Innovation Profile: Vodafone Ireland:Watching real-time television on your smartphone or other mobile device, connecting to all your office-based files and applications while on the move, uploading video and other large files instantaneously – all this and much more besides will become possible in the coming years thanks to the advent of fourth-generation (4G) mobile services in this country.
However, the announcement that this potentially transformative new communications technology is on its way has received quite a muted response.
This was possibly because the statement from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was couched in terms of the allocation of new spectrum frequencies to mobile operators by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) – hardly something to set the pulse racing.
Also, the almost €1 billion gain for the exchequer over time from the spectrum and associated licences tends to catch the eye during straitened times such as these.
This meant the benefits of the rollout of the next generation of mobile internet services were all but missed by many outside of the industry. These 4G services will offer internet download speeds of up to four times existing 3G services, with upload speeds improving by a factor of 10.
As Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte noted at the time: “We can now look forward to the rollout of much-needed faster, fourth-generation 4G mobile internet services, which will maintain and boost this country’s competitiveness.
“The availability of spectrum in the 800MHz band, for the first time will allow telecommunications operators to provide new high-speed broadband services that were not previously available. This particular band was made available following the successful switchover from analogue to digital TV [on October 24th].”
Rabbitte said he expected the telecoms companies which were the successful bidders to move quickly to build the infrastructure so that Ireland could start to benefit from 4G mobile broadband services in 2013. “This will be an important dimension of Ireland’s competitiveness in the coming years. It is a key component of the Government’s national broadband plan which envisages high-speed broadband services being rolled out across Ireland in the lifetime of this Government.”
Accelerated upload speed
The largest allocation of this valuable new and additional spectrum was secured by Vodafone Ireland. “4G data services will enable customers to upload content faster than with existing fixed broadband and experience download speeds over four times better than 3G,” says Vodafone Ireland’s strategy director, Paul Ryan. “Our spectrum allocation will ensure the fastest possible 4G rollout to deliver wider coverage and enhanced speeds to our customers.”
To date, Vodafone has invested €900 million in the network and will further invest more than half a billion over the next five years in network upgrades and the 4G rollout.
“In some ways it is like having fibre in the air,” Ryan adds. “The download and upload speeds 4G can produce are as good as anything you can get from the fixed-line network – up to 40 or 50 mbps. One of the most exciting aspects is the increased upload speeds. Until this you’d have to wait until you got home or back to the office to do this.”
Apart from creating an outside broadcast unit for amateur videographers, the new technology has very practical implications for business. “In the business context there are armies of salespeople out there travelling around visiting customers and potential customers,” Ryan says. “4G technology will put their entire portfolio of products and services at their fingertips through their mobile phone or tablet device. They will also be able to access all necessary files and documents through the cloud as if they were using a desktop PC on the network.”
Broader spectrum
It is not as simple as flicking a switch or broadcasting a stronger signal, though.
“Our ambition was to get enough spectrum to enable us to have the most robust network in the country in terms of quality and coverage. In my view, we bought the most and we were the wisest in our purchases in terms of the available spectrum.
“The new and additional spectrum will allow us to increase capacity to provide data in urban areas and deliver the widest mobile broadband coverage in rural areas from 2013. In addition to having the fastest network for mobile data, we now have the largest allocation of spectrum of any mobile operator in Ireland.”
ComReg allocated spectrum in three separate frequency bands – 800MHz, 900MHz, and 1800MHz. “It’s the combination of the three of these that really matters,” Ryan says. “The 800MHz band was previously used for analogue TV and this is very good for in-building reception so this helps enhance the quality of our coverage in that way. The 900MHz was already in use by mobile networks and additional spectrum has been made available in that while the 1800MHz band has been liberalised for use for 4G.”
Of course, having leading-edge high-speed networks will be of little use if you haven’t got the devices to exploit them fully. The big questions for many will be when will 4G handsets and other devices be available and how much will they cost?
“Ireland is not the only country building 4G networks and the mobile handset market is very competitive,” Ryan notes.
“I would anticipate seeing 4G phones readily available here in the first quarter of the new year. Our own 4G service will also start to roll out at the same time. Our customers will also experience significant enhancements to their 2G and 3G experience.”
Ryan believes new tariff packages will evolve in line with new usage patterns. “For example, already we are seeing tablets beginning to replace traditional laptops and people want to be able to use these to connect to the mobile network.
“They are also getting a lot cheaper – you can get a Vodafone tablet for just €179, for example. You will probably see data bundles which support multiple Sim cards to allow people to use a number of different devices without having to have several accounts. You’ll be able to download a full HD movie to your tablet or phone while queuing to board a plane and mobile workers will be able to get their full work schedule and everything else they need for the day while on the road.”
