The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) today announced they have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU). This agreement continues the long-standing cooperation between IEEE-SA and ETSI, fosters collaboration between the two organizations, and further promotes mutual interests through global standards coordination.

To formally acknowledge the alliance, Luis Jorge Romero, director-general of ETSI, and Konstantinos Karachalios, managing director for IEEE-SA, gathered with members of the Institute for a signing ceremony during the 60th ETSI General Assembly in Mandelieu, France on 13 November 2012. During the ceremony, the two organizations acknowledged the need for IEEE-SA and ETSI to work closely together on coordinated standards to avoid duplicated work and align under a mutually beneficial framework.

“ETSI is the ideal partner for IEEE-SA’s continued progress on expanding cooperation between technical committees with a global reach,” said Karachalios. “Sharing information is the key factor here. Collaboration between governing bodies is top of mind. It’s all part of our vision for widespread adoption of globally
relevant standards and our commitment to work cohesively with standards organizations around the world.”

“The framework for coordination between technical groups will greatly benefit industry as it increasingly relies on
standards for interoperability,” said Romero. “This agreement will allow ETSI representatives to become more knowledgeable about IEEE activities and vice versa, of course.”

AW Comment:  The renewal of the MOU fosters continued collaboration and increases global visibility and coordination of standards activities.  It is a big positive for the industry.

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This report was written by Roger Marks ([email protected])

Chair, IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards

IEEE 802.16’s Session #82 was held on 12-15 Nov 2012 in San Antonio, TX, USA. This was an IEEE 802 LMSC Plenary Session and co-located with sessions of the other IEEE 802 Working Groups and Technical Advisory Groups. The attendance was 24 (down substantially from the hundreds that previously attended these meetings).

New Publications

Two amendment standards developed by the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Task Group were published by IEEE-SA:IEEE Std 802.16p-2012 (2012-10-08) and IEEE Std 802.16.1b-2012 (2012-10-10). Both are available for sale, currently at $5.
During Session #82, awards were presented to leading participants in the development of these standards, as well as of IEEE Std 802.16-2012 and IEEE Std 802.16.1-2012.

HetNet Study Group

The IEEE 802.16 WG Study Group (SG)
on the WirelessMAN Radio Interface in Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet Study Group) met for the fourth and
final time. It addressed three separate topics:

• OmniRAN
  The Study Group prepared a request to initiate a new IEEE 802 Executive Committee OmniRAN Study Group. The 802 EC approved the request and initiated the Study Group through the March 2013 802 Plenary, with an expectation of renewal through the March 2013 802 Plenary. The first meeting takes place during the week of 14 January in Vancouver.
• Small Cell Backhaul
  Following modification based on inputs and discussions, the Project Authorization Request (PAR) PAR P802.16r, for a project on Small-Cell Backhaul (SCB) Enhancements to WirelessMAN-OFDMA, was forwarded by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee for IEEE-SA approval, expected on 5 December. A followup Call for Contributions was issued. The WG submitted a liaison statement to several external organizations (Metro Ethernet Forum, NGMN Alliance, Small Cell
  Forum, and WiMAX Forum) requesting views and input regarding technical requirements.
• Multi-tier
  Work on developing IEEE Project PAR P802.16q continued with the consideration of input documents. A followup Call for Contributions was issued toward Session #83.

The HetNet Study Group concluded its work and was terminated as of the end of Session #82. Study Group issued a closing report, with minutes to follow.

Project P802.16.3

In the second session of the development of the P802.16.3 project on Mobile Broadband Network Performance
Measurements, six input contributions were reviewed. A new draft Working Document, on Architecture and Requirements Document for Mobile Broadband Network Performance was completed. A Call for Contributions was completed, primarily to further the development of that new Working Document. A report to external organizations was completed to summarize project progress and request views.  The work on Project P802.16.3 was conducted under the auspices of the Metrology Study Group, which concluded its work and was terminated as of the end of Session #82. The Study Group issued a closing report and minutes.

GRIDMAN Task Group

The Working Group’s GRIDMAN Task Group resolved comments received during the first recirculations of Sponsor Ballot of the drafts of P802.16n and IEEE P802.16.1a. Approval of both documents stands at 100%, with 82 approve votes. In each case, the 802 EC granted conditional approval to submit the drafts for RevCom approval, following successful
recirculation. An additional recirculation is planned for December, with comment resolution at Session #83. The TG issued a closing report and minutes.

