Shell Command Pipelines

Shell command pipelines are a feature of *nix shells. This feature allows you to redirect the output of one command directly to the input of another command. Command pipelines are built by typing a syntactically correct command, then entering the “pipe character, “|” then another syntactically correct command. This can be done as many times as required.

This is fabulously useful. It allows you to perform many tasks with a single command. Each individual command performs a relatively simple, straightforward function. When multiple commands are piped together,  minutes worth of typing, copying, and pasting are compressed into a single command.

If you’re already familiar with command pipelines, please let me know if I made any mistakes. If you aren’t familiar with them, adding them to your toolkit is a big upgrade to your capabilities. Continue reading “Shell Command Pipelines”

Open Telecom Projects will destroy the Operator business as we know it.

The basic goal of these projects is to disaggregate the large proprietary network functions, such as the RAN or the EPC, and allow them to run on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf COTS hardware.

If they are successful, here are some impacts to expect:

1️⃣ ISVs become major players in the #telecoms ecosystem, displacing the traditional vendors.

2️⃣ Many more Linux instances will run in both public and private clouds.

3️⃣ Layer 2/3 networks become increasingly important to connect the Mobile Edge, Cores, and Clouds.

4️⃣ Future technology upgrades will more resemble the Apps on your phone than today’s forklift swap-outs. 5G will be the last G.

5️⃣ CapEx shifts to OpEx as bespoke applications servers are replaced by software running on generic Linux instances in the Cloud. This will have huge implications for today’s capital-intensive Telecoms business. So much of today’s Capital Expenditure will tomorrow be replaced by monthly recurring Operating Expenses.

6️⃣ A disaggregated network will be orchestrated dynamically by AI.

This list is not exhaustive. But the changes will be mind-boggling.

What do you think? How will disaggregation change the business?

Leave me a comment with your ideas.

I have a list of Open Telecoms Projects which I’ve been following. 18 Projects and counting! Click the link below to download a copy. If there’s a project you follow which isn’t on the list, kindly post it in the comments.

Download Open Telecoms Projects

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

When is an innovative, cutting edge, wireless technology not mobile?

When it’s WiFi!

WiFi has many benefits #Mobiles might want to emulate.

For example,

✅WiFi technology generations are ~3.5 years. For Mobiles, it’s more like 10 years.

✅Each new WiFi generation, so far, has been backward compatible will all previous generations.

✅WiFi Base Station cost, even a carrier-grade one, is roughly 2 orders of magnitude cheaper than a Mobile base station.

✅Lastly, WiFi’s 6 generations all use the same, original RF spectrum. Mobile generations always need new spectrum. Think of the impacts if new Mobile generations could be deployed in the same spectrum.

I know this is not apples-to-apples comparison.

For example, Mobiles must manage mobility, which WiFi does not. Billing, roaming and subscriber management are all “built-into” mobiles. For WiFi, they’re bolt-ons.

My point is WiFi has features nice for mobiles to have. I believe some of these features might arise from success of the Open Telecom Projects.

What do you think? Many of you may see an Open Telecoms Project before you’ll see 5G anything.

I have a list of Open Telecoms Projects which I’ve been following. 18 Projects and counting! Click the link below to download a copy. If there’s a project you follow which isn’t on the list, kindly post it in the comments.

Download Open Telecoms Projects

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

The reasons Mobile Generations are long and difficult.

In this video series, we’ve been talking about Open Telecoms Projects.

In the previous video, I asked why Mobile generations are so long, why they’re a forklift upgrade, and why they require new spectrum.

Reasons mobile technology generations are 10 years long

I asked you, my #telecomtribe, to suggest your own ideas. You still can, in the comments.

I’m sure there are many reasons. Here are 3.

👉Cultural Inertia/comfort zone.

👉Cost recovery & depreciation. Telecom vendors invest tons in R&D, and in manufacturing. They need time to recoup that investment. Maybe 10 years. Operators also need time to earn back their costs to buy and support the kit.

👉Infrastructural. Upgrading any infrastructure is a long, difficult process. Consider the construction of roads, airports, sewers, electricity distribution, plumbing. #Telecoms #Networks are another form of infrastructure.

Maybe it’s simple muscle memory. It’s been this way so long we can no longer imagine things being any different.

What do you think? What are your reasons?

In the next video, we’ll consider an example which is different. Better, even. Relevant.

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.

Why do Mobile generations take so long, and why do they require a forklift and new spectrum?

This topic doesn’t get discussed often. It’s as though we, as an industry, have come to accept this as one of the physical laws, and we never think about it.

Why do mobile technology generations take 10 years to arrive?

In my next video, I’ll discuss your answers and share my own theories.

I’ve a list of Open Telecoms Projects. Click the link to download the list. Post a comment if you know of others which should be on the list.

Download Open Telecoms Projects.

👉 #TelecomTribe: Follow me on LinkedIn, Russell Lundberg, for more updates, insights, tips, tricks, and tactics to love a career in Telecoms.