Convergence and 4G in a borderless world
September 5, 2006 | 12:00am
The funny thing about the word "convergence" is the way it has metamorphosed in today’s technological world into a diametrically opposite connotation from the traditional Webster’s Dictionary definition: "To converge" is "to approach one common center or single point." There seems to be an inward motion depicted towards a single point rather than an outward motion. My hypothesis is that the word convergence in today’s amazing world of technological innovative wonders now implies an outward stretch from a single central point to the brilliant catalogue of innovations under the emerging 4G technology and, of course, the fixed networks under the acronym of NGNs (Next Generation Networks).
Convergence is the word that can be best associated with 4G. It can be interpreted in a variety of ways: convergence of wireless and wired networks; convergence of communications, consumer electronics and computing; and convergence of services, exemplified by voice, data, graphics, video and multimedia. From the 4G terminals’ perspective, one can see a clear outstretching toward a sophisticated repertoire of functions and capabilities, and of multimode, multi-standard, multifunction terminals. This will lead to what is now called the "three-screen convergence" bringing together TV, PC and mobile phone screens into a single portable device.
These screens, perhaps the most notorious technology icons of our time, are watched and scrutinized day after day by billions of people worldwide, mostly in their homes, their places of work, and gradually on the move. 4G will not only fuse these separately developed technologies but also – which is very important –will ultimately free them from any physical connection to the information sources. This is what is called the "flying screen concept" as the screen is capable of displaying any content anywhere the user is, anytime, and on the move. This, by the way, is convergence today.
Convergence will also take place at the network level, where several heterogeneous networks will appear to be merged into a single network of networks. Indeed, a 4G network will encompass the entire network hierarchy, from a very wide coverage broadcasting network, down to personal networks, and will consider wireless wide-area networks, wireless metropolitan networks, wireless local-area networks, and personal networks as well. To the user, these 4G networks will appear as a single, simple, and all-reaching network.
Convergence, when I first became acquainted with the word in 1987, simply meant the fusion of voice and data into one digital line. Its entry into the technological world about 20 years ago was looked upon as the great and outstanding innovation, which would make our dreams for a "Philippine Information Infrastructure" (PII) a reality very soon. Today, 20 years later, the PII remains a dream. For that matter, the GII (Global Information Infrastructure) remains a dream likewise.
Remember Keniche Ohmae, the Japanese management guru who popularized the concept of a borderless world and the end of the nation state? This concept has, indeed, within the context of the internationalization of trade and commerce, skyrocketed as a global slogan. The trouble with slogans like this, however, is that they can blinker our thinking.
For just how will the Internet internationalize? Currently, the Internet may be the magnificent global phenomenon it is, but it has yet to globalize from the few to the many. Without doubt, America seems to be the reigning "hub and powerhouse of cyberspace," although we are witnessing a small but growing cadre of countries increasing on-line penetration and the possibility of very soon reaching that point of critical mass where network effects create mass-market dynamics. We are seeing Japan, Finland, Canada, Germany, Australia and even France forming the next-wave country powerhouses.
But a great slice of the world remains a long way from this point. A greater part of this so-called borderless world remains without a telephone.
We have, however, as far as our country is concerned, an optimistic voice from a colleague from the good old days, Renato "Tato" Garcia, the current president of Philippine Electronics and Telecommunications Federation (PETEF). We had a good discussion a couple of months ago on the beginnings of telecom demonopolization and liberalization in the Philippines. He obtained his master’s degree in Operations Management from Columbia University in New York and is currently with the telecom private sector of the country. He had been the very competent Assistant Minister for telecommunications in the then Ministry of Transportation and Communications soon after its founding in 1979 under the late Minister Jose "Totoy" Dans. I was at that time handling legal affairs and administration, having been tasked by Minister Dans to organize the legal department. Tato and I were both pioneers in what is today the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
Though agreeing with me about the absence of a PII, he was optimistic that the Philippines will get there very soon. With the NGNs, the resulting text mobile convergence through the initial deployment of 250,000 is expected within the Philippines. In fact, he says, this is starting to happen. Our advantage in the Philippines, given our lead in mobile communications, is the excellent opportunity to create new applications for a 4G and NGN world. Given the same bandwidth, a consumer can now move from his residential phone to a mobile cellular system to an office system to any Wi-Fi hotspot. Application and content, Tato now says, will see a very versatile push due to the recognized creative abilities of the Filipino.
