Big Data: Coming to a Small Cell Near You

August 13, 2014

By Ernest Worthman

August 11, 2014 — Big data is set to play a much more centralized role in mobile networks, and coming to small cells near you. Big data will be relevant to wireless segments such as service assurance, customer experience management, mobile marketing, location-based services and more — all economic opportunities for small cell networks.

As well, the government is showing some interest in it. According to IDC, the government is looking at big data as a solution to gather and properly channel the information gathered by small cell networks in urban and border areas.

Big data is going to play a role in mobile video, as well. Ratings giant Nielsen plans on using big data to monitor a number of metrics across a wide range of platforms – computers, tablets, and smartphones. The data includes demographic information as well as counts on whether consumers viewed an ad just on a PC or a mobile device, or both, plus the mobile operating system platform used.

Since small cells are expected to carry as much as 70 percent of mobile data going forward, the interest in big data, in small cell networks is increasing and drawing in some unexpected players. Nielsen and the government may be just the beginning.

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Ernest Worthman is the editor of Small Cell magazine.