Mobile data traffic has doubled from 2Q10 to 2Q11. The data tsunami is not a myth, and the water level has just started rising. To meet this wave of new demand requires more spectrum. Without additional spectrum, the progress we are making in terms of anytime access to information, the value of apps, content and services, will be constricted by the limited capacity we can offer within slivers of... [read more]

Mobile data traffic has doubled from 2Q10 to 2Q11. The data tsunami is not a myth, and the water level has just started rising. To meet this wave of new demand requires more spectrum. Without additional spectrum, the progress we are making in terms of anytime access to information, the value of apps, content and services, will be constricted by the limited capacity we can offer within slivers of spectrum. This is not political rhetoric from carriers…it is hard science under Shannon's Law and our current knowledge of physics.

So, how does our industry cope? How do we continue to offer more connections to more people? Well, the most obvious answer is more spectrum, and that should absolutely be pursued. Few spectrum licensees can match the value creation of the cellular industry, and we have latent spectrum that could be redeployed to more productive applications in an auction that could raise funds for our ailing Federal Treasury. But we can't just wait for spectrum re-allocation and re-farming. We need to be proactive as a technology community, and build the work-arounds that will allow us to stretch our existing bandwidth.

Compression, streamlining, optimization, reduced chatter, demand management, data prioritization, off-peak services…these are just some of the approaches that can mitigate demand, get more data through, or get the right data through. And there are many more that innovators may discover. In this session, we will look at the technologies, methods, and work-arounds that will help the industry continue to offer better access to data, while navigating the constraints of our allotted spectrum.

Registration for this FREE meeting, details and more on our sponsor, AT&T, can be found at http://telecomcouncil.cvent.com/event/XF_Spectrum2011

Who can participate in Executive Forums?
This elite group has an online community and generally meets quarterly over 2-hour lunch meetings to discuss the big picture of what is happening in our industry - from changes in technology, services, business fundamentals, and of course, the carriers. Individuals must be executives from Telecom Council member companies, or invited guests, at a seniority equivalent to a C-level position in a venture funded company.