The Technology Inventory
Also check out the Telecom Inventory and the Resources Inventory
You might wonder how data is transmitted from one point to another - case in point, a text message, a call or even an email message. The process is referred to in the industry as mobile backhaul. Also known as wireless backhaul, mobile backhaul is the use of wireless communications to get data to and from an end user to a node. Nodes could either be connection points, end points or redistribution points for data transmission. Mobile backhaul can also refer to the transmission of data over a wireless route, thus “wireless backhaul”.
If you’re looking for an anatomical analogy, think of mobile backhaul as the limbs of the body connecting the backbone, or core network, to a series of smaller sub-networks. Taking a cue from the analogy, the core network would serve as the ‘spine’ while the sub-networks would refer to the fingers and toes.
Basically, information travelling from a wireless tower to a mobile switching center is the portion we consider as the mobile backhaul. Within the context of satellite communication, mobile backhaul refers to getting data to a point where it can be distributed over a wider network. Web browsing, phone calls, SMS and even online games travel the mobile backhaul portion. Examples of mobile backhaul technology include the Ethernet and free space optics.
However, the most popular and common form of mobile backhaul is via microwave systems. This refers to point-to-point microwave radio relay transmission which is a technology used in transmitting digital and analog signals. It is also commonly used by major broadcasting companies to get video, as well as audio materials, for live event coverage or on-site news reporting.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has stunned a business forum in Perth with a personal admission that no one saw coming.
Answering a question on Australia’s $36 billion national broadband network (NBN), the American computer wizard and engineer let it be known he didn’t have broadband internet at his home in Los Gatos, California.
“I don’t have broadband at my home,” Mr Wozniak said, to much surprise in the audience.
The BBC has announced it will make all 24 HD quality streams from the Olympic Games available to cable and satellite platforms for the duration of the games.
Sky and Freesat have both confirmed they will be taking the feeds, meaning that every sport from every venue will be available, across TV, including the Red Button, mobile, tablet, connected TV and PC. The BBC had already promised to deliver broadcast up to 24 simultaneous streams live online.
In an increasingly globalized world, more and more people are finding themselves connected to the Internet, thanks to Wi-Fi technology or Wireless Fidelity which offers convenient access to cyberspace sans messy and limiting cables. The release of Wi-Fi-ready gadgets, especially mobile devices, are slowly transforming the way people live. This lifestyle shift is further compounded by the success of many social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
Often though, cafes, hotels and libraries offer Wi-Fi which not only has crappy connection but is also a tad-bit overpriced. If only every nook and cranny of your city had high-speed Internet connection, you could read emails on the go, or update Facebook statuses while on the subway. Streaming movies at the bus stop or downloading the latest chart-topper would also be possible in seconds.
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has made this possible. In fact, it’s the most connected city in the world beating other hubs like Tokyo and Singapore (interestingly the top 5 most connected cites in the world are in Asia). A massive broadband revolution which started almost a decade ago was spurred by the demand of its PC-gaming netizens. Today, the second largest metropolis in the world boasts of an 83% broadband penetration rate.
Everywhere you go, you’ll find easy net connection in the city. From wireless hotspots, to Internet cafes, to PC Baangs or gaming areas and kiosks, Seoul is up-to-date and wired. You might think such a massive network must have a downside, like really slow connection speed? Well think again. Seoul also boasts of the highest average Internet connection speed in the world at 11 mbps. To put some perspective, that’s 4 times as fast as the average speed in the United States. Even Japan’s average is only at 8 mbps.
And you know what else is amazing?
Because Windows 8 will run on laptops, ultrabooks, and tablets as well as desktop PCs, access to mobile networks is important. On the Engineering Windows 8 blog on Friday, Windows president Steven Sinofsky detailed five improvements to Windows 8 that will simplify connecting to mobile networks and managing network connections. Here’s a recap of the changes to watch.
1. Native Drivers and Management: Windows 7 loosely supported mobile broadband, but often required the download of drivers and management software. Just as native Wi-Fi management was integrated into Windows XP, mobile broadband will have native management in Windows 8. And to prevent the problems associated with downloading drivers, Microsoft worked with mobile broadband hardware partners to develop the Mobile Broadband Interface Model (MBIM) standard, which provides a driver that will work with all of its offerings, and will be kept up-to-date through Windows Update.
2. Carrier Support: Windows 8 will automatically detect your mobile broadband carrier based on your device or SIM, and configure your device to connect to your account. If you don’t have a data plan, a Connect button will take you to your desired carrier where your options are listed and available for signup. Once connected, Windows 8 will provide a counter to show how much data you’ve used on your various connections to help avoid bill shock, especially important if your business is trying to get by with a small mobile data plan.
iPhone 4S – Is It Really 4G?
