French Open Data Demand Spurs Network Congestion Fix

While tennis fans watch the action on the courts at the French Open, Jean-Luc Vuillemin is more focused on what’s happening in the stands. Across the Roland Garros complex in Paris, fans use mobile devices to keep an eye on matches other than the one they’re attending -- potentially overloading parts of the France Telecom SA (FTE) wireless network that Vuillemin oversees.

“More and more spots just like this one are going to pop up,” Vuillemin said. “Our networks overall have enough capacity, but we face challenges where large crowds connect in one place and generate loads of traffic.” From stadiums to airports, train stations to business centers, wireless networks worldwide get bogged down when thousands of users packed into tight spaces reach for their handsets to video chat, watch movies and play games online. Ericsson AB, Alcatel-Lucent SA and Huawei Technologies Co. say they have a solution: downsized antennas, smaller and cheaper, made to hang on lamp posts, traffic lights or on the side of buildings where networks need the boost and full-blown gear can’t fit. While no widespread installation of these new “small cells” has been announced, manufacturers have high hopes for the technology.