ITU-R Liaison Group

The ITU-R Liaison Group reviewed contributions from ITU-R Working Party 5D. It developed a contribution to WP 5D on the use of IMT for broadband PPDR, which was agreed by the IEEE 802 EC. The Liaison Group will meet at Session #83 to consider additional contributions to WP 5D and address other topics. Contributions are invited. For more details, see the closing report and updated workplan.

Project Planning Committee

The WG’s Project Planning Committee confirmed the IEEE 802.16 Ballot Schedules. The PPC agreed to a Standards Information Form describing IEEE Std 802.16 for consideration by the IEEE 802.24 Smart Grid TAG. It also agreed to a
Call for Contributions on Proximity based Direct Communications and issued a closing report.

Future Meetings

• Session #83 will take place on 14-17 Jan 2013 in Vancouver, BC, Canada in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim.
•  Session #84 will take place on 18-21 Mar 2013 in Orlando, FL, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.
• Session #85 will take place on 13-16 May 2013 in Waikoloa, HI, USA in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Wireless Interim.
• Session #86 will take place on 15-18 July 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland in conjunction with the IEEE 802 Plenary Session.
• The Future Sessions list and the WirelessMAN Interactive Calendar include all session information through 2012.

IEEE 802 Executive Committee Actions
The Working Group’s issues at the 802 LMSC Executive Committee meeting of 16 November were approved.

Documents
The Session #82 Document Guide includes references to all session documents. Draft standards are available with a working group password or by purchase from IEEE-SA. Most IEEE 802.16 standards are available for free download via the Get IEEE 802® program. See the 802.16 publication list for details of published standards and drafts.

About IEEE 802.16
The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards has developed and is enhancing the
WirelessMAN® standards of IEEE 802.16 and 802.16.1 for wireless metropolitan area networks. It is also developing the IEEE P802.16.3 project on Mobile Broadband Network Performance Measurements. The IEEE 802.16 Working Group
is a unit of the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee, the premier transnational forum for wired and wireless network
standardization.

A list of IEEE 802.16 standards and drafts is available on-line, as is an archive of previous Session Reports. The IEEE 802.16 Interactive Calendar includes sessions and deadlines.

Joint Venture Silicon Valley brings together SV leaders in various business sectors to address the areas most pressing problems.  One of them is wireless communications infrastructure.  It’s ironic that SV leads the world in developing new, innovative technologies but is a laggard in deploying them locally.  For example, it has taken as long as five years to review and approve an application to build wireless facilities.  JVSV says the region must lead by setting an example of how to balance a national imperative with community interests.

A Wireless Communications Initiative was launched by JVSV in 2010.  It’s key goals and objectives are as follows:

• Advocate in the Local Jurisdictions – Provide a strong regional voice speaking to the competitive and economic implications of a robust wireless infrastructure.
• Educate Public and Private Sector Stakeholders – Identify key stakeholders in cities and educate them on the critical issues affecting the growth of the wireless industry. Similarly, educate the wireless industry on how to partner with cities.
• Promote Model Ordinances/ Practices – Work with cities to develop best practices and guidelines for wireless technology deployment.

The Wireless Coalition is part of this initiative.  The coaltion promotes the deployment of wireless technology as a means to encourage economic growth, national competitiveness and public safety. The Coalition will include businesses, elected officials, individuals, business and community organizations. We see the emerging technology as an opportunity for Silicon Valley to lead a new wave of innovation. 

Currently, the Wireless Coalition is working with local government and the wireless industry to promote the deployment of a robust Wireless Infrastructure in Silicon Valley. It’s 2012 Activities included:

• New Goal – 4G/ LTE available from major carriers in half of Silicon Valley cities by 2014
• Increase public awareness through use of media and community outreach
•  Established Cities and Carriers Roundtable
• Support cities in considering initiatives to deploy wireless technology
• Completed property value research detailing the impact of wireless facilities. 
• —Study revealed no difference in value amongst 70 wireless sites selected in Palo Alto, Redwood City, Saratoga and San Jose, CA

In conclusion, Leon Beauchman; Director, Wireless Communications Initiative wrote,

“Silicon Valley must work towards maintaining its leadership in the evolution of wireless technology. Thousands of
jobs and hundreds of local companies are directly tied to the industry. Our region should lead in deploying a 21^st century wireless infrastructure that will further promote our economic competitiveness.”

Editors Note: Leon did an outstanding job organizing and chairing this very informative Wireless Symposium!