Talking to Tato Garcia today, who started in the DOTC as a co-pioneer at 28, brings back memories of excellent teamwork and camaraderie in an agency where we were aware that so very much had to be done.
Indeed, 4G should bring the country and the world to new and great levels of user utilization. 4G will be approached from the user perspective. 4G cannot be justified just from a technological point of view. It is my firm belief that technology is just the means to satisfy user needs and expectations, and it should come after potentially good services and applications have been identified.
When one contrasts past and present mobile communications systems with the concepts of 4G, one indeed sees that a paradigm shift is needed in order to better describe and understand future communications systems.
To my mind, after undertaking a study of the theories and concepts and the existing common understanding of 4G, I have to define 4G as an evolutionary and revolutionary fully IP-based integrated system of systems and network of networks, achieved after convergence of wired and wireless networks, as well as computers, consumer electronics and communications technology, as well as several other convergences in outdoor and indoor environments, offering any kind of services at any time, as per user requirements, anywhere, with seamless interoperability, always on, at an affordable cost, with one billing, and fully personalized. What a long definition! But I think this is a pretty good and exciting vision of 4G. It could be the most viable solution for achieving a truly knowledge-based society, at the same time providing affordable solutions to connecting the world through the achievement of a GII.
And convergence is really what 4G is all about: convergence of fixed and mobile communications, as well as convergence of regional-area, wide-area, metropolitan-area, local-area, and personal-area networks. 4G is convergence of services and convergence of terminals. The key is the availability of new technologies. The speed with which telecom operators can roll out converged fixed and mobile services is primarily dependent on the technological revolution taking place at both the network and handset levels. Convergence of networks, technologies, applications and services will offer a personalized and pervasive network to users, and will bring an outstanding milieu of business opportunities.
Convergence is heading towards the advent of a truly exciting though somewhat disruptive concept of fourth-generation mobile networks. Even though industry and the research community are highly committed to the development of 4G, it is the opinion of quite a number of experts that additional efforts are needed to create a more solid and widely accepted blueprint of 4G.
Convergence circa 1987 has traveled a long way to Convergence 2006. We should make it exciting for our country and our world leaders. Equipped with the knowledge of potential hazards, they should make it exciting for the world, paving the way for the borderless world Kenichi Ohmae was talking about.
Thanks for you e-mails sent to jtl@pldtdsl.net.
Convergence is the word that can be best associated with 4G. It can be interpreted in a variety of ways: convergence of wireless and wired networks; convergence of communications, consumer electronics and computing; and convergence of services, exemplified by voice, data, graphics, video and multimedia. From the 4G terminals’ perspective, one can see a clear outstretching toward a sophisticated repertoire of functions and capabilities, and of multimode, multi-standard, multifunction terminals. This will lead to what is now called the "three-screen convergence" bringing together TV, PC and mobile phone screens into a single portable device.
These screens, perhaps the most notorious technology icons of our time, are watched and scrutinized day after day by billions of people worldwide, mostly in their homes, their places of work, and gradually on the move. 4G will not only fuse these separately developed technologies but also – which is very important –will ultimately free them from any physical connection to the information sources. This is what is called the "flying screen concept" as the screen is capable of displaying any content anywhere the user is, anytime, and on the move. This, by the way, is convergence today.
Convergence will also take place at the network level, where several heterogeneous networks will appear to be merged into a single network of networks. Indeed, a 4G network will encompass the entire network hierarchy, from a very wide coverage broadcasting network, down to personal networks, and will consider wireless wide-area networks, wireless metropolitan networks, wireless local-area networks, and personal networks as well. To the user, these 4G networks will appear as a single, simple, and all-reaching network.
Convergence, when I first became acquainted with the word in 1987, simply meant the fusion of voice and data into one digital line. Its entry into the technological world about 20 years ago was looked upon as the great and outstanding innovation, which would make our dreams for a "Philippine Information Infrastructure" (PII) a reality very soon. Today, 20 years later, the PII remains a dream. For that matter, the GII (Global Information Infrastructure) remains a dream likewise.
