The use of the term “smart” refers to the operator’s ability to add value for added, and often unique, types of services and content beyond bandwidth and network speed only.
[1] The X-Series platform bundles a set of services, several of which are unique to 3, and provides unlimited data access in exchange for a fixed monthly premium.
While not necessarily a full realization of a smart pipe, 3 is one of the first operators to offer such a combination of bandwidth and value-added services for flat-rate pricing.
In addition to pricing, there is a set of services commonly viewed as parts of a smart pipe,[2][3][4] such as: By exposing these types of services to the mobile ecosystem, network operators can maintain the value of their pipes while enabling entrepreneurs to create new business models and generate entirely new revenue streams.
The need for operators to innovate around a smart pipe is rising as they face rising pressure from media companies[2] and new technologies, such as Apple’s iPhone, Nokia’s consumer portal Ovi, and even the open-access policies of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced around its upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction.