SECOND IN SERIES: Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are experiencing what Michael Heller calls “the tragedy of the anticommons.” The concept refers to a resource controlled by many owners that is tragically underutilized. CapEx is spent updating mobile network capacity while a vast majority of elements of an MNO’s radio access network (RAN), including spectrum and equipment, lay lightly used. Why wouldn’t MNOs look to capture some of that dormant value to relieve some of their economic pressure? The solution to this issue requires the balance of supply/demand and the management of incentive/allocation, much like in Nobel Prize recipient Alvin Roth’s kidney transplant matching system. Enabling MNOs to utilize their RAN reserve capacity across ownership boundaries would unlock tremendous value for both the operators and their subscribers. Read more  

FIRST IN SERIES: The global upheaval experienced during the last several weeks is manifesting itself in many aspects of our daily lives. Through this unprecedented crisis, we have stripped away many of life’s extraneous elements to spend time with our immediate families while sheltering in place. However, to maintain contact with the outside world, access crucial information, communicate with family and friends, work and learn remotely, and entertain ourselves, we are more dependent than ever on connectivity. Network operators have been thrust into the spotlight as wireless and wireline networks handle significant traffic shifts... Read more  

Last summer, there was some big news in the cloud-computing space when it was reported that Capital One was hacked. They apprehended the perpetrator, a Seattle-based engineer. The hacker had gained access to approximately 140,000 Social Security numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers, affecting over 100 million people. Perhaps one of the most disconcerting aspects is that the hacker was a former Amazon Web Services employee. Capital One is an Amazon Web Services customer. This sent ripples through the industry, with a lot of speculation as to how secure cloud systems really are... Read more  

In the early ‘90s the launch of MIMO delivered an enormous mobile network performance boost – effectively doubling the throughput of a frequency band. Similarly, each new cellular generation – 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G – also contributed huge performance gains. One common denominator delivering these impressive results was Moore’s law - a dramatic increase in cost effective computing resources. Unfortunately, in each previous case, a hardware refresh was required to unlock the spectacular benefits. Read more  

As we enter 2020, it is estimated that over 5 billion people worldwide use mobile devices, with smartphones accounting for over half of these connections. Subscribers have seen vast improvements in speed and quality of their mobile interactions as wireless networking technology continues to advance. However, meeting growing demands for fast, consistent connections means overloading existing cells and inevitably building more cell towers, thereby increasing the amount of radio frequency (RF) radiation in the environment and energy needed to power the infrastructure. Read more  

Welcome to the BX Blog! As it is now a new year and fresh decade, we would like to share our perspective, ideas, and innovation. It is my pleasure to share our first post. The mobile industry is on the cusp of the 5G revolution that brings both the promise of unprecedented expansion of the mobile economy and the uncertainties around the ability to monetize new 5G use cases... Read more