EE UK Could Boost Mobile Broadband via Local Content Cache

Mobile operator EE has teamed up with Nokia Networks and Intel to test the new Liquid Applications technology, which among other things can redefine the role of base stations (these distribute the mobile signal to your phone) by adding cloud technology in a way that could deliver some big Mobile Broadband (4G / 3G) performance improvements to customers.

The technology, which will be tested at Nokia Networks and Intel’s new “innovation centre” in Bath (Somerset, South West England), could help to reduce the capacity burden on EE’s network and improve mobile Internet speed/latency times to customers by adopting a number of new approaches.

In a Liquid Applications setup the operators base station would also be equipped with “general purpose computing technology including an Intel technology-powered server to provide intelligent processing and storage capabilities for content and applications“. A roughly similar caching style solution is used by some fixed line broadband based IPTV systems (BTWholesale offers one such product).

One advantage of this approach is that you can move frequently accessed data, such as a popular video stream from the BBC’s iPlayer service or YouTube, closer to the subscriber so that people within the same area pull that video from a localised server rather than the wider Internet (ideal during big events like the Olympics). By doing this you alleviate operator network load / capacity and the information itself should arrive at your device much more quickly.

Dirk Lindemeier, Head of Liquid Applications at Nokia Networks, said:

“The joint initiative is a strong reiteration of the collaboration to develop Liquid Applications for the market. This will also play a key role in transforming the UK’s mobile services landscape. We welcome all operators to join us in this exciting venture which also offers tremendous opportunities for application developers to show their skills to the world.”

Nokia claims that being in such close proximity to the mobile customer enables significant improvements in time-to-content and initial response. Apparently “in excess of 100% throughput improvement is achievable, from content served from the base station, with download times improved by up to 80%“, although signal quality and coverage is still a huge factor (i.e. you can’t get the content if there’s no reception etc.).

At present it looks like EE will only be testing this technology on their LTE (4G) network and there’s no mention of any firm plans to deploy the technology across the United Kingdom, which is likely to carry an added cost and so may initially prove more viable for dense urban areas.