3G continues to drive mobile broadband in this decade

Fortunately, operators have a multitude of tools in their arsenal to cost-effectively meet this sky-rocketing demand, while also continuously elevating the broadband user-experience, apart from the obvious need to get access to more spectrum. These tools can be grouped into five main categories:

1. Evolve 3G and leverage advanced receivers
   • Continuously improving the performance of the existing networks with simple upgrades such as Rev. B, DO Advanced, HSPA+ and HSPA+ Advanced are the most cost-effective ways to increase capacity. Qualcomm’s industry leading multimode chipset solutions provides the latest generation of advanced receivers, which brings even more capacity.
2. Increase voice capacity to free-up resources for data
   • With voice traffic flattening, efficient voice solutions such as 1X Advanced free-up resources for high revenue earning data services
3. Boost data capacity with LTE using new and wider bandwidth spectrum
   • LTE is best suited for new, wider spectrum (10MHz more) to augment data capacity of 3G networks, especially in dense urban areas
4. Seamlessly and Intelligently offloading traffic to WiFi
   • Handing off non-latency sensitive traffic such as web browsing WiFi hotpsots
5. Leverage small cells to bring the network closer to users (femto and picocells)
   • Small-cells bring the next leap in performance and user experience. Using them more smartly can make the leap even more significant. That is one of the focus areas for LTE Advanced, HSPA+ Advanced and DO Advanced technologies

Based on market conditions, their spectrum and network assets, operators can use these tools to develop a potent strategy and prepare themselves for the burgeoning demand for data.