$87 Billion Opportunity With Industry's First 3G Mobile Data Service System
Monday 18th February
Empowering network operators to offer a range of new, personalized wireless data services that will increase average revenue per user (ARPU) and reduce customer churn, WaterCove Networks today announced availability of the WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System.
The industry's first purpose-built solution for GPRS/UMTS and CDMA
networks, the WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System drives the
profitable deployment of personalized mobile data services on 2.5G and 3G
networks. Following intensive interoperability testing by Vodafone in the
Netherlands and Orange UK -- among the world's top wireless service providers
-- this first-to-market solution was announced at 3GSM World Congress 2002
conference and exhibition, held here this week.
Mobile Data Services: The Business Imperative
While voice services currently represent the majority of traffic, wireless
network operators are seeking to increase the portfolio of personalized,
premium-priced wireless data services they offer to consumer and business
subscribers.
The WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System overcomes the
performance, provisioning, charging, and partnering obstacles inherent in
routing-centric legacy networks and equipment. Mobile operators deploying this
new solution secure a vital position in the wireless value chain and avoid
being marginalized into merely providing commoditized network access -- a fate
suffered by an overwhelming percentage of wireline carriers.
Built on the company's award-winning FlowCore(TM) architecture, the
WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System is the only packet data system
to integrate mobility and service intelligence with metered transport. This
innovative approach provides the network visibility and control operators need
to quickly provision new services; optimize the use of network assets; reduce
operational costs; and support a range of business models.
As a result, network operators can:
* efficiently develop, deliver, and charge for "always-on" data services
such as real-time prepaid, Mobile Virtual Private Networks (MVPNs),
flexible charging and wholesaling on 2.5G networks today
* rapidly and cost-effectively scale in three dimensions: services,
sessions, and subscribers to meet customer demand
* migrate these services to 3G networks according to their own strategy
and pace -- without requiring costly "forklift" upgrades
"Realizing near-term profit from mobile data services isn't dependent upon
the 'wireless killer app'; instead, it is making sure the network isn't the
'wireless app killer'," said WaterCove Networks President and CEO Peter Lojko.
"In an increasingly competitive market, network operators must clearly have
infrastructure that provides the flexibility to differentiate themselves from
one another. To accomplish that, they must have an unprecedented level of
visibility and control within the network to deliver, monitor, manage, and
charge for a valuable portfolio of profitable data service offerings."
"DoCoMo has proven that it can be done," Lojko continued, "and we're
seeing expanding rollouts of wireless data services targeting consumer and
business customers throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Although the market
is poised for take off, new network infrastructure solutions are required to
make the reality match the promise. WaterCove Networks is committed to
delivering the products that mobile operators need to capitalize on this
revenue opportunity. And we're thrilled that the world's leading wireless
service providers share our vision and endorse our approach."
The WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System
Easily configured for deployment on GPRS/UMTS and CDMA networks, the
WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System replaces today's inefficient
patchwork of edge routers, access concentrators, and gateways with a single
system comprising:
* WN 1200(TM) Intelligent Support Node - an intelligent transport system
that resides in the bearer path of the data packets and performs
content-sensitive charging, data flow control, subscriber aggregation,
and network resource management
* Senteon(TM) Service Core - a server-based application that contains the
service intelligence and logic, so operators can develop new premium
data services while containing operational costs
* Vigilon(TM) Mobile Data Management System - a robust subscriber and
element management system that allows operators to efficiently monitor
and manage network resources via a single point-of-control while
enabling partitioned management support for third-party partners.
Recognized by the World's Leading Wireless Operators
Charlie Harrison, Head of Service Design for Orange UK, stated, "As one of
the fastest-growing wirefree network operators we're constantly evolving our
offering to provide highly personalized services that appeal to all of our
12.4 million customers. Rapid access to detailed information about subscriber
usage is a must-have in order to be able to accomplish this goal. The
WaterCove Networks 'service-aware' approach to real-time charging,
provisioning, and partnering is focused on addressing that requirement."
"With rising competition among regional operators, we're tremendously
focused on increasing revenue per subscriber and stemming customer churn while
providing a range of differentiated, value-add services to expand customer
loyalty and reach new markets," said Michel Lenoir, Manager High Level Design,
Vodafone. "The WaterCove Networks Mobile Data Service System represents the
new generation of infrastructure products dedicated to making this
substantially easier to accomplish."
"WaterCove Networks is among an innovative group of young companies today
that have a clear understanding of the industry's need to quickly and
profitably deliver flexible, tailored wireless data services within a CDMA
network environment," said Robert Sanchez, Executive Vice President of inCode
Telecom Group, Inc., a leading independent wireless technology testing and
consulting firm. "Operators require technology that integrates network-wide
visibility and control while providing interoperability with a wide range of
networking equipment and third-party content and service providers."
Leading research firm Ovum estimates that there will be nearly 900 million
worldwide wireless data connections by 2006, representing an average annual
growth rate of 34 percent. Additionally, Ovum expects that revenues generated
by mobile data services will grow from nearly $30 billion in 2002 to $87
billion by 2006. "Now more than ever, operators are keenly focused on
immediate revenue generation and return on investment. And at the same time,
they must continue to leverage services to differentiate from their
competition, as they compete for an even greater share of the world's rising
population of mobile users," said Michael Doherty, Senior Analyst, Ovum. |
