Many small things make one big thing
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2025 10:33 am
New strategies
This has made mobile providers creative. It has become interesting for mobile internet providers to focus on a combination of their own network and local hotspots that are installed and managed by others: a bit of crowdsourcing of the network (also called 'offloading': reducing the load on the 3G network via WiFi).
For example, existing mobile operators such as KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile are now happy for customers to use public WiFi hotspots, such as in catering establishments, hotels and the train. Public hotspots are also on the rise because they are ideal 'city marketing' for cities. A few years ago, WiFi hotspots were still seen as a threat to providers of mobile internet (via UMTS).
For newcomers to the mobile internet market, the hotspot function is a way to quickly get coverage in areas without having to build large-scale infrastructure. For example, Ziggo plans to use its internet modems with WiFi nationwide as hotspots that allow other users to surf outside the home on their neighbours' network. Each model shares a small piece of bandwidth (a shielded and secured piece) with the public, in this case the other Ziggo customers. Ziggo suddenly gets a mobile internet infrastructure. It also saves on energy costs and the construction of new masts that often lead to social protest.
T-Mobile used a similar approach in Germany by deploying so-called femtocells: small canada telegram data mobile transmission masts ('modems') in every customer's home. This means a completely different approach to building a mobile network. All small transmitters that pass a piece to each other instead of a network with large transmission masts or hotspots that process many users at the same time and need many masts to provide coverage. In the meantime, KPN and Vodafone have also indicated that they are studying the use of femtocells and are seriously considering them.
This new approach in which companies use a bit of 'crowdsourcing' is also interesting now with the auction of mobile internet frequencies that is currently underway.
So we are on the eve of a new development in the telecom field. It seems a matter of time before KPN and Vodafone ask us to place a small transmission mast (femtocell) at our home, or that Ziggo opens up your WiFi modem for use by other customers. Do we wait for those providers or do we start sharing our smartphones, WiFi modems and self-purchased femtocells with others? Many small ones together make one big one. And who will still be homesick for KPN or Vodafone?
This has made mobile providers creative. It has become interesting for mobile internet providers to focus on a combination of their own network and local hotspots that are installed and managed by others: a bit of crowdsourcing of the network (also called 'offloading': reducing the load on the 3G network via WiFi).
For example, existing mobile operators such as KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile are now happy for customers to use public WiFi hotspots, such as in catering establishments, hotels and the train. Public hotspots are also on the rise because they are ideal 'city marketing' for cities. A few years ago, WiFi hotspots were still seen as a threat to providers of mobile internet (via UMTS).
For newcomers to the mobile internet market, the hotspot function is a way to quickly get coverage in areas without having to build large-scale infrastructure. For example, Ziggo plans to use its internet modems with WiFi nationwide as hotspots that allow other users to surf outside the home on their neighbours' network. Each model shares a small piece of bandwidth (a shielded and secured piece) with the public, in this case the other Ziggo customers. Ziggo suddenly gets a mobile internet infrastructure. It also saves on energy costs and the construction of new masts that often lead to social protest.
T-Mobile used a similar approach in Germany by deploying so-called femtocells: small canada telegram data mobile transmission masts ('modems') in every customer's home. This means a completely different approach to building a mobile network. All small transmitters that pass a piece to each other instead of a network with large transmission masts or hotspots that process many users at the same time and need many masts to provide coverage. In the meantime, KPN and Vodafone have also indicated that they are studying the use of femtocells and are seriously considering them.
This new approach in which companies use a bit of 'crowdsourcing' is also interesting now with the auction of mobile internet frequencies that is currently underway.
So we are on the eve of a new development in the telecom field. It seems a matter of time before KPN and Vodafone ask us to place a small transmission mast (femtocell) at our home, or that Ziggo opens up your WiFi modem for use by other customers. Do we wait for those providers or do we start sharing our smartphones, WiFi modems and self-purchased femtocells with others? Many small ones together make one big one. And who will still be homesick for KPN or Vodafone?