associated set of rules, technologies and regulation, on the other there
was a “non-canon” and “non-telecoms” universe with a perceived
hodgepodge of technologies and (lack of) rules and regulation.
• The telecoms universe was made of access technologies such as xDSL
and fibre for fixed broadband service, and 3GPP standards-
bound technologies for mobile access such as 3G, 4G.
• The non-telecoms universe was made of (DOCSIS) cable
technology for fixed access, as well as WiMAX and Wi-Fi
for nomadic services.
For telecom companies, those universes and technolo-
gies were not made to be mixed, much like matter and anti-
matter.
Worlds colliding…
Lately the situation has changed quite substantially due to technology
maturing, and above all, strategic and business rationale:
• On the fixed broadband front, telecom operators have embraced cable
technology, mostly via M&A as cable operators are very high broadband
incumbent players.
Over time, telecoms operators will provide
clients with a “universal connectivity”
HetNets: Paving
the way for the
“Ultraband” age
Tariq Ashraf
20%Higher data rates
with self-organised
networks

2. 19CommsMEA December 2017www.commsmea.com
COMMENT HETNETS
network might seem coun-
terintuitive, but does make
sense in the current telecom
cost environment as it could
lower the connection cost for
telecomsoperators, as Wi-
Fi networks’ operating cost
structure is very similar to
fixed networks, and way low-
er than mobile RAN.
Several tier-1 telecomsop-
erators (especially in the US)
have launched Wi-Fi offload
initiatives, either leveraging
their own Wi-Fi footprint,
or/and connecting roaming hubs (such as iPass and Boingo Wireless that
have launched connectivity “marketplaces”).
Wi-Fi offload: a first step to a pervasive “hybrid” connectivity
This process is already underway, via the Hotspot 2.0 technology that
enables secure and automatic authentication, policy management and
seamless roaming on Wi-Fi networks.
Such an approach would help reduce cost for telecom operators,
as they would be able to offload data traffic and reduce costly mobile
network congestion.
Being fair, one could argue that both Wi-Fi and mobile technologies
have their own merits and use-cases:
• Wi-Fi’s great strength is that it runs in unlicensed spectrum, can be
deployed by anyone, providing high capacity, high-density indoor
applications with low mobility.
• In contrast, mobile technology, which has swept across the globe
over the last few decades, is ideal for its ubiquitous outdoor coverage,
seamless mobility, and support for real-time applications like voice and
streaming multimedia.
That’s the reason why the telecoms industry has been thinking about
blending the two: combining these technologies offers great promise for
the industry which could get the best of both worlds offering the best
quality of service through LTE signalling, with lower costs through the
use of Wi-Fi spectrum.
Once again telecom and non-telecom worlds collide, as two different
approaches are vying for the mobile and Wi-Fi amalgamation crown or
heterogeneous networks (HetNets):
• LTE Unlicensed (LTE-U)/Licence Assisted Access LTE (LAA-LTE)
• LTE + Wi-Fi link aggregation (LWA)
Mobile over unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U and LAA-LTE)
LTE-U and LAA-LTE (Licence assisted access) aim at enabling LTE to
run over unlicensed bands, . where LTE would use the Wi-Fi 5 GHz band.
(whence the “ridesharing metaphor”).
The purpose of the unlicensed bands is to provide additional data
plane performance. The biggest challenge with this approach revolves
LTE-U and LAA-LTE
(Licence assisted
access) aim at
enabling LTE to run
over unlicensed
bands, where LTE
would use the Wi-Fi
5 GHz band.”
Fi space has been scarce, but also the ones who have been doing so, have
been handling Wi-Fi as a mere “hobby”.
Cable operators driving the Wi-Fi momentum
Yet thanks to “non-telecom” players, Wi-Fi has gained momentum and
has grown to become a service of its own. Cable operators envision Wi-Fi
connectivity as a way to monetise ‘idle’ fixed bandwidth: US cable opera-
tors are currently ramping up Wi-Fi coverage because they have the ca-
pacity to do so and can provide such a service at a reasonable cost.
Mobile operators on their end are facing unparalleled data growth im-
pacting their networks, resulting in financial and technical challenges:
• Data-driven consumer behaviour such as video streaming does put
stress on network infrastructure not only due to amount of data but also
because of tight latency requirements.
• As a result, the complexity to plan and manage network resources in or-
der to achieve a first-rate subscriber experience, where delay-tolerant
data services co-exist with real-time delay-intolerant voice and video
services has heightened.
