Mobility Pavilion Debuts Showcasing Convergence
By Mark L. Dzuban and Ike Elliott –
With expanding consumer needs and the progression of wireless infrastructure, the mobility technology is evolving rapidly. Disaggregation promises greater flexibility, and convergence is a hot discussion at every turn. What are the most promising developments in mobility and what challenges need to be overcome? We have assembled the innovators who are breaking ground and advancing seamless connectivity.
In October at SCTE® Cable-Tec Expo® as one of three new Specialty Pavilions, the highly anticipated Mobility Pavilion is making its debut.
At the Mobility Pavilion, attendees can discover the latest mobility solutions, including integration of mobile services into cable networks, and connect with the industry leaders who are shaping the future of mobile technology. This dedicated pavilion offers an unparalleled platform for our industry’s leading mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), mobile network operators (MNOs), and mobile virtual network enablers (MVNEs) and their suppliers to share their offerings and highlight the seamless integration of mobile networks.
The 30’ x 80’ Mobility Pavilion will feature display kiosks staffed by technical experts offering a glimpse into the future of mobile technology, showcasing the latest advancements in 5G, converged connectivity, and more. In addition to Rogers, Ericsson, Nokia, CommScope, and others you might expect to see, participating vendors include the CableLabs-run host lab for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). 5G Challenge will be present, as well.
Open RAN Technical Summit
Expo ’23 will also feature a dedicated Open RAN Technical Summit on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. In the context of mobile technology, O-RAN stands for “Open Radio Access Network.” It is a set of standards and specifications for building open and interoperable radio access networks (RANs) that allow for greater flexibility, innovation, and competition in the mobile telecommunications industry.
The presenting sponsor for the event is the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), a global community of companies and organizations working together to accelerate the development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and standards-based technology solutions that deliver the high quality connectivity that the world needs—now and in the decades to come.
Assisting with the agenda for the summit as a supporting sponsor is the O-RAN ALLIANCE, a consortium of operators, vendors, and research institutions, that is driving the development of standards and promoting the adoption of O-RAN technology by the industry.
The Future of Mobility
In addition to the technology on display in the Mobility Pavilion and content presented at the O-RAN Technical Summit, additional mobility highlights can be found throughout the Expo ’23 programming. Here are a few sessions worth considering:
Open and Interoperable Networks (Open RAN): Is Plug and Play “The Way”? on Wednesday, October 18, 4:00 PM to 4:55 PM. The architecture of mobile networks is changing; supply chain concerns and new funding are dramatically influencing the RAN ecosystem. Can Open RAN be successfully deployed in 5G, 6G, and beyond networks? This session will explore the policy dynamics of Open RAN and the shifting status quo of mobile architectures.
Experience is Everything: How to Impress Customers with High-Quality Wi-Fi and IoT, on Tuesday, October 17, 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM. Moderator Charles Cheevers of CommScope will guide attendees through innovative approaches that prioritize flawless application experiences, leverage data-driven techniques to enhance Wi-Fi performance and revolutionize the way we incorporate audio accessibility into connected homes
Leveraging Wireless Intelligence to Do More on Tuesday, October 17, 3:45 PM to 5:00 PM. This informative and engaging session is about managing connected devices, particularly at the edge, delving into the effective handling and control of diverse user devices connected to various networks. With moderator Chris Bastian from SCTE at the helm, session attendees will get actionable insights on appropriate device selection and connectivity, active user management, and the dynamic movement between devices.
Leveraging DOCSIS in 5G Networks on Wednesday, October 18, 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM. Take a focused look into 5G mobile offload for cable operators and more generally, how DOCSIS can be leveraged for 5G networks. Vik Saxena from Nokia will guide the discussion about hybrid small cell and macro radio designs, where presenters delve into relevant design processes and architecture. Cable operators offering mobile phone services are some of the fastest growing mobile service providers in the U.S. Samsung has partnered with cable industry veteran Enersys to build a 5G small cell radio to be deployed directly on the HFC strand, which resolves many challenges. Panelists from Samsung and Charter will discuss the benefits and challenges of deploying 5G small cells on the HFC strand network, present a process for designing wireless small-cell networks by leveraging existing assets and field operations resources, and share real-world results using commercial solutions for integrating Virtual Radio Access Network (V-RAN) F1, the interface between the centralized unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU), over DOCSIS.
Mobility is coming to play, and there is a lot to learn from those who are leading the charge. We hope you’ll be joining us in Denver, as we celebrate 40 years of SCTE Cable-Tec Expo!
Mark L. Dzuban
President and CEO, SCTE® a subsidiary of CableLabs®
mdzuban@scte.org
Mark Dzuban is president and CEO of SCTE®, a subsidiary of CableLabs®. SCTE is a global not-for-profit member organization driving the acceleration and deployment of technology in the cable industry. With a career spanning more than 50 years in cable telecommunications, Dzuban has been named a Cable TV Pioneer, Cable Center Innovation Laureate, Cablefax Top 100 industry executive, and has received the Vanguard Award for Cable Operations Management.
Ike Elliott,
President & CEO, Kyrio® a subsidiary of CableLabs®
Ike Elliott is President & CEO of Kyrio®, a subsidiary of CableLabs®, a growing provider of services for the broadband industry, including software and testing services. Ike joined Kyrio in late 2020 after leading the CableLabs Strategy team for a decade. Before joining CableLabs and during his 37 years in the communications industry, Ike held senior executive operating, strategy, and technology roles at Level 3 Communications, Unity Business Networks, and MCI. Ike holds 36 patents and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Science.
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