Light Reading Survey Reveals Knowledge Gap in Key 4G Technology Area

NEW YORK, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- While Evolved Packet Core (EPC) technology is widely seen as a key building block for 4G mobile networks, most network operators are in danger of falling behind competitors in the race to embrace and deploy EPC, according to preliminary results of an industry-wide survey now being conducted by UBM TechWeb's Light Reading.

Light Reading's Evolved Packet Core Benchmark, sponsored by Tellabs, measures network operators' EPC readiness through a series of questions covering basic understanding of EPC technology, current and projected investment, resource commitment, and level of engagement with potential EPC suppliers. The study is part of the new Light Reading Benchmark Series, which aims to provide telecom industry professionals with a quick and powerful way to assess their organizations' technology readiness compared with their competitors.

Among early respondents to the EPC Benchmark, more than 60 percent of network operator respondents said EPC is essential to their companies' five-year network plans, but only 40 percent said their company now has a team in place to track EPC development, and only 34 percent said their company is "extremely familiar" with EPC.

Based on overall evaluation of survey responses, about 25 percent of respondents to date work for operators that can be described as "EPC savvy"; about 50 percent work for companies that are at risk of falling behind the EPC deployment curve; and the remaining 25 percent are in need of an EPC wake-up call.

Telecom industry professionals are invited to participate in the EPC Benchmark by completing the 13-question survey at http://www.lightreading.com/evolved-packet-core-benchmark-survey.asp?s_view=yes.

Respondents who complete the survey will get immediate feedback on how their answers compare to the entire survey base, they can also register to receive a free report on final results and attend a Webinar, once the survey is closed.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technological and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, and TelcoTV Asia, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Europe, and The Tower Summit @ CTIA, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives in the US, Europe, India, and China. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About UBM TechWeb (http://techweb.com/aboutus)

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its core businesses – media solutions, marketing services, and professional information – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications, and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web and digital professionals, software and game developers, government decision makers, and telecom providers) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology. UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

About United Business Media Limited (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting, and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities – from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists – with integrated events, online, print, and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.  

SOURCE Light Reading