Top 10 telecom predictions for 2010!

Well, well, well! We are close to the end of 2009! Nearly a year ago, I'd written about the top 10 telecom trends for 2009! Wonders of wonders -- they've been bang on! Here's what they were, according to me!

Top 10 predictions for 2009
1. WiMAX vs. LTE -- when will this debate get over and done with?
2. Growth of 3G services in places where it hasn't taken off or started!
3. IPTV -- well, it needs to catch up and grow substantially.
4. More of GPS enabled devices as mobile navigation attempts to grow stronger.
5. Near field communications. A report elsewhere on the web talks also about NFC phones starting to roll out in Taiwan.
6. Further adoption of femtocells... hope the Forum does much, much more in 2009.
7. Embedded Internet devices.
8. Carrier Ethernet should gain steam.
9. More of mobile VAS and mobile Web
10. More of mobile OS wars.

What's up for 2010? Top predictions
1. For one I don't see anything radical happening in 2010. However, I must mention a particular technology -- xMAX -- a new technology that bypasses the traditional cell phone networks to bring lower calling costs to the market. This disruptive technology is likely to shake things up a bit! So, for 2010, I have hopes to see xMAX being more in the news.

2. Is there room to accommodate WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface) specification? It can be a trend, but well, the adoption would be more in the consumer electronics segment. Nevertheless, these are two new technologies I've heard about.

3. Yes, 4G/LTE has also been introduced by TeliaSonera -- which claims to be the first in the world to do so. 2010 could well be its year.

4. Next, Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig), the organization advancing the adoption and widespread use of 60 GHz wireless technology worldwide, announced the completion of its unified wireless specification. Will it start to show steam in 2010? Remains to be seen!

5. There's also the VoLGA (Voice over LTE via Generic Access). In fact, Kineto recently announced the industry’s first VoLGA access network controller.

So, I have five new things to report. If you have others, please share, and let's try and see where 2010 will be headed.

The rest of the predictions will likely a mixture and carryover of 2009 -- the industry has been so boring this year! All I've heard is about mobile applications and application stores. Wonder what's happened to good old fashioned telecom stuff!

Right, Ive been requested to list five other trends… Are they trends or facts? You decide!

6. More smartphones and mobile applications; also wireless netbooks. Am sure, you’ve heard of Intel’s announcement of next-generation Atom platform. If not, see the next post. Intel reportedly has been working closely with mobile operators and modem vendors to advance 3G capabilities in netbooks in established and emerging markets.

7. More growth of 3G services. And, I hope it finally sees the light of the day in India!

8. Perhaps, more mobile application stores and integration of mobile social networking with other applications, including m-commerce, as Juniper Research also says.

9. NFC phones should start making an appearance.

10. More LTE networks (and also, WiMAX)… the debate continues!