Remember Keniche Ohmae, the Japanese management guru who popularized the concept of a borderless world and the end of the nation state? This concept has, indeed, within the context of the internationalization of trade and commerce, skyrocketed as a global slogan. The trouble with slogans like this, however, is that they can blinker our thinking.
For just how will the Internet internationalize? Currently, the Internet may be the magnificent global phenomenon it is, but it has yet to globalize from the few to the many. Without doubt, America seems to be the reigning "hub and powerhouse of cyberspace," although we are witnessing a small but growing cadre of countries increasing on-line penetration and the possibility of very soon reaching that point of critical mass where network effects create mass-market dynamics. We are seeing Japan, Finland, Canada, Germany, Australia and even France forming the next-wave country powerhouses.
But a great slice of the world remains a long way from this point. A greater part of this so-called borderless world remains without a telephone.
We have, however, as far as our country is concerned, an optimistic voice from a colleague from the good old days, Renato "Tato" Garcia, the current president of Philippine Electronics and Telecommunications Federation (PETEF). We had a good discussion a couple of months ago on the beginnings of telecom demonopolization and liberalization in the Philippines. He obtained his master’s degree in Operations Management from Columbia University in New York and is currently with the telecom private sector of the country. He had been the very competent Assistant Minister for telecommunications in the then Ministry of Transportation and Communications soon after its founding in 1979 under the late Minister Jose "Totoy" Dans. I was at that time handling legal affairs and administration, having been tasked by Minister Dans to organize the legal department. Tato and I were both pioneers in what is today the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
Though agreeing with me about the absence of a PII, he was optimistic that the Philippines will get there very soon. With the NGNs, the resulting text mobile convergence through the initial deployment of 250,000 is expected within the Philippines. In fact, he says, this is starting to happen. Our advantage in the Philippines, given our lead in mobile communications, is the excellent opportunity to create new applications for a 4G and NGN world. Given the same bandwidth, a consumer can now move from his residential phone to a mobile cellular system to an office system to any Wi-Fi hotspot. Application and content, Tato now says, will see a very versatile push due to the recognized creative abilities of the Filipino.
Talking to Tato Garcia today, who started in the DOTC as a co-pioneer at 28, brings back memories of excellent teamwork and camaraderie in an agency where we were aware that so very much had to be done.
Indeed, 4G should bring the country and the world to new and great levels of user utilization. 4G will be approached from the user perspective. 4G cannot be justified just from a technological point of view. It is my firm belief that technology is just the means to satisfy user needs and expectations, and it should come after potentially good services and applications have been identified.
When one contrasts past and present mobile communications systems with the concepts of 4G, one indeed sees that a paradigm shift is needed in order to better describe and understand future communications systems.
To my mind, after undertaking a study of the theories and concepts and the existing common understanding of 4G, I have to define 4G as an evolutionary and revolutionary fully IP-based integrated system of systems and network of networks, achieved after convergence of wired and wireless networks, as well as computers, consumer electronics and communications technology, as well as several other convergences in outdoor and indoor environments, offering any kind of services at any time, as per user requirements, anywhere, with seamless interoperability, always on, at an affordable cost, with one billing, and fully personalized. What a long definition! But I think this is a pretty good and exciting vision of 4G. It could be the most viable solution for achieving a truly knowledge-based society, at the same time providing affordable solutions to connecting the world through the achievement of a GII.
And convergence is really what 4G is all about: convergence of fixed and mobile communications, as well as convergence of regional-area, wide-area, metropolitan-area, local-area, and personal-area networks. 4G is convergence of services and convergence of terminals. The key is the availability of new technologies. The speed with which telecom operators can roll out converged fixed and mobile services is primarily dependent on the technological revolution taking place at both the network and handset levels. Convergence of networks, technologies, applications and services will offer a personalized and pervasive network to users, and will bring an outstanding milieu of business opportunities.
Convergence is heading towards the advent of a truly exciting though somewhat disruptive concept of fourth-generation mobile networks. Even though industry and the research community are highly committed to the development of 4G, it is the opinion of quite a number of experts that additional efforts are needed to create a more solid and widely accepted blueprint of 4G.
Convergence circa 1987 has traveled a long way to Convergence 2006. We should make it exciting for our country and our world leaders. Equipped with the knowledge of potential hazards, they should make it exciting for the world, paving the way for the borderless world Kenichi Ohmae was talking about.
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