This is the very reason why telecom operators are looking at Wi-Fi
again. One can provide carrier grade Wi-Fi as a standalone connectivity
service, yet can also provide relief for networks that are overwhelmed by
mobile data traffic via carrier-driven Wi-Fi offload. Moving a user off the

3. 20 CommsMEA December 2017 www.commsmea.com
COMMENT HETNETS
around getting LTE to coexist with Wi-Fi in the unlicensed bands, yet
spectrum sharing is not part of the LTE DNA, indeed LTE assumes that
it has full control over the frequency bands in which it operates and
was never really designed to compete for access to the medium, unlike
Wi-Fi, which is a first-come, first-served contention-based access model
(listen-before-talk approach).
As a result, the Wi-Fi Alliance worries that that telecom operators will
have an edge in the unlicensed bands because their networks are centrally
managed, whereas Wi-Fi networks, on the other hand, tend to be a patch-
work of access points and routers all operating independently but manag-
ing to cooperate. Introducing a centrally controlled and scheduled LAA
network into that mix could mess up this “fragile” equilibrium.
LTE + Wi-Fi link aggregation (LWA)
An alternative to using LTE in unlicensed spectrum that could be much
more palatable to the mobile industry is LTE + Wi-Fi Link Aggregation
(LWA). This approach seems more “canon”: with LWA, the LTE data pay-
load is split and part of the traffic is tunnelled over Wi-Fi and the rest is
sent natively over LTE. This can significantly enhance the performance
of an LTE service. The approach is quite similar to LTE-Advanced and
carrier aggregation.
With LWA, Wi-Fi runs in the unlicensed bands and LTE runs
in the licensed bands, and the two radio technologies are com-
bined to offer a compelling user experience. Both technolo-
gies are allowed to do what they do best, and LTE remains
true to its design, as it no longer needs to behave like Wi-Fi
when using unlicensed spectrum.
Additionally, unlike the deployment of LTE in unli-
censed spectrum, which requires all new network hardware
and all new smartphones, LWA can be enabled with a straight-
forward software up-
grade allowing smartphones
to power-up both radios and
split the data plane traffic be-
tween LTE and Wi-Fi.
Ultraband is coming
Yet in order to make the most
of Wi-Fi offload, telecom op-
erators need to assess which
users must/can be moved to
Wi-Fi, what their quality of
experience is, and what ap-
plications they are using:
operators will want to give
users the best possible con-
nection in every situation
(“always best-connected”
approach), and in order to do
this they will need clear vis-
ibility into both networks,
integrating Wi-Fi with the
mobile core.
This is where self-organising networks (SONs) kick in: not only SONs
will be able to provide greater and more consistent flow rates over the
same mobile connection, but it will also enable mobile operators
better manage HetNets, routing clients either over Wi-Fi, over
mobile technology or over both, and aiming at managing the
overall HetNet at peak efficiency.
SON technology aims at automating network manage-
ment and focuses at identifying situations where a base
station capacity is not being utilised to its fullest, upon
doing so, the network does trigger (automated) correct-
ing measures, providing either mobile access (LTE), hybrid
access (LTE + Wi-Fi) or Wi-Fi.
Such an approach would enable telecom operators to truly
benefit from the best of both worlds, improving telecom operators’ cost
position and network performance. LWA is a way to increase not only
spectral efficiency but capacity as well, while being integrated within mo-
bile operators’ networks.
Ultimately one should envision a not so distant future where there will
be a mix of macro mobile networks, complemented by tens of millions of
small cells and publicly available/shareable Wi-Fi hotspots.
Over time, telecom operators will provide consumers with a “univer-
sal connectivity” service (to rule them all), incorporating Wi-Fi and mo-
bile broadband as a single resource, in an “always best connected” mode,
leading to an ultraband connectivity service. This connectivity will be
built on a more dynamic relationship between the macro mobile network
and the “smaller cell” network, which will be also critical to the next phase
ofconnecteddevelopment,powering(whatevertheLPWAtechnology,Wi-Fi,
LoRA, Narrow-band LTE…) the “Internet of Things” revolution.
About the author
Tariq Ashraf is a telecoms strategy and marketing expert. Tariq has
a 14+ year-long strategy and marketing experience working with tier-1
telecoms operators covering both corporate and business strategy in
Europe, North America, North Africa and the GCC region.
Mobile operators have reported up to a 50% reduction in dropped calls and over 20% higher
data rates with self-organised networks implementation in a given area.
80%Western tier-1 telcos
have launched
network marketing
initiatives
Not only SONs will
be able to provide
greater and more
consistent flow rates
over the same mobile
connection, but it will
also enable mobile
operators to better
manage HetNets,
routing clients either
over Wi-Fi, over
mobile technology or
over both.”