Mike Roberts
Principal Analyst
Networks & Infrastructure
Mike creates Informa Telecoms & Media reports, databases and research services on telecoms infrastructure and technology. Coverage areas include WiMAX, Wi-Fi, 3G Evolution, Wireless VoIP, IP Multimedia Subsystem and Fixed-Mobile Convergence. Mike has been tracking emerging wireless technologies since 2001, when he joined Informa to launch Planet Wireless, a continuous research service on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and related markets. He has been tracking the broader mobile and fixed telecoms markets since 2000, when he started contributing to Informa research services such as Global Mobile, 3G Mobile, Broadband Markets and Telecom Markets. Mike managed the successful re-launch of Planet Wireless as Wireless Broadband Analyst in late 2004, and was promoted to his current principal analyst role in early 2005. Mike is a regular speaker at key industry events such as the 3GSM World Congress, Wireless VoIP and WiCon World.
Before joining Informa Mike founded and ran a successful online research service covering e-business technology and services. He was an acknowledged authority in the area and was quoted in publications such as The New York Times. He managed the research service to profitability and sold it to a leading publisher in the segment in 2000. Prior to that Mike conducted research on information technology and telecoms markets for clients such as Microsoft, IBM and A.T. Kearney. He started his career as a journalist and worked for a variety of publications where he covered industrial technology, environmental issues, financial markets and other topics. Mike graduated with a BA in economic history from the University of Virginia in 1989 and researched international economic relations at the London School of Economics in 1991-92.
Mike's current expertise includes:
- WiMAX, Wi-Fi, Ultrawideband, Bluetooth
- Fixed-Mobile Convergence, Wireless VoIP
- UMA, SIP, IMS
- Wireless Enterprise, Networked Home
- 3G Evolution via HSDPA, HSUPA, OFDM, MIMO
"Wi-Fi, WiMAX and other emerging wireless technologies are accelerating fixed-mobile convergence and creating new markets, but transforming new technologies into revenues and profits is far from easy," Roberts says.
"Both start-ups and incumbents need a rare mix of talent, technology and timing to survive and thrive in new markets. For established vendors and operators, the challenge is to develop new technologies that are highly complementary to existing products and services, to launch them at the right time, and to creatively integrate them into existing portfolios to boost market share and margins."