See below for Congresswomen Anna Eschoo’s keynote, link to summary of Google’s talk, and information on Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability for public agencies.  There were also many wireless applications discussed at this JVSV Wireless Symposium. More information,including slides of some presentations is at:

http://www.jointventure.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=801&Itemid=615 

How can public policy expedite building a 21st century communications infrastructure? Congresswoman Anna Eshoo,  Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology addressed that topic in her keynote presentation.  Her main message:  JVSC should focus on what Silicon Valley needs to do inorder to have a world class, 21st century wireless infrastructure.  Here were the key points she made:

• U.S. mobile data traffic grew at almost 300% last year and will grow 16 times by 2016.
• Freeing up more spectrum should be a top priority for U.S. regulators (FCC and state PUCs) and Congress
• Only once in a decade does Congress take up reallocation of spectrum, e.g. from over the air TV broadcasters to wireless boradband network providers.  That time is now!
• Congress has worked 15 months to pass bi-partisan legislation which authorized the FCC to conduct incentive auctions of spectrum whereby TV broadcasters would voluntarily release spectrum for use by wireless broadband providers.  There’s potential to re-purpose 120MHz of such spectrum for wireless broadband access. 
• $25B is expected to be raised by the incentive auctions with $15B of that going to the U.S. government to reduce the national debt.
•  A 21st century spectrum policy must be balanced between licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
•  U.S. is a world-wide leader in use of unlicensed spectrum, with WiFi/Blue Tooth devices generating $50B of revenues for U.S. based companies.
•  Congress should look at how Federal agencies could use the spectrum they own more efficiently.
•  The PCAST committee has made several recommendations related to U.S. spectrum policy.

In conclusion, Congresswomen Eschoo said, “Wireless broadband is an engine for job creation and economic growth.”  She invited interested parties to make their views known to their Congress person for more effective policy toward achievement of this goal.

Summary of Google’s presentation on White Spaces is at:

http://viodi.com/2012/11/13/google-advocates-unlicensed-spectrum-sharing-via-tv-white-spaces-for-wireless-broadband-access/

Public Safety and Emergency Response:

Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA) was formed in 2010 under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, California Government Code Section 6500 et seq. to provide interoperable communications solutions to its members. SVRIA supersedes the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Project, established in 1998 by the Police and Fire Chiefs Associations and the County and City Managers Association.

Purpose and Mission: The Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA) exists to identify, coordinate and implement communications interoperability solutions to its member agencies. The purpose of these projects is to seamlessly integrate voice and data communications between law enforcement, the fire and rescue service, emergency medical services and emergency management for routine operations, critical incidents and disaster response and recovery. SVRIA also provides strategic planning support for its members.

http://www.svria.org/about-us 

By 2015, the worldwide market for cloud products and services is estimated to reach between €50bn and €80bn. Already there are numerous cloud services on offer, presenting radical new business opportunities which are both disruptive and beneficial at once.

In order to address the specific challenges of cloud computing, in September 2012 the European Commission released a Communication on Cloud computing. This identifies the proliferation of standards and a lack of certainty of which standards to use as some of the key factors holding back the widespread use of cloud computing. 

To this end, the European Commission has requested ETSI to coordinate with stakeholders and identify a detailed map of required standards in areas such as security, interoperability, data portability and reversibility.

ETSI is launching the Cloud Standards Coordination on 4-5 December 2012 in Cannes (France) with a number of partner organizations. A series of brainstorming sessions will enable participants to freely discuss cloud standards requirements.

ETSI is uniquely placed to perform this task, with a broad membership of over 750 organizations from Europe and beyond drawn from the telecommunications and IT industries, a global network of partner organizations, and technical committees (Cloud, Electronic Signatures and Infrastructures, Lawful Interception) producing specifications for cloud services. 

The event is open to all stakeholders and registration is free. Further details are available at: www.etsi.org/csc.

For more information about ETSI’s Cloud Standards Coordination please contact: 

 Margot Dor,  Tel: +33 4 92 94 49 10  Email: [email protected]

About ETSI
ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, converged, aeronautical, broadcast and internet technologies and is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization. ETSI is an independent, not-for-profit association whose more than 750 member companies and organizations, drawn from 62 countries across 5 continents worldwide, determine its work programme and participate directly in its work.
For more information please visit: www.etsi.org
 

The ETSI logo is a Trade Mark of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members.

Comment:

Let’s hope ETSI’s Cloud initiative succeeds as IEEE’s has failed dismally with no follow up or notice to those who attended their kickoff meeting in summer of 2011.

7 Enterprise Cloud Computing Trends To Watch